Page 26 of Her Crew

With that, he leaves me to think about what he means. Instead of feeling assured, I’m nervous. It feels like we’re playing a very dangerous game.

Chapter 15

Tegan

I throw my backpack over my shoulder and look back at Alec. I’m really hoping I get the hang of this selling thing, because I don’t want Stacks to boot me from the crew. I need to be here, with them. And besides, I kind of like being around Alec. I feel safe with him.

“Ready?” he asks.

I touch my forehead. “I don’t know if I should cover this bruise.”

He smirks. “Leave it. It might help with sales.”

We close the door behind us and walk toward the parking lot at the end of the building. Alec slams into Tye as he comes around the corner, and Tye’s backpack falls out of his hand and hits the pavement.

“Watch it, Ace,” he says playfully as he leans down to grab his bag.

“You ran into me, actually.”

“Yeah, right.”

With a laugh, he stands and goes to say hello to me, but the smile slides off his face when he sees the bruise. His mouth falls open, and his eyes leap from me to Alec, then back again. I don’t even register what’s happening as he drops his bag and pushes Ace against the wall. He presses his weight into him. His arm lands across his chest to keep him from getting out of his grasp.

“Did you hit her?”

God, I knew I should have tried to cover it or something. I’m not above giving myself impromptu bangs.

I rush to Ace’s aid, trying to tug Tye’s shirt to get him to let go.

“She fell!” Alec says, and I realize how absolutely shitty it sounds as soon as it leaves his lips. That’s everyone’s excuse when it comes to domestic violence. But he didn’t hurt me. I genuinely fell.

“Bullshit!” Tye shouts.

“Tye, he didn’t hit me!” I try to squeeze between them, but Tye is an immovable force. Anger radiates from him in heated waves.

He throws his ice-blue gaze toward me. “You fell?”

“I passed out.”

Tye looks at Alec again, and his eyes narrow.

“Tye, how long have you known me? Come on. You know better than this. I would never hit a woman.”

His features are unreadable for what feels like an eternity before he pulls his arm away and releases Ace. My cheeks blaze hot. I’m coming between two best friends, and I haven’t even been here long.

Alec doesn’t seem mad as he rubs his chest. My unease lessens, but I’m still waiting to relax.

Tye turns toward me, and his hands go for my face. He lifts my chin and wipes some stray hair away so that he can see the bruise more clearly.

“Ace,” Tye says, “would you mind stepping into your room for a minute?”

“Sure,” he says. He nods and walks away as some unseen conversation passes between them. Once he’s out of earshot, Tye turns his attention back to me.

“He’s not here. You can be honest with me. Did he hit you?” His fingertips burn my skin. I’ve never had anyone else care about me like this. Besides Alec.

I place my fingers over his and remove them from my face. I look into his eyes. “No, Tye. I had a panic attack, and I fainted. Hit my head on the bed frame, I think.”

His blue eyes reach into me, searching for any hint of a lie. If he asked Alec, he’d know I haven’t been very good at lying thus far.