his expression as dark as his almost-black hair. “You can’t take your anger out on Thea. She’s the one who figured out Bodie was behind everything.”
Over Hayle’s shoulder, I saw surprise flash across Tristin’s features. He’d truly had no idea that Bodie was responsible for drugging Hadley Stevens. Which meant that he’d had no reason to retaliate against Violet’s asshole brother in the first place.
Not that I’d ever believed he was guilty. Only a month ago, I’d watched him let Bodie get three punches in before defending himself. There was no way he would sabotage the guy’s car, even if he had known that Bodie set him up at that stupid, stupid football party.
Tristin locked eyes with Hayle. “I can’t take my anger out on her? She’s the one who convinced me to go to the party in the first place.” He backed up a few steps but kept his attention on his brothers. “You three never should have gotten involved. And from now on, you can leave me the fuck alone.”
As he spat out alone, his gaze finally caught mine, and the blood flowing through my veins turned to ice at what I found there. This was more than him being pissed that our interference had led to multiple trips to the police station. This was even more than his restrained fury that tended to come out to play when Leo was present.
He was done with his brothers.
And he was done with me.
Tears gathered as I watched him open the garage, get in his Tesla, and fly past us down the driveway. Surprisingly, Hayle was the one who reached out to reassure me. He wrapped his arms around me and pressed my head into his shoulder.
“He didn’t mean it. He’s just being an ass.”
Though he was the leanest of the brothers, his embrace offered no shortage of strength and comfort. I allowed both to seep into me, making me even more emotional. Damn it. I would not let these tears fall. I wouldn’t.
“I’m not so sure,” I murmured into his hoodie. All signs pointed toward Tristin meaning every word he’d said.
We stood there for a minute, not speaking, before I withdrew. Leo was watching us from a few feet away, and he inclined his head toward the house. “Come on. I could use a drink.”
“It’s not even noon.” And, even though I’d already missed Western Civ, I still had two more classes today.
Leo slung an arm around my shoulder, reminding me of my first night back in Moss Harbor. He’d paraded me around Tristin’s welcome home party, introducing me to people I’d already forgotten. At the time, I’d assumed the worst of him. Assumed that there was no substance under his flirty football star exterior.
So much had changed in the last month. At the top of that list was how I felt about Leo Sharpe. He’d infuriated me as much as he’d surprised me. But he had surprised me. Kept surprising me.
“Time is just a state of mind.”
I tipped my head to look up at him, my heart skipping a beat at the grin on his full mouth. There was no hint of his earlier hurt when I’d revealed that Tristin and I had spent the night together. Was he over it already? And why did that thought bother me so much?
“That doesn’t even make sense.”
He started leading me to the open garage door. “That’s what the alcohol is for. Everything makes more sense while tipsy.”
Hayle huffed as he trailed after us. “Your logic never fails to astound me.”
“It’s okay.” Leo grinned at him over his shoulder. “You can say it—I’m brilliant.”
“As brilliant as a circus animal,” he muttered loud enough to ensure we both heard it.
In spite of myself, I sputtered out a laugh. I was fairly certain they were only trying to distract me from Tristin’s cruel words, but I didn’t even care. It was working.
Leo tugged on my hair. “Hey. You’re supposed to defend me against my mean little brother.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because I’m your favorite, obviously.”
Hayle scoffed. “The brother in her bed last night tells a different story.” I stopped so abruptly, he bumped into my back. “Shit, Thea. I’m sorry.” He tugged on my hand to spin me to face him. “Leo’s right. I am the mean one.”
I shrugged, feigning nonchalance when, really, I wanted to run upstairs and hole myself away in my bedroom. “It’s not like you’re wrong. We might as well address the bastard elephant in the room.”