My pants are on and I’m pulling on my sports bra when I glance back and notice him quickly swivel away. Grabbing my wet towel off the floor, I throw it at his head.
He laughs and dumps it on the ground. “I’m sorry, okay? It’s just a really great view.
“Whatever,” I mutter, picking up the bandage and starting to wind it around my chest.
“Do you need a hand with that?”
I give him another dry glare and he counters it with a stunning smile I can barely resist. My cheeks catch fire as I continue to flatten my boobs.
Footsteps approach, soft and slow. I don’t have the guts to look up so I just focus on what I’m doing, trying to finish as fast as I can. The pads of Trey’s fingers trail across my bare shoulder, then brush over the strapping.
“Does it hurt?”
He sounds like he cares.
I look up and give him a closed mouth smile. “It’s not the most comfortable thing I’ve ever done but thankfully I’m kind of…small, so I guess that makes it easier.”
He grins and holds out my shirt for me. “Not small. Perfect.”
“I do not have perfect breasts.” I snatch the top from him and pull it over my head. It falls like a parachute, hiding my shape.
Trey tuts and shakes his head. “Such a shame.”
“What?”
“Those perfect breasts, that lush body, all hidden away behind clothes four times too big.”
“I have to.” My voice is firm…adamant. “I can’t afford for anyone to guess.”
He frowns, obviously still curious.
I make a quip, trying to avoid another question. “Besides, anything would probably look good to you right now.”
“What does that mean?”
“I saw your face…” I wiggle my finger at his nose. “After I kissed you in my room, you were freaking out that you might be gay.”
His jaw works to the side, and then he gives me a sheepish smile while squeezing the back of his neck. “I don’t have a problem with gay people, I swear. I just didn’t think I was, and it was getting really confusing.”
I reach forward and take his hand, rubbing my thumb over his knuckles. I like the shape of them. “After the kiss you just gave me in the shower, I don’t think you are.”
He rests his forehead against mine. “I’ve been fascinated by you since the second I saw you, and I couldn’t figure it out. All this time it was attraction. Everything I’ve been feeling all makes sense now.”
His words warm me. I know I’m facing a life crisis and everything but to hear Trey admit he’s attracted to me, that I wasn’t the only one battling the feels… It doesn’t matter what you’re going through in life, hearing that kind of thing is nice.
“I’m just so relieved I finally know.” He cups my cheek, running his thumb across my chin.
Tears start to burn as my lips form an ugly line. “You have to forget you know, Trey. You have to act like—”
“I’m not going to put your life in danger.” He tips my head, forcing me to look him in the eye. “I may not know what the hell you’re facing, but you can trust me. This sounds like serious shit. I won’t do anything to hurt you, I swear.”
The sentiment’s nice, but can he honestly mean that?
“This is such a nightmare.” I release a shaky breath. “I’m eighteen. I should be stressing about what dress I’m going to wear this weekend, not hiding from a killer.”
“Is that why you’re here? You waiting to testify or something?”
I pull away, annoyed for slipping up so easily. “Don’t. Please.” I cross my arms and turn my back to him. “I can’t tell you anything. I’m not just saying that for my sake, but yours too.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I check his expression.
He doesn’t seem fazed by a possible threat. His eyes glint with the challenge, his chin tipping up.
“You don’t know what you’re trying to be brave about, Trey. Don’t stand there all stoic and macho! You should be running for the exit right now!”
“I’m not running from you.”
“Why? You barely know me!”
He closes the space between us, holding my face again, looking at me with more intensity than I’ve seen before. His eyes are like magnets, their force enough to freeze me to the floor. “Maybe not. But there’s something about you.”
I can’t tear my eyes away from him. Tears build on my lashes. I blink them away, not wanting to lose sight of the beautiful expression on his face.
“I believe in fate, you know?” His voice drops, low and husky. “You were brought into my life for a reason. I found out about you tonight because I was meant to. I’m supposed to be part of this journey with you.”
I love what he’s saying to me right now, but…
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” I whimper. “I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me.”
He studies my face, unafraid. “Who’d they kill?”
Robbie’s sweet, innocent face flashes through my mind. So different to Trey. So soft and kind…not a fighter. Trey would have pounced on the devil, fought ’til he was dead.
Marco would have won.