“You guys know lots of other free runners. Just pick the ones you think you’ll get along with best and put them forward as candidates.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he said and went silent as I began packing away my things. He watched me with a heat so potent it felt like a physical touch. My skin beaded as I reached by him to grab my make-up bag. He caught my hand, his thumb brushing over the delicate inside of my wrist. My throat constricted as I glanced up to meet his eyes.
“Can we go back to yours?” he asked huskily.
I opened my mouth to speak, then hesitated. My initial thought was to say yes, but instead I asked, “Why didn’t you call me all week?”
Trev frowned like I was being a buzzkill. “I told you, things have been crazy.”
My brows rose. “Too crazy for a five-minute phone call?”
“I told you. It won’t be like this forever. Everything’s just moving really fast right now.”
“Right,” I said, an uneasiness taking hold. The spell broke, my indignation built. I was angry at how he ignored me for days then just thought he could show up and I’d do whatever we wanted. We hadn’t had sex yet, not properly, and the expectation of it hung heavy in the air between us. It was something we both wanted desperately, I knew that, but maybe his intentions weren’t as pure as mine. Showing up unannounced after a week of radio silence felt a lot like being used. I was worth more than that. I wasn’t going to be his booty call, or whatever the hell this was.
I grabbed my bag and keyboard case and made my way out into the corridor. Trev followed heavy on my heels.
“You think I don’t care about you,” he said, guessing my thoughts.
“No. I know you care about me. You just don’t care enough. I’m not asking for the world, Trev. I’m not asking for much at all, just a little respect.”
He caught me by the wrist and tried to take my things. “Let me carry those.”
I refused to let go and turned to face him. “You’re only here because you want sex. Admit it.”
Trev’s expression transformed to one of disbelief. “You honestly think that?”
“What do you expect me to think? You say you want to be with me, but you still treat me like a buddy. This isn’t how you treat a girlfriend, not even close.”
He moved toward me, his chest bumping mine and stared me down. The intensity radiating off him was almost intimidating. “Teach me, then,” he whispered.
I huffed a breath. “I’m not even sure if you’re teachable. You don’t know how to treat a girlfriend because nobody’s ever demanded anything of you. No one’s ever told you to act right, because they’re too dazzled by how good-looking you are. They’re too busy feeling blessed that you deign to grace them with your presence. Well, that’s not going to be me. I’m not going to let you walk all over me like the other girls you’ve been with.”
I felt a little awkward after I finished speaking, like I had to mentally step down off a podium or something. Trev didn’t say a word, and his expression was unreadable. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Slowly, he reached down and took my bag and case. He set both items on the floor then took my face in his hands. I swallowed when he started backing me up into the wall. My shoulders met the cold concrete as he levelled me with a sincere look.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “You’re right. Everything you just said is true, but I don’t act this way intentionally. Sometimes I can’t help it.”
I felt a twinge of guilt. I knew he had personal problems that made it difficult for him to be reliable, but I didn’t completely understand them yet. It was hard to understand someone you could hardly get in touch with over the phone, never mind sit down and delve into sensitive issues. I eyed him warily. “Do you really mean that, or are you agreeing with me for the sake of peace?”
“No. People only like me because I’m pretty. I believe you.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” I sighed.
His thumb swiped over my bottom lip and I trembled. His voice lowered to a whisper. “What did you mean then, Reya?”
“I mean, people don’t expect you to do certain things because of your looks and your charisma. They’re just happy to be around you. And that’s not your fault. It’s theirs for being shallow. I’m trying not to be shallow, too.”
Trev started to smile as he bent and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “That’s why I love you,” he whispered, and for a second time stood completely still. “You’re the most honest person I know.”
I pulled back and stared up at him, tiny acrobats doing backflips inside my chest. “What did you just say?”
Eight.
The apartment was amazing. It was a penthouse and the balcony looked out over a large market square. And don’t even get me started on the architecture. Absolutely beautiful.
There was a frenzy of activity as everyone got settled in their respective rooms. I hadn’t a chance to check out the one I was sharing with Leanne yet, because Neil and I were too busy making various arrangements for the upcoming days. Although at times, I felt a bit superfluous, like I was fumbling in the dark and just slowing him down. At least he was a patient sort. Anyway, I was determined to learn the ropes quickly and actually be of some use.
I’d rounded the corner leading to the main bathroom when I overheard voices coming from Trev and Callum’s room.
“Just try and be a bit nicer, yeah? I know Leanne looks tough, but that’s only because she hides what she’s really feeling. When you say shit like you did earlier, it upsets her,” said Trev.
“But she looks at me with a face like thunder every single day. She’s nice to everyone but me. She talks to everyone but me,” Callum argued. “How do you expect me to deal with that shit?”
“Aw, does it hurt your delicate feelings, puddin’?” Trev teased, and I heart a grunt from Callum.
“Piss off.”
Trev chuckled before his voice sobered. “In all seriousness though, I thought you two made up. Now things seem even worse than before.”
“It’s not like the truce was optional,” Callum replied. “Barry said that if we didn’t kiss and make up we’d be kicked off the show. We didn’t have another choice.”
Barry was their director. He was a middle-aged guy I’d spotted around throughout the day. He was either staying in one of the other apartments with the camera crew, or he was at a hotel.
“So, you two didn’t even talk things out? You just shook hands, promised to play nice and that was it?”
“Pretty much.”
Trev swore under his breath. “You’re going to have to talk to her. When we head out for dinner tonight, maybe take her aside and clear the air. As soon as we start filming the cameras will pick up on the tension, even if you think you’re doing a good job of hiding it.”