“I was changing clothes,” he says, pulling on his shorts. “Meeting the guys at the gym at six. What do you want?”
“Can I get a ride to the game tomorrow?”
“I guess.” He grabs a t-shirt from his closet. “But I’m not taking you home.”
“Could you drop me off somewhere?”
“Maybe. Depends on where it is.”
“Forget it. I’ll find my own way home.” I hear something in Braden’s room, like something fell on the floor.
“Is that it?” Trystan says, staring at me like he wants me to leave.
I walk over to him. “Is Braden dating Kristen again?”
He laughs. “Hell, no. After she was with Novak? He wouldn’t fucking get near her.”
“I just saw her downstairs with him. He told her to wait in his room until he got home.”
“Yeah, right.” Trystan puts his t-shirt on.
“I’m not kidding.
“Kristen’s not in his fucking room.” He goes over to his door and opens it. “I’ll take you to the game tomorrow. Now get out.”
“Trystan, I’m serious.” I point to Braden’s room. “She’s in there.”
He sighs, then pushes past me into the hall and goes over to Braden’s room. He bangs on the door. “Kristen, open up!”
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
He opens the door. “Hey, Kristen. You here to fuck my brother? Great! Have fun!” He turns to me, rolling his eyes.
“What’d she say?”
“Nothing. She’s not there.”
Chapter 27
I run past him into Braden’s room. It’s empty. I check his walk-in closet. It’s empty too.
I go back into the hallway. “Where’d she go?”
“Nowhere. She was never here.” Trystan shuts Braden’s door, then his own. “I’m going downstairs. I need to eat before I go to the gym.”
I follow him down there, checking the living room, then the kitchen. I check the entire house, but she’s not there. Where did she go? Her car’s not in the driveway, but I don’t know if she drove here or if Braden picked her up.
When I’m back in my room, Jackson calls.
“Did you see my text?” I ask.
“Yeah. I can only talk for a minute. What do you mean Kristen’s there?”
“She was here. Kissing Braden. Acting like they were a couple. Braden left for practice, so Kristen went up to his room to wait for him, but then she was gone.”
“You saw her leave?”
“No. I told Trystan she was there, but he didn’t believe me, so he went in Braden’s room and she was gone. I know you want to believe Kristen but I’m telling you, Jackson, she’s lying. I don’t know what she’s up to, but whatever it is, you don’t want to be involved. You can’t let her stay with you anymore.”
