“Grayer, youneedto be careful.”
“I know that.” I groan, my head falling back against the wall. I take another drink, straight from the bottle. “There’s just somethin’ ’bout her. I can’t stop myself from wanting to protect her.”
She waits, and it sounds like she’s taking a drink. “Why does she need protecting?”
Because of the motherfuckers around here. A muscle tics in my jaw. Just thinking of Joel makes my blood boil.
“You’d protect anyone from anyone but you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re a protector,” Britany says with a sigh. “But you never look out for you. You’re always concerned with making sure everyone’s taken care of but you.”
I push my hand through my hair. Another drink. “Don’t tell me that.” I set the bottle down, my actions slower than before.
“Why?”
“Because Iwanther . . . ,” I say with lightness.
“And she’s seventeen?”
“Yep,” I echo, my tone implying “but it’s not like that.” I try to think about what is drawing me to Maesyn. I can’t say it’s because she gave me head that first night without even questioning it. No, it’s not that. The pull to her is sexual, to an extent. It’s more than that and I feel slightly crazy for even thinking it.
Britany’s laughing. At me. As usual. It’s like I’m her goddamn entertainment half the time.
I’m screwed up. My hands shake when I reach for the bottle again. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because you alwayswantwhat you can’t have.”
I’m on the defense. “What’s the supposed to mean?”
“Dude, really?” I can picture her sending me a glare that screams,are you serious?
“What?”
“I was your friend. You couldn’t have me and then you seduced me until we slept together.”
“I don’t remember it happening that way.” Which is bullshit. I do. I’m not stupid. I knew Reid had a thing for Britany from the very beginning. I’d been the persistent one and wanted B first.
“Well, it did. Do I need to put Reid on the phone and he can knock some sense into you?”
“No,” I groan. We’ve had this conversation. Reid is quietly controlled, speaking in sighs and nods. He’s mature. Had to be. He raised Ty and me after everything that went down with Selena. “I don’t need his big brother speech.” I change the subject. “I saw Dani tonight.”
Britany sighs, knowing what I’m doing. “How is she?”
“Still wild as ever. She’s stayin’ with Aunt Laurel and already bugging me about moving to Decatur when she graduates.”
The conversation finally moves away from me and back to why I’m here, the land, the sale, making sure Dani’s okay. It’s all this should be about but unfortunately, it’s not.
