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going to park?” I think it was Mitch who asked.
    “Forget that. Look at all these people. Holy fucks! We’re going to get trashed tonight.” That must’ve been Helms then?
    I grinned, catching sight of Grayley’s fender. He’d think it’s a riot, me showing up with the crème de la crème from Rawley’s royalty. No doubt he’d double over in laughter when he saw us make our entrance.
    “Something funny?” Tray asked silkily, watching me from the corner of his eye.
    I looked at him. I had to admit, he looked good; he looked more than good. If I were to create the perfect guy, I have to admit, he’d looked like Tray. His knowing eyes were still resting on me as he paused briefly for Helms and Mitch to jump out.
    “I just recognized a few of the cars back there,” I said lightly, moving to open the door.
    “Walk with me,” he requested. Anyone else would’ve taken it as a command, but I heard the questioning lilt to his voice.
    So I sat back and waited as he moved the SUV forward. The rest of our train did the same thing; each car paused for the passengers to hop out and the cars all followed the others, parking side by side on the opposite end of the hill.
    As we got outside, Tray didn’t move to draw me against his side. I was grateful, but at the same time I was seething at myself—I had kind of hoped he would have. We walked easily beside each other, making our way up to the house. Turning back, I saw Devon walking alone, looking lost in thought. Jasmine was walking with some guy—I couldn’t place his name.
    When he neared the door, we saw that everyone had already gone inside. There were quite a few drinking and lounging on the patio in front of the door. I recognized one or two from Pedlam.
    “Holy shit!”
    Whirling around, I paled at seeing Veronica Teedz teetering unsteadily on her high heels, beer sloshing over her yellow cup, her eyes transfixed on my face. “Holy shit,” she exclaimed again, drawing nearer. “Taryn! How the hell are you!? I can’t believe it’s you…it is you or am I that drunk?”
    I was taken aback. Veronica Teedz had never acknowledged my presence before, why now? Coolly, I replied, “You’re that drunk.” And I moved past her, catching an amused look in Tray’s eyes.
    I failed to see her pull out her phone as our group moved inside.
    Inside there were people everywhere; each room was packed tight. A few tables were set up in the corners for some card playing. I knew from previous experience that the dance floor was in the basement, but the bass of the music pounded throughout the entire house. The second, third, and fourth floors were the bedrooms—hookups and smaller parties usually congregated there.
    Apparently tonight was different because the main floor had been turned into a dance floor, along with the patio outside.
    I felt Tray grab my hand and pull me towards the kitchen area. He shelled out some money for our cups. After they had been filled from a keg, he gave one to me. Pulling me closer, he murmured in my ear, “You here to work?”
    I tilted my head back, my lips brushing against his ear, a hand braced on his chest. “Yeah. Some of my old crew is here, they might be willing to help me out.”
    He nodded and turned into the crowd, leaving me alone.
    I didn’t notice how some of the crowd stopped to watch us.
    Pushing through the room, I worked my way through the crowd, smiling in return to a few greetings, some from those who recognized me from Pedlam, some just from drunken pervs.
    Finally, I pushed my way into a backroom. I saw that Tray had taken root against the wall off to the side. He was swamped on both sides by people. Some were Rawley students, I recognized Tamira Case from another school I briefly attended—from what I remember, Tray was exactly her type—there were others that I didn’t recognize. Tray had an atmosphere around him that told the world that he didn’t give a damn about anyone or anything; it made him all the more