Shane and Trey[ Enemies to Lovers 01 ] (3 page)

I perched next to her onhisbed. “Told you it’d be fine.” “Yeah.” She remained quiet for a few moments. “Is it…” A hesitation. “Is it…” Another pause.

I studied the small frown cutting into my sister’s forehead. She looked so worried this way. Pulling her to me, I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a big hug. “What’s up?”

Over my shoulder she whispered, “Is it normal for guys to just not want to do it for like, weeks?”

 

I tensed, and she pulled away. “It’s just… I don’t know. Trey doesn’t seem to be in the mood. Or he, you know, can’t…”

I stood up and strode over to my side of the room. The last thing I wanted was to talk in detailthat waywith my sister about Trey. I grabbed my guitar and stared the strings intently, without actually seeing them. I had to answer her though, this was my sister, and I loved her. I wanted her to be able to come to me for anything. She trustedI^ me, too. “Um… well it’s not unusual for that to happen. Was he drunk?”

June sighed. “I’m not talking one time. I mean he’s tried, but well, he keeps only getting softies.”

I strummed, wishing the conversation would be over. “Maybe it’s stress? Some emotional problem? He’s sad to be leaving home?”

She shook her head. “He doesn’t seem too upset about moving out. In fact, he’s been so excited about coming to college. Dorm life and all. The thing is,” she glanced at the door, and lowered her voice, “when I stayed with him last night he, you know, to himself. In the bathroom. But only minutes before he couldn’t get it up for me. I don’t understand.”

Well neither did I. But there could’ve been a whole heap of reasons for it. “I wouldn’t really worry about it. Just settle down into college life a bit. It’s bound to work out.”

“Right.” She climbed off the bed and rummaged in the bookshelf. “How do you like your view?” she asked glancing out the window at the parking lot.

“Haha.” I gave up playing and put the guitar away.

June tore out a piece of paper from one of Trey’s math books. After jotting down a quick note, she rested it on top of his dresser.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how you handle living with him,” she said, a small twinkle in her eye. “He’s a bit of a slob, and not good at picking up after himself. Maybe you’ll have better luck, though.”

I smiled inside. Good. I hated sloppiness. So it probably wouldn’t take long to go off the guy. Everything had its silver linings. “I’ll manage.”

June gave me a quick hug goodbye and left, taking my cardboard boxes with her. (She’s such a doll.) Deciding to get out of the room, I found my wallet. As I went to leave, June’s note caught my eye and I found myself checking it out.

Came by. Place looks good. Be nice to Shane, yeah? See you. --June.

Be nice to Shane? Why did she have to tell him that? Had he said something to make her worry? I set the note back on the dresser. Trey’s top drawer, partially opened, caught my eye. I felt like such a snoop peering in, but, I don’t know —I couldn’t help it?At the sight of boxer-briefs, at the images of Trey in nothing but them, I grew aroused. With insane effort I stepped away from the drawers, away from the temptation to grab a pair and rub them over my face, breathing them in. Oh this was so much fuck, fuck, fuckityfucked up.
Angry at my lack of control, I stormed down to the cafeteria, knocking over a guy with his tray. I sucked up my issues, and helped the guy up, and then collected his packaged sandwiches.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, handing over a salmon and asparagus sandwich that made me realize how hungry I was.

The guy, blonde and almost as tall as me, smiled. “No probs. Lucky I didn’t go for that chocolate milkshake, I guess.” Then he flicked his hand up in a sort-of wave and shuffled over to the nearest free table.

I bought a sandwich and, still feeling bad about knocking the poor guy over, ordered a chocolate milkshake as well. I carried my tray over and slipped in the chair beside him. “Hey,” I said, sliding the milkshake over. “I really am sorry about before.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to,” he said, his face flushing a soft pink, “but, ah, thanks.” He cleaned a hand on his jeans and offered me his hand, which although formal was sweet. “I’m Syd. Sydney, really, but anyone I like calls me Syd.”

I shook his hand, surprised at the firmness of his grip. “I’m Shane.”

We chatted a while before I opened my sandwich and started munching. Syd was quite nice to look at. Not only was it obvious he kept himself in pretty good shape, he had these electric green eyes that almost looked as if they’d have the capability to attract insects. Well, certainly they attracted me.

Syd laughed, reached over w amith a serviette and dabbed my chin. “You’re drooling.”

“I was not.” He winked. “Well, it sure looked like it.”

Totally speechless, I took another bite of sandwich, and almost choked when he said, “So, how long have you known you’re gay?”

I glanced around the cafeteria, nervously. No one seemed to be looking at me though. I faced Syd, squirming in my chair. “What? I mean, how...” I stopped and rested both elbows on the table, then said in a low voice, “Coming on five months. But I don’t know, maybe before that even.” I pushed the crusts away. “How did you know?”

Syd twisted facing me directly, thrusting his hips slightly as he leaned back into his chair. “There’s your answer.”

“What?” He smiled, slowly ran his gaze down my body and stopped on my crotch, after a moment he met my eye again. “You did that to me three—four times now, counting the last one. I’d say it was more than a lucky guess.”

Well, I didn’t have a mirror, but I could have sworn I’d just turned lobster red. Although I normally hated crusts, I picked one up and stuffed it in my mouth for something to do. Then I picked up my tray to get the hell out of there, but Syd stopped me placing a hand atop of mine.

“Where do you think you’re going? You haven’t asked me out yet.” His tone was sweet, but there was a challenge in it too.

I let go of the tray, and met his eye. “So you are… too?” I swallowed. “I mean, you’re gay too?”

 

Syd removed his hand, but slowly letting his fingertips tickle my skin. “I’ve known since I was twelve.”

“Shane!” someone bellowed across the cafeteria. I stiffened. I knew that voice. It was deep; it was sending sparks in waves through my body.

I looked up to Trey striding across the room in my direction. My breath suspended in the air as his deep brown eyes rimmed with thick lashes gazed at me. His dark hair sort of spiked up gave him even more height and attitude. I was aware many eyes were peeled to his sexy gait and I had mixed feelings about it. Internally, and without license, I scowled at anyone checking him out.Don’t even think about it,I silently yelled,he’s mine. Which of course wasn’t true at all, but try telling my head that. (When it came to Trey, I’d lost all sense of reason.) It also excited me that while all these people checked him out, he didn’t see a single one of them. His eyes remained riveted to mine.

But that wasn’t allI felt. In fact, that was probably the tip of the iceberg, because more than anything, I felt dread. Dread that even while I sat next to a really cute (available) guy, Trey still thrilled me. And I didn’t want that. I needed to escape this. Yet just the thought of trying to escape made me sick.

What the hell was wrong with me?

And—because why not have things more complicated?— the guy still freaked me out. There was a part of me that, at the mere sight of him, wanted to cower and hide under the table.

Syd leaned toward me. “Who’s that?” Good question. I still had no idea. “Um… that’s my roomie.”

Trey reached the table, pulled out a chair and sat down, darting his gaze to Syd. “Hey,” he said shortly.
I snapped out of my reverie and introduced them to each other. Trey took my left over crusts and stuffed them in him mouth, while I just sat dumbly, one brow raised. “Crusts are good for you, man. Help you get big and strong.”

Syd chuckled, a sweet sound that made me smile. “Doesn’t look like you need anymore, then.”

I laughed, uprooting my gaze from Trey to Syd. Maybe, if I gave it the chance, I could really like this guy. He was cute, and gay so those were pluses, and well, Ireallyneeded to get over this, thisthing.

Syd waggled his brows, his green eyes edged with mischief, making me bite my bottom lip.

 

“Shane?” Trey saiaidd, in a soft voice. “Would you give me a hand with some furniture back in the room?”

What furniture? It’d looked all sorted out to me. But maybe he wanted to rearrange more stuff? I nodded, before I stood up from the table, though, I spoke to Syd, “It was very nice meeting you. I’d, um, like to again, if you want?” My palms sweated, and my heart raced as I said this. I’d never asked a guy out before, and it was both exhilarating and nerve wracking.
Syd checked his watch as if mentally calculating something. “You up for some coffee later?”

I relaxed a fraction, though I couldn’t entirely with Trey staring at the both of us. “Sure. When’s good for you?”

“Say seven?” He pulled out his cell phone and I gave him my number. “Super,” he said, grinning. “Meet you out the front of the building here.”

I got out of my chair. Trey had already begun crossing the room. “See ya.”

 

“I’ll thank you properly for the milkshake later,” Syd said and winked.

I trotted up to Trey, in a daze. I was so happy I could have, could have, I don’t know, hugged him. Finally I’d be moving on, I’d be done with these weird feelings Trey gave me. That thought was overwhelming relief tackling my guilt and shredding it to bits.

I almost had to jog keeping up with Trey’s long stride, but I didn’t care. I would’ve gladly skipped if I had to, because things were looking up. We didn’t say a word to each other until the door shut behind us.

Trey attempted a smile, at least that’s what I thought it was. It was either that or a grimace. “So, Syd seemed…nice.” But the way he said it sounded verynotnice, and I stepped back from him.

“He is, actually,” I said, placing my wallet on the side table. “Bit late for coffee though, isn’t it.”

“So what? And come on. You and I both know we won’t be going for coffee.” I waltzed passed him, thinking to grab my guitar to concentrate on something else other than him and me.

His hand fastened on my shoulder and spun me around firmly. “But you hardly know him.”

 

I frowned. “Hence the date. And with any luck, I’ll be getting to know him pretty good very soon.”

He looked away from me to his arm. Startled, he dropped it to his side. “I,” he paused, “well, you’re my roomie. It’s like part of the job to look out for you. That’s why I said that.”

“Well,”—I walked to my drawers and pulled out a pack of condoms—“Just in case. I will be safe.” Wow! I so hadn’t just done that! This had to be a huge step, making it clear to myself that Trey and I could never—would never happen. Go me. “So, you needed help with some furniture?”

Trey narrowed his eyes as if trying to figure out what I was on about. Then he gave a sharp nod. “Oh, I wasn’t sure if I should move the flat screen from my side of the room to somewhere else, so you can have better access to it if I’m not around.”

“Nah, it’s cool. It’s yours keep it there.”

Trey hesitated, and looked around the room. “Well there isn’t really any good place to put it, I guess. But feel free to use it, yeah? My bed is comfy as, so you can cozy up there to watch a movie if you’d like.”

I imagined myself cuddling into his pillows, smelling him all around me. I turned from him, and tried to focus on Syd’s face, his bright green eyes. But compared to what I felt around Trey lately, it wasn’t half as intense.

I slipped out of my shoes, rested them on the shoe rack I’d bought, and took myself and my guitar to the bed. Trey eyed up the shoe rack and shook his head. He kicked of his shoes and left them sprawled out over the floor. I gritted my teeth, but ignored it. I took the pick I’d placed on top of my side table and started playing.

In the music I drifted away, and all of my issues ceased. I loved the escapism it provided, I owed it so bad. After Id finished, and senses returned to me full force, I noticed Trey lying on his bed, his head propped up on his hand, watching me.
Heat swelled to my cheeks, and I looked down at the guitar in my lap.

“You’re not bad, you know.” Trey coughed. “Actually, that kinda rocked.”

 

“Thanks,” I mumbled. “Do you play an instrument?”

He shook his head. “Nope. But I like that you can play.” I’d already noticed June’s note had disappeared from the dresser, so I guessed he said that to ‘be nice’. “Hey,” Trey’s voice lifted a notch, “you could entertain for dorm parties.”

I whipped my head to either side. No way was I going to open our room up to trashed, puked in, pissed on. “Actually, I play music for myself, you know. And as for parties, I don’t want—”

My cell phone buzzing cut me off and I forgot what I was about to say. Eagerly, I grabbed it thinking—hoping?—it was Syd. But the display said it was from Treewok Elementary. I flicked it open. “Hello, Shane here.”

It was Mrs. Rollins asking me if I’d be back to run the afterschool care club for third grade on Tuesdays and Fridays.

“Yup, that’s not a problem. I’m going to see if I can get someone to help out now that Ryan”—I shivered, now more embarrassed than sad when I said his name—“won’t be able to…of course, I’ll bring them by to meet you first.”

Mrs. Rollins said it would be enough to meet them before I started on the Tuesday. Then she continued making small talk about how exciting it must be for me starting college, and that her daughter was starting too, and maybe we’d meet up. I hmmed and ahhed whenever I got the opportunity, encouraging her. Normally, I’d be wishing I could come up with an excuse to politely end the conversation, but today I was hanging onto the conversation. Not for the chatting itself, mind you, but because it allowed me to procrastinate and keep my mind of other things. People. Okay,Trey, to be pedantic and painfully obvious.

But all too soon it came to an end. I slipped the cell into my pocket.

 

“What was that about?” Trey said, not even pretending he hadn’t been listening.

 

“Nothing.”

Trey shrugged, and something about it annoyed me. Like, why did he even ask if he wasn’t bothered by getting an answer? For that matter, why’d he listen in at all if he wasn’t interested?
“It was just something for work was all,” I said, and made a mental note to see if maybe June wanted to help out.