Page 38 of Crew
"Yeah." Race frowned. "He didn't mention that."
"Makes you wonder. He left out the heavy subjects, but rattled on about me, Zellman, and Jordan. He didn't give two fucks about those two either. They were like ants to him." I stood from the bench. "Do yourself a favor. Don't read into anything he told you."
"I'm starting to get that."
Easy laughter traveled up to us, and I felt another kick in my chest. Channing was still standing with the guys. He could laugh with them, but he only yelled at me.
Maybe recently that had been my fault. I ignored him. I came and went as I pleased. I didn't ask him for anything. I didn't give him anything. We were like hostile strangers in the same house.
I was the aggravating little sister. He didn't understand why I did anything. I wouldn't open up when he asked. I didn't eat dinner when he invited me. Even when he was angry, I would just leave. And if he tried to block me in the hallway, I'd go to my room and slip out through the window.
Every room in the house had an escape route.
Sadly, he had no clue, and maybe that was the problem.
Channing never did anything to me. He didn't help me, but he didn't hurt me. He just wasn't there until two years ago, and even that was hit-and-miss most the time. And it wasn't that I wished he had been.
I was jealous.
He'd gotten what I wanted--and I had to turn my thoughts off on that. That was for another night, one accompanied by hard liquor. Lots of liquor.
Race coughed once, tugging at his collar. "Look, I don't know anything."
Shit. I'd forgotten he was here.
"What?" I went still. Did he mean... I held my breath a moment.
"Before, at school." He cringed. "I was bluffing. I knew you and Drake dated, and exes always know secrets. I was throwing something out there, just trying to push you guys off balance." He held his hands up. "I swear. Drake never told me any secret about you."
I was still wary of him. "Why'd you fight with us tonight?"
"Because my cousin was wrong."
I eyed him.
"I'm not crew, obviously, but I'm not a pussy. And I'm not a bad guy."
