It wasn’t an epic moment of poetic words, but that one declaration made my heart flutter. My feelings for Reno were blossoming into something I didn’t have a grasp on because I’d never felt anything like it before. After he did some heavy cussing, I kissed his chest and he settled down, stroking my arm until I fell asleep. That morning, Reno had dropped me off at home so he could have a talk with Austin and smooth things over with his pack. I had doubts Austin would accept what I’d done, regardless of the reason. Lexi probably wanted nothing to do with me, and I didn’t blame her. But a pang of remorse struck deep when I realized I’d lost a friend.
Trevor came into the bedroom while I changed into a pair of jean shorts and long sleeves.
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone all night, Trev. I should have called, but I was a little… tied up,” I said with a mischievous smile.
“You got whisker burn on your face,” he pointed out, shaking one of my snow globes.
I ignored him, tying my shoelaces into double knots. “Don’t ruin my morning with a fight.”
“That good, huh?”
I fell back on the bed and smiled at the ceiling. “Blissfully good.”
He crawled next to me and relaxed on his side, poking his finger in my exposed belly button. “Just don’t fall in love with sex.”
“Why do you have to be so obtuse? I know what I’m doing.”
“It means you’re young and maybe this is the first best sex you’ve ever had. Don’t translate that to love, and trust me, it’s easy to do.”
“Trevor, you’re two years older than me. I hardly think that makes you wise beyond your years about sex and love. So you can drop all that young and na?ve business. It’s time for me to start having relationships with men instead of reading about them.”
“Yeah, but why does it have to be him? Anyone but him.”
I sat up and frowned. “Just because he knocked you out? Bruised pride. Yeah, I get it.” I hopped off the bed and made my way to the kitchen.
He trailed behind and leaned against the wall by the fridge. “Look, babe, he’s bad news all around. I know exactly what his game is and you’re…”
I slanted my eyes. “I’m what?”
“Just a plaything to him.”
I poured milk into a bowl of cereal and sat in the chair. “Maybe he’s a plaything to me, ever think of that? I’m not the victim here, Trevor. It’s what I want. I’m finally heeding your advice and taking control of my life.”
“One night of phenomenally great sex and she’s taking back her life.” He swung the door open and leaned outside. “You hear that, world? April had great cock and now she’s turning over a new—”
I reached around him and slammed the door. “Cut that out! My neighbors will hear you.”
“Who? Mr. Dongshlonger with all the gnomes?”
“Great, now I’ve lost my appetite,” I said, whirling around and taking a seat at the table. I watched Hermie making bubbles at the top of the waterline.
Trevor snorted. “I’d ask what’s got into you, but I think I already know.”
A laugh bubbled out and I shook my head as he flashed an amused wink at me. I swirled the spoon in my cereal bowl, stretching out my legs and crossing them at the ankle. “You’re so childish.”
“Well, now that I’m speaking with the new and empowered April, I hope she’ll know when to cut off the bootie calls,” he said, peeling a banana and leaning against the counter. “Taking control also means learning when to let go of something that isn’t healthy. It was hard as hell for me to leave my ex, but what we had wasn’t right and would have eventually destroyed us.”
“So why did you stay together?”
His cheek puffed out when he took a generous bite of the banana. “Sometimes you just want to hold on to the fantasy and the only thing you end up with is the reality. The reality was, James made me feel like shit on a regular basis, and as a result, I spent his fucking money just to piss him off. It was toxic because he didn’t want to accept who I was.”
“What do you mean? I hope you at least told your boyfriend you were gay,” I said with a crooked smirk.
“Never mind,” he muttered, dropping the half-eaten banana in the trash. “I have a few job interviews lined up for today.”
I flew out of my chair and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Hey,” he laughed. “What’s all this lovey-dovey business for?”
“Because it means you’re staying. I was afraid you’d eventually go back to him and leave me here by myself.”
Trevor gave me a big squeeze. “You’re family to me, April. I look after my family. Look, I can’t leave you by yourself all day, so let me drop you off at the mall.”
“The mall?” I laughed and pushed away.
He held my wrist and arched his right eyebrow. “Yeah. The mall. That place we met at, remember? Don’t act like you’re so high and mighty that after one night of blistering sex, you’re too good to mingle with the passionless sheep hitting the clearance racks.”
“Okay, it’s getting less funny,” I said, glaring up at him.
Trevor smiled devilishly and leaned against the counter. I don’t know how he managed to get every hair on his head combed in such a way that it looked messy and neat all at once. “Then where do you want to go? The candy store?”
“No, I’m not working there anymore.”
“What?” He stood up straight and crossed in front of me. “What happened?”
“Retail isn’t helping me with my career goals.”
“You suck at lying.”
“Cut it out, Trev. It’s my life.”