Page 80 of Finding Kyler
Crappers. I run after him, skipping down the steps until I’ve caught up with him. “Wait, Brad. I’m sorry. You’ve been nothing but nice to me, and that was totally uncalled for. I’d like to be friends, once we’re both on the same page.”
He inspects my face and his shoulders relax. “We are. Don’t get me wrong; under different circumstances, I’d be all over you.” He sends me a meaningful look. “But I hear you loud and clear, and I want to be your friend. In case you hadn’t noticed, I don’t have too many of those anymore, so I’m not being entirely selfless here.”
“It doesn’t matter. I like you, and—”
“Do you have a death wish?” a menacing voice asks from behind me, and I shriek.
“Jeez, Ky. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I glare at him but his harsh gaze is fixed on Brad. A crowd starts to form around us as everyone picks up on the obvious friction.
“It’s not what you think, Ky. We’re friends. That’s it.” Brad holds up his hands in offering.
“You forget that I know exactly how you operate.” Ky adopts a protective stance, pulling me behind him.
“I’m not the same person you knew.” Brad squares up to him confidently, but there’s no aggression or malice in how he carries himself. “Things have changed. I’ve changed.”
Ky harrumphs. “Save it for someone who gives a shit. I won’t tell you again, McConaughey. Stay away from Faye.”
“Ignore him,” I tell Brad, stepping out from Ky’s shadow. “I make my own decisions. But I think it’s best if you leave.” I gesture subtly toward the mob forming a circle around us. “Let’s not give them another show.”
“Yeah, let’s not,” Ky interjects before Brad can even respond. “Because half the town is still enjoying the first one.” He grinds down on his teeth.
“What?”
Ky thrusts his cell in my hand. “Take a look for yourself.”
I press the play button and cringe. Someone posted the earlier incident at my locker online, and it already has several thousand views. I’m sprawled over Brad, both of us laid out on the ground, as if I’ve jumped him in plain view.Great.So much for fading into the background.
Brad curses as he watches over my shoulder. I hand the phone back to Kyler in silence.
“Please tell me you’re here to control that slut?” Peyton demands, advancing toward us as the crowd parts to let her through. She stands in front of Kyler with a stupid pout on her mouth. “Someone needs to explain to her how things work around here. If you won’t sort it, I will.”
Kyler puts the scary mask on and leans into her face. Naked aggression rolls off him in waves. “If you lay a finger on Faye, you’ll have me to deal with. Don’t try any of your usual bullshit, Peyton. I’ll only warn you this once.”
Her eyes narrow to slits as a red flush spreads over her chest. The crowd surrounding us waits with bated breath. Bloody brilliant. Ky’s called her out in front of the entire school, and she’s not going to take that lying down. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she stares him down. “You’re forgetting your place,Ky-ler.” She enunciates his name slowly, her tone dripping with condescension. “You don’t run this joint. I do.”
“Pey, back off.” A huge guy, with planks for shoulders, strides toward us. “Kennedy.” He nods at Kyler.
Ky returns the gesture. “Keep your girl in check, Fielding. Faye’s a Kennedy, and she’ll be given the respect she deserves, or I won’t hesitate to step in.”
This is so stupid, and I open my mouth to intervene, when Brad silences me with a subtle nod of his head.
“Message received, Kyler, but you better explain how things work around here, because she needs to respect the way we handle things.”
“She understands.”
I open my mouth again, but Ky levels a warning glare my way. Dropping keys into my hand, he says, “Get in the car and wait for me.” I narrow my eyes as I prepare to give him a piece of my mind.
Brad moves to my side, taking my elbow. “Come on, Faye. I’ll go with.” I’m sure Ky would love to object, but he’s in no position to. Jerking out of Brad’s hold, I twist around and walk away. He keeps step alongside me. “He’s trying to fix this.”
“I don’t need or want his help. I can take care of myself.” We stop at Ky’s SUV, and I slip my bag off my back.
Brad opens the car, placing my bag on the floor. “I know that, and I’m sure Ky does, too, but his public support can’t hurt. You don’t know these girls like I do. They can make your life hell.”
“Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.”
“And you’re still not going to explain that, are you?” Ky asks, materializing beside me.
“Are you going to quit with Addison?”
