Page 18 of Crew
"Hey." I met his gaze, feeling seared from the contact. He was my best friend, and that meant he knew what was going on inside of me more than I did. It was uncomfortable at times, times like now. There was a reason I'd kept that secret a secret, for fuck's sake.
He let out a frustrated sound, raking his hands through his hair again before straightening. "Look." His hand fell, hitching on his jeans. "You gotta tell me, especially if it's something a Ryerson has over you."
I jerked my head in a nod. He was giving me time, but he was right. I would have to tell them, eventually.
"Lunch?"
I hated this. I hated keeping this secret from him, that night burning in my throat, but damn. It was better if he didn't know, if they all didn't know. I fell in step with him as we headed to the parking lot. Juniors and seniors got open lunch. We could leave to grab something, then come back.
A moment later, I wasn't surprised to find Jordan and Zellman behind us.
"What was he talking about?" Jordan asked immediately.
Zellman was on follow-up. "I didn't think you and Drake were that serious."
"We weren't." A knot formed in my stomach.
"You seemed affected by whatever Drake told him," Jordan countered. "There something we should know about?"
I stopped in front of my Jeep and turned around. A whole group of students had followed us to the parking lot.
From the whispering I'd heard, and the furtive glances sent our way all morning, I had no doubt word had spread fast about what happened before first period. I just didn't know if the interest was my altercation with Alex, Race's arrival, or the fact that we had a new guy in school.
I gestured to Sunday Barnes and some of her friends, who had stopped a few feet from us. They were waiting for something.
My eyes slid to Zellman. "Did you find out last night, Z?"
"What?" His eyebrows pulled together. He scratched his chin.
Jordan looked at the crowd and rolled his eyes. "Who cares. Look, we just need to know what's going on if we're going to have your back. Okay?" He gentled his tone. "Tell us what we need to know, when we need to know it."
Cross didn't say anything, but I felt his presence. He wouldn't push, not when they were with us, but the temporary moment of peace I'd gotten from him had a time limit. I could almost hear the clock ticking away, but I was glad for his support.
The knot in my stomach loosened, just a bit. "I will." I nodded toward the girls again. "That's not going to happen now."
The girls edged closer, and Z looked back and forth between us and them. An eager smile pulled at his mouth, and I sighed. "Go get 'em."
Zellman had been slouched. He shot upright. "Yeah?"
Jordan frowned. "You sure?" He didn't sound like he was in any hurry to leave.
I nodded. "Go. I'm sure." I waved at Zellman. "I'm sending you lots of luck if you still need to find out if they're real."
He began backing up, heading toward the girls. He winked. "I found out last night. They're not." Then he turned, throwing his arm around Sunday's shoulders. "Hey, boobs."
She tensed under his touch, and as her friends started laughing, she smacked his chest. He ducked his head, whispering something to her. He started to draw them away from us, toward his own truck. As they went, I could see Sunday's smile go rigid, then soften.
Jordan lingered. "You're positive you're okay if we take off with them?"
I glanced to Cross. He moved to lean against my Jeep, and I knew he wasn't going anywhere.
I nodded. "I'm sure. Go and flirt away."
Jordan began backing away too, and he gave a wave before he turned around and headed after them. A few of the girls were looking over their shoulders. I saw the hope in their eyes. When all of them except one kept watching, despite Jordan's approach, I knew who they were really waiting for.
I turned to my best friend. "You have a fan club."
Cross snorted, but didn't respond.
