Page 41 of Give You Up

“What happened?” I prop my elbows on the table, and setting my chin in my clasped hands, I stare at him, wanting answers for why he hurt my best friend. You see, with my history with men, I tend to think the man is at fault for any hurt feelings.

Except with Taron, I was at fault. But now that he’s here, I can make it up to him even if it means sacrificing my pride. However, I refuse to give up my secrets. He won’t be sticking around after graduation anyway, so why involve him further in my life?

“I kissed someone I wasn’t supposed to at this party we went to over the summer.”

“You cheated on my friend!”

“Syn. Jesus.Please.”

All eyes are on us. I couldn’t give a care. I punch Cooper in the shoulder and jerk my head toward a corner of the bar. I rise out of the chair. He follows me. With the front of his shirt fisted in my hand, I demand answers.

“Is she okay? How could you? She loves you. Trusts you with her heart.”

“It was a mistake. I had too much to drink.”

“Did you hook up with this girl?”

“Hell no. If I did, do you think I’d be here talking with you?”

Nope, he wouldn’t. Arie would have kicked him in the groin for betraying her.

“She’s not speaking to me, Syn. What should I do?”

“Give her time. She’ll come around.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“You’re her best friend, Cooper.”

“We have a class together and she hasn’t spoken one iota to me. Pretends I’m not there.”

“I’m sorry, buddy, but in this, you’ll have to be patient.” I pat his arm. “We girls can be bitches when someone betrays us.”

He hooks his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans and pulls his shoulders inward. “I hope she doesn’t wait until the school year is over with. I can’t wait that long. She’s my best friend, Syn.”

God, he looks so broken.

“I know, champ. Chin up. If she doesn’t forgive you by the end of the semester, come and talk to me. I’ll try talking sense into her.”

His eyes widen before he nods and shuffles back to his seat. Poor guy. Then again, he had no right kissing Arie’s rival from high school. It’s the only explanation that could have her giving Cooper the cold shoulder.

My attention slides to Taron. Our gazes lock from across the room. He smiles. I smile back.

Wait until I tell him the plan.

He will either go caveman on me, dragging me into a cave somewhere, never to show my face again to Midnight, pissed he is using me as bait. Or there will be a shit-eating grin on his face.

Like me, is he ready for something more from life? A way to expend the ball of energy swirling in his core? But what if we do a bit of living and I crash and burn like I did when I lost the baby?

Then again, is Taron right, that I should stop being dependent on Dare for my worth? But instead of my worth, I’m dependent on Dare to keep me on the straight path of knowing what will happen every hour of my day, keeping things predictable and without much spontaneity.

There is a way to find out. I’ll let Taron in, but not enough to break my heart. Because in this, I am certain of one thing. Taron won’t be sticking around if he ever finds out what a mess of a life I have.

15

Taron

“You didn’t have to come back, Taron.”

---