Shane and Trey[ Enemies to Lovers 01 ] (13 page)

As soon as it was off, he stepped back, breaking the static that at leastIhad felt in the last few seconds. I shivered. “Well, I don’t know how that’s going to keep me much warmer.”

“So command me to give you mine. That way you’ll be snu N,. Ive you mig as a bug.”

Snug as a bug? Too cute! “Hmmm, I think not.” (Although the idea of him without his shirt was appealing.) “I’ve still to get you back for drenching me. I’m going to make you do something—uh—belittling. I mean, you really do need to be taken down a notch.”

Trey grinned. “Who me? Why? You’re just a sore loser, is all.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, holding back my urge to cackle —yes cackle—I felt a real evil laugh coming on. I kicked of my flip flops and pointed to my feet. “Kiss my fat toes!” Muahahaha—I could hear it almost as if there were another presence in the room. Because, c’mon, how gross was that! And like—

Trey grabbed my foot and pressed my big toe (they were all fat, but I meant the big fat toe) to his lips. The cackle completely died. I’d never been surrounded by such quiet before. All my thoughts must have stopped or something. I mean it wasn’t quiet-quiet, just weird. I could still hear things, just that they seemed magnified ten times—at least. Like Trey’s hand skidding over the carpet, or the ticking of my watch, or the clucking of his tongue—

Trey’s lips opened and his tongue flicked out against the tip of my toe. I jerked my foot, but he captured it in two hands, holding me more firmly. He grazed his teeth over the skin— oh-my-fucking-goodness that feltamazing.Then pressing tight around the base he circled his tongue and started sucking my toe. Sucking my toe! Like,what the hell?And, don’t ever stop!

I bit my lip, and stifled a moan, and that’s when Trey looked up at me. His large eyes soft and, and warm. Yeah, really warm.

“Stop.” I managed to say, and when he didn’t I motioned toward the placard, all the while holding his gaze. He released my toe. “Why’d you do that?” I asked, my voice husky.

He raised himself on his knees, and rested his hands either side of me. “You feel self-conscious of your toes. I don’t want you to be.”

His mouth glistened where he’d licked his lips and I found myself leaning closer to him, but he turned away suddenly, and got to his feet. “Did the bell just go off?”

I stared at him. This fucking elephant couldn’t get much bigger; the room wouldn’t be able to fit us soon.

 

Then the bell actually went off. Trey moved so fast toward the door, I was afraid he’d go through it.

 

“If you want to call it quits, we can,” I said, sure that’s what he wanted after that, uh—moment? Although I did not at all. Not afterthat. He frowned. “No.” Did he sound a little nervous? “Get into the next room.”

 

I pushed my way in. One glance at the placard made me nervous as well.

 

All questions asked in this room, must be answered truthfully.

Interesting. I peeked at Trey out the corner of my eye. He’d sat himself in the middle of the room, hugging his legs. “Did you know this would be the next room?”

He nodded. “Unlike you, I was listening when Dave told me about them.”

Hmmm-“Then you’ve had plenty of time to think about what you’d like to know.” I sat in the middle of the mat in front of him, and more bravely than I felt met his gaze. “So ask me.”

His Adam’s apple jutted out as he swallowed. “Why’d you run out back there?”

 

When I took a sec to gather my thoughts, Trey pointed to the placard with the rule on it. “Um…”

He repositioned himself, so he too sat cross legged. His knees touched mine, and even though two sets of jeans separated us, freaking-eh did the contact send shivers through me.

“Yeah?” He raised a brow, his gaze flickering over my bare chest. Could he see my goosebumps?

 

“He was flirting with you.” I looked around me for some distraction, something I could grab or fiddle with. “So?”

So I think you’re gorgeous and that guy wanted in your fucking pants. Do th Ngoinng pae math!“I just didn’t need to be around for that.”

“Jealous some?”Clever boy.

There was a short silence. Why couldn’t I just say yes? Stupid nerves. He started to raise his hand toward the placard and I hit it away. “Ha-ha you wish. You into him?”

“Hell no, and you know it.”

I was silent a moment. Did that mean, what I thought it meant? Or did I just want it to mean that? Shit, the whole way we acted around each other sort of felt like a dance I didn’t know the moves to. Letting out a shuddering breath, I looked at him. “Actually, yes. I was jealous.” And because I’d let openthathonest door, I might as well step all the way through it. “Because, if you haven’t already figured it out yet, I like you.” There was a moment of silence, which I broke. “I think we have a connection, true?”

In the time it took before he answered, I felt sick. My stomach flipped something so bad that I quietly burped. What was taking him so long to answer? I was sweating now, could he see that?

He sort of nodded. At least I thought so.Please just say it.

“Shane,” he said softly, “can we get out of here? I know this is the truth room, but I don’t want to do this in here. I thought I did, thought this room would help me to express myself. But how can I do that in a few minutes? It just feels wrong. I —”

I was already up. “Come on then.” I was happy to move the location. But I wasn’t going to let this go. “Let’s go for a drive, but Trey, youaregoing to tell me.”
Chapter Eleven

I CHUCKED ON a fresh t-shirt, found my car keys, and stuffed my wallet into my pocket. Without a word we got into my car and started driving. I didn’t really have a destination in mind, so I surprised the both of us when I hit the highway toward home. But actually, it didn’t seem such a bad idea. Trey had said to his mother he’d head up there in the morning, and since we both had hockey practice tomorrow afternoon, I could drive the both of us back. Besides, I could grab more of my hockey gear. “I hope you have a house key this time.”

Trey was quick to get the plan. “Uh-huh. After the last time, I taped one under the ledge of my window.”

A moment passed and then with a convulsing stomach (damn nerves!), I said, “Um, so… did you, uh, want to tell me something?”

In my peripheral vision I saw Trey look at me, but I kept my eyes on the road. I could have glanced up at him, but in all honesty, I was just too nervous. Already my palms sweated and I subtly wiped each on my jeans.
“Actually, it’s more than one thing, Shane. But, I’d, ahh—” He scratched the back of his head like it would give him his next words. “Can you come—I mean, would you feel alright if we did this in my room?” Quickly he added, “It just feels so impersonal in the car, and I want your full attention.”

In his room? Freaking eh, just the thought alone excited me. I gave him a weak smile. “Okay. But there’s no more putting it off.”For both of our sakes.Surely he was as anxious as I was, and who wanted this to continue? Each passing minute just got more and more awkward. At one point I was so aware of our breathing, I couldn’t do it normally again until I switched on the radio. Oh thank God for classic rock.

Finally we arrived at his house, and we got inside without a problem. Although it was past midnight, a light was on in the large kitchen-dining area.

“Hello Ma?” Trey called softly into the room. A chair scraped over the wooden floorboards in the adjacent room, and out came a tall, thin woman with the same dark eyes and thick lashes as Trey. It was strange to me how they pulled them off each so differently. No matter what look Trey gave, his always looked beautiful. On his mo Ne snuthe roam, though, they looked heavy, tired and cold.

“Why didn’t you call to say you were coming around?” she asked, giving me an annoyed glance. “At least you could have told me you’d be bringing someone over!”

“Sorry, Ma. It was late. I didn’t want to disturb you all. Shane was ah—nice enough, to give me a lift. So tomorrow we can go visit Aunt--”

She interrupted. “I had to pick Patricia up and bring her here this evening. The neighbors called, and said either we did, or the police would. I’ve put her in the guest room. She’s sleeping at the moment.”

I watched as Trey’s posture curved and he kept his eyes to the floor. “I’m sorry, Ma. Is there something I can do?”

She looked at me. “Just keep quiet. I want her sleeping as long as possible. I’m not ready to deal with her yet.” For a brief moment she shut her eyes. “Oh, and if you have any alcohol hidden in that room of yours, get rid of it. She’ll be scouring the house trying to find some, no bets about that. Just drain or drink it, I don’t care. So long as she won’t get to any.” With that she looked over us once more and left.

Trey remained still a few seconds, and then twisted abruptly. In a gruff voice he told me to follow him.

“I’m sorry about my ma,” he said, still not daring to look at me. Was he afraid I was judging him—his mom? “She’s just a bit stressed at the moment.”
I wasn’t quite sure what to say. I’d felt awkward standing next to them while they discussed personal family stuff. But I also didn’t want Trey feeling embarrassed by it.

“Maybe in the morning we can cheer her up with pancakes?” I said—a flippant feel good comment. Only a moment after the words came out, I froze on the stairs, as did Trey. Had I just suggested I’d be staying over? How presumptuous, andhad I really expected that?Surely not, my house was five minutes away. Of course, I’d be going back there. “I mean,” I said, knowing I should just shut up. But I couldn’t stop myself.You’re making this worse!“On my way to pick you up tomorrow.”

Trey quickly smothered a grin, briskly tugging me up the stairs and down the hall to his bedroom. He turned on the light, and I looked around. I’d been curious (ever since he’d mentioned talking here) about what his room would be like. In my mind, I’d pictured it similar to the dorms. But it was so much nicer. King bed—hmmhmm, it wasnotthe first thing I noticed—that would have been the huge black and white rug stretched out at the end of said bed. It was, from what I could tell, a print of a tree with raccoons or squirrels on it. In combination with the wood, dark eggplant walls and black and white prints, it sort of looked like something out of a catalogue.

Trey pulled off his shoes and left them sprawled on the rug. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, and pick them up. Yeah, actually, I’d been doing that lately. If I saw something obviously out of place in our room, I’d move it. Trey didn’t seem to have noticed. It was like he was happy to hunt for things every day.

“You wanna sit down, man?”

“Sure. Nice room, by the way. I can actually see the floor.” Trey snorted as I slipped off my flip flops (placing them by the closed door). I searched the room for seating. His desk and swing chair, by the side of his bed looked like the best choice. I moved over and sat down. Trey sat on the bed opposite me, and because it was lower than the chair, our eyes were level.

He rubbed his thighs, and at the risk of looking like a copy cat, I did the same—my hands were just so clammy! He laid his big, brown eyes on me, and my stomach flipped.

“Ahh, I wish I did have some alcohol stashed away,” he said quietly, and with a strained laugh. “It might loosen me up.” He swallowed and grabbed a pillow from his bed (yes, this bed was covered with them too).

Jumping to his feet, he raced to the d V bea He swoor. For a second I thought he was going to bolt, but he stopped. With the flick of his finger, he switched off the light, plunging the room in darkness. “Um, I know this is weird, but it’s just so much easier to talk this way.”

The curtains were opened, so soon my eyes adjusted. It wasn’t too dark; I could still make out Trey’s large figure moving toward me. “If you don’t want to see me,” I didn’t like the thought at all, “I can just do this.” I spun on the chair and stared at the desk.

Trey grabbed the back and twisted me to him. He’d even pulled it forward a bit, so when he sat on his bed our legs almost, but not quite, touched. “It’s not that I don’t want to see you, Shane, I’m just,” his voice lowered to a whisper, “embarrassed aboutyou seeingme. But maybe… you’d prefer it if I had the light on, so…” He made to get up, but I stopped him, placing a hand just above his knee. His eyes met mine and an electric static flowed between us.

“I can see you well enough,” I said, breaking the contact, “and this darker lighting makes me feel more comfortable too.”

He fiddled with the corner of his pillow, and then chucked it away. “Fuck. I don’t know where to start.” He shook his head, and I heard him breathe deeply. Should I encourage him somehow? Say it’s all right? “Okay, here goes. This will probably come out all muddled, bear with me. And don’t interrupt. Just don’t say anything. Ahh, until I’m through.

“The thing is—fuck!” He wiped his hands again. His next words came out soft and sincere, albeit with an edge of confusion. “Yeah, I like you, Shane.Thatway.”

Relief hit me in such strong waves, I thought I’d sob. “So, you’re gay?”

 

He kept his gaze on his jeans. “June’s told you that already. And I said no interruptions.”

 

“Okay, no more, but I want to hear you say it. Are you?”

“Yes.” He breathed out, lifting his legs to the bed and hugging his knees. “I’m gay. But it’s weird, and I feel guilty about it. Not the gay bit. The other bit. That by liking you, I’m hurting June and you too because of how close you are. I really didn’t want to get in the way. But at the same time I really, really did. Why else do you think I’ve tried so hard to avoid you these past couple of weeks? And then tonight,”— his eyes closed briefly as he swallowed—“you were there for me when I felt so vulnerable. And you—cared.”

I inched the chair forward so I sat directly before him. He reached for my hand and squeezed it. Tight. Really tight. “I’m going to be honest with you,” he continued, “but I’m really ashamed by this next bit...” He loosened his grip. “See, I’ve thought about you before. Do you remember the hockey final in sophomore year?”

I frowned, and let go of his hand. How could I have forgotten?

“Shit man, you were amazing. The way you scored. Your speed, your drive. Fuck. I was turned on in that game. It was the first real time getting that hard by a guy. And I—I was excited, but mostly frightened. I thought—I don’t know what I thought. But my idea was if I hurt or embarrassed you in some way, those feelings would go away with it. I was a complete fucker. But I’d started dating June, and I couldn’t let that happen again. It worked too, because you avoided me whenever I came around after that.”