And the fact that it was terrifying was also terrifying.
The idea of something bad happening to Trev scared me more than anything, more than if it were happening to me. What if he’d died today and I never told him how I felt? My gut twisted with nausea just thinking about it. Maybe I needed to cast my fears aside, because they were more irrational than rational. And if we did somehow lose each other again, it would still hurt immensely. Lessening the pain wasn’t going to make that much of a difference.
I should tell him.
Tell him right now.
But the words caught in my throat as exhaustion pulled at my eyelids. It had been such a long and stressful day. I reached out to squeeze his good hand. “I’m going to lie down for a little bit. Neil’s ordering takeout for dinner, so let him know if there’s anything in particular you want. I’ll be in the next room if you need me.”
Without another word, I went to my own room. Leanne was there already. She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Usually, she’d be texting on her phone or checking her social media accounts, but today she just lay there. Seeing Cal fall must’ve been just as much of a shock to her as it was for me seeing Trev.
“Shit day, huh?” I said with a heavy exhale.
“Yeah.”
“How’s Callum?”
“He’s fine. Pissed at Barry for calling him a little shit, but otherwise he’ll live.”
I cast her a thoughtful glance. “When I saw you two earlier, he seemed upset.”
She stiffened and I saw a wall go up behind her eyes. “Yeah, that was nothing.”
Before I could say more I heard Trev call from somewhere outside our room. “Reya, can you come here a second?”
I got up and went to see what he wanted. “Where are you?”
“In the bathroom.”
Oh, great. I suspected what he needed but hoped I was wrong. Twisting the handle, I opened the door an inch, averting my eyes. “What’s up?”
“Can you, uh, come in here and shut the door?”
I took a deep breath and stepped inside, closing the door behind me. Trev stood by the toilet with his back to me. Clearly, he was either about to piss or had just finished pissing.
His shoulders slumped, like he was embarrassed. “I didn’t think this through.”
My cheeks reddened, because his pants were undone and just barely covered his backside. “W-what did you not think through?”
He sighed. “My right hand’s in the cast. I got my fly open easily enough but I can’t seem to button it back up.”
I stared at his back. He wouldn’t look at me and I tensed, feeling awkward. Then the humour of the situation hit me and a grin tugged at my lips. “You couldn’t ask one of the boys to help you?”
Now he turned to frown at me. “And let them hold it over me for the next two weeks? No, thanks.”
I bit my lip. “I’m not sure I won’t be holding it over you for the next two weeks.”
His mouth twitched as he narrowed his gaze. “Don’t be mean.”
“Come on, you have to admit this is funny.”
“Whatever. Just help me do up my fly, will you?”
I slowly approached him, my gaze flicking down in relief to see he’d at least tucked his business away. “Is your left hand so inept? I don’t get how you could open it but not close it.”
“These pants have those fussy metal slide things, see?”
He was right. They were unnecessarily complicated. I met his eyes, then lowered my gaze, reaching out to quickly clip the slides back in. He watched me intently, like I was a surgeon holding a knife over his opened torso. I huffed a laugh. “No need to look so concerned.”
“Reya, concern isn’t what I’m feeling right now,” he replied in a strained voice.
As soon as the words were out I saw his growing ‘personage’ and my hand shot up to cover my eyes. “Oh my God.”
Trev let out a beleaguered sigh. “Sorry.”
I took a deep breath. “No, it’s fine, it’s just . . . unexpected.”
He chuckled. “Not that unexpected. It’s kind of what happens when you come close.”
“Right, well, uh, I’ll just . . . get out of your way then,” I said, flustered as I hurried to the door.
“Reya.”
“What?” I asked, still not looking at him, though I could tell he was smiling.
“Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
“It’s no problem.”
With that I dashed from the room like it was being filled with noxious gas and the timer was at 00:01. I decided to cancel the gig I had lined up for the night, too exhausted after being at the hospital for hours. I just wanted to shower, eat something, and go to sleep.
Trev didn’t come out of his room when the burgers arrived. I went and knocked on his door, peeking my head in to find him lying on the bed reading a book. Of course, he could only hold it up using his left hand.
He glanced up and I rubbed my hands on my thighs. “Hey. Food’s here.”
Trev let out a tired sigh. “Can you set some aside for me? I’m not up for being around everyone just yet.”
“I can bring it in to you?” I suggested, feeling bad for him. Both yesterday and today had obviously drained his energy reserves.
He sent me a thankful look. “You’re an angel.”
“Sweet talker. I’ll be right back.”
A couple of minutes later I returned with food for both of us. We sat on Trev’s bed cross-legged and spread it all out like a picnic, cheeseburgers, sweet potato fries and a selection of dips. I unwrapped the burger for Trev and handed it to him. He took it with his good hand. “Why do people insist on ruining burgers by putting tomatoes on them? It’s evil. They just make everything soggy.”
I’d forgotten about this little pet peeve of his. A smirk tugged at my lips. “Must be why they call them the devil’s apples.”
My comment took him off guard and he let out an amused chuckle. “The devil’s what?”
“Apples,” I replied, dipping a fry in some garlic sauce. “You’ve never heard the term?”
Trev’s smile grew. “Can’t say that I have.”
“Well,” I said, chewing. “Apparently, that’s what the Puritans used to call tomatoes in the Middle Ages, because they thought they corrupted people. After all, the Spanish and the Italians were wild for them, with their loose morals, so they must be bad.” I paused and waggled my brows. “All that tangy juiciness brings out our baser urges.”
“Is that why you Spaniards have such insatiable appetites?” Trev teased, his tone flirtatious.
“Ha! You’re the one with the appetite and we both know it. I can go months without sex and barely notice.”
Interest marked his features and I instantly regretted the comment.
“Oh yeah? How long’s it been?”
“I’ll only answer that question if you answer it first,” I threw back.
Trev’s eyes twinkled at the challenge. He took his time pulling the slice of tomato out of his burger, then said, “Almost seven months. I haven’t been with anyone since I broke up with Nicole.”
Well, that was interesting. “You ever hear from her?”