#Rev (GearShark #2) (27 page)

“Why would you say that?” I asked when we were totally alone.

“That night a while ago when you left brothers’ night to go with Drew. You asked me if I cared you were leaving with him. It got me to thinking. Then the rumors started whispering through the house, and Drew hasn’t come around since. Not to mention your family sure was rough on a few particular players today.”

“Was it that obvious?” My tone was sheepish.

“No, but I watch and observe, just like you.”

I blew out a breath. “Fine. I’m in a relationship with Drew. I never confirmed it to Conner, but he suspected, and he turned those other three against me. He thought if he could beat me up and scare me bad enough, I’d leave the house and he could swoop in and take control.”

“Push me right out.” Jack mulled that over.

“Pretty much. And we both know if that happens, Omega is screwed.”

Jack nodded. “We should tell the house, let them take care of it.”

I nodded. “That’s the plan. I was just letting them squirm a while.”

“Devious.” Jack nodded. “I approve.”

“So you’re okay with it?” I whispered.

“With having you as president? Of course.”

“You know what I mean.” I levelled my eyes on his.

“Yeah, I know. I’ll tell you what I said back then, when you left to go with Drew on brothers’ night. I don’t have a problem with it. Love is love.”

I held out my hand, and we shook on it.

“You’re going to make an awesome prez. How would you feel about taking the reins a little earlier than planned?”

“You know I’m up for it.”

I nodded. “Good. I’ll keep you posted.”

Not long after everyone started filing out of the locker room, everyone was pumped for the giant party we were having at the house tonight to celebrate the game.

On his way past, Conner stopped to stare at me.

“How’s the nose?” I asked with a smirk.

“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” he asked. “Enjoy it now, because when everyone finds out you like dick, they’ll be singing a whole new tune.”

“Maybe.” I conceded. “But if they do, you probably won’t still be around to see it.”

He made a rude sound, then stepped back. “Tell your boyfriend I owe him one.”

I leapt forward to grab him by the shirt, but a damn bench was in the way, and the little pecker turned and ran.

Done.

That was it.

No more head games. No more hacking.

No more playing with my food.

He threatened Drew. I’d do anything, and I do mean anything, to keep something like what happened to me from happening to him.

It was time to eat.

Drew

I was getting old.

Like I might as well put in an order for a cane and a rocking chair.

Well, maybe not
that
old.

But old enough that a party didn’t sound like fun. ‘Course, maybe it was because of the tension I felt at this particular party.

This was the first time I’d been in the Omega house at a party since before Trent was beaten up. It was the first time I’d been here at all since that night as far as everyone else was concerned.

It would be odd if I didn’t show. My absence would be more notable than my presence. I knew people in the Omega house whispered about Trent’s sexual orientation, and I knew it was me they all suspected him being with.

It didn’t bother me. Not like that. Not anymore. It seemed like after facing my father, facing a room full of douche bag frat guys was the equivalent of having gum stuck to the bottom of my shoe.

Let me make it clear, though. Just because I didn’t care they suspected or whispered and just because I didn’t care what their opinion was on who I loved… it still made me nervous.

I’d already witnessed what some of the guys in this house would do. After the game and the way Conner and I went after one another, I was afraid of making it worse. Trent still lived here.

Plus, we’d yet to come out to the press and to T’s mom.

Something I was very curious about. I didn’t know much about that side of Trent’s life. He never talked much about his mom, his dad… anyone. The only thing I knew for sure was he was an only child and his dad wasn’t around.

At least I wasn’t alone tonight. Romeo and Braeden were here; a lot of the Wolves players were here. It wasn’t just the frat and me. This was a post-game party and a huge one at that. The house was packed, so much so that people spilled out into the backyard where there was a small bonfire burning and lights strung around the old trees.

There was a keg in the yard and one in the kitchen. Coolers with liquor and beer sat like every two feet, and the music was so loud I had no doubt campus security would get a noise complaint.

Of course, maybe not. Everyone on the entire street was here, so there weren’t many people left to actually call and complain.

We were out in the yard, the massive crowd around Romeo, Braeden, and a couple other Knights players. Rimmel and Ivy went home with Nova, and I was thankful. This was no place for them.

The bonfire was against my back, which I was glad for, not because the darkness brought some cold air, but because if I had flames at my back, I couldn’t have frat assholes sneaking up behind me.

Trent was inside, still making his rounds and doing his job as president. I knew he was trying to make his way out here, so every few moments, I would scan the crowd for his familiar face.

People were interested in the new racing division, which I thought was cool because it meant word was getting out, so I ended up talking cars while I nursed my beer.

“Hey-hey!” Braeden called out a little bit later, and the crowd parted around them as Trent stepped through.

My heart fluttered a little at the sight of him in a pair of beat-up jeans. I liked the worn look on him; it was sexy. With it, he was wearing a plain white T-shirt that molded to his impressive chest and over was an olive-green, army-style jacket.

He grinned, flashing his crooked front tooth, and bumped fists with just about everyone he passed.

“To our host!” Romeo yelled and lifted his beer.

Everyone cheered and did the same. I laughed because I could only imagine what it was like when Romeo actually went here.

Trent grinned and drank to their cheers. His eyes met mine over the rim of his red cup, and the fire at my back reflected off the gold flecks in his gaze. He took up position between me and B, leaning close to my ear. “Daniel is on academic probation. Couldn’t play today. Won’t be graduating.”

I sipped my beer. “I wondered why he wasn’t on the field.”

My little field trip into Daniel’s college record sure paid off a lot better than I thought. Hell, I had no idea the fuck would have to defer graduation. Oh well. He deserved it. It was a shame, though, he wasn’t on the field to take a few hits today.

Trent caught my eye and lifted a brow, silently asking if I was responsible.

I smiled.

“Good game, loser.” Braeden butted into our private conversation. “How’d it feel to take a loss today?”

Trent laughed. “Strange. I’m used to being on the winning team.”

We all settled into a conversation, mostly about football, because you know, the NFL pros were in our presence. There was some smack talk about how bad we smoked the Omegas and, of course, some beer drinking.

I noticed Trent seemed to be drinking the same as I was tonight, as in not really. There was no way in hell I’d let my guard down around all these people. Especially with guys like Conner running around.

I’d yet to see him, but I knew Trent had. He was in the house, and I’d pretty much stayed out in the yard.

In a perfect world, it would have stayed like that.

We all know perfection in life is very rare.

Unless of course you’re a crispy, warm French fry dunked generously in Heinz ketchup.

Jack appeared, breaking into the circle where we all were standing. Trent was on instant alert. Must have been the wary look on Jack’s face.

“Thought you might wanna know,” Jack said, trying to keep his voice down, but it was a party and he wasn’t leaning close. So obviously, people could hear him. “Con’s in the house. He’s talking a lot… Saying some shit. Getting people riled up.”

Trent let out a curse. “He drunk?”

Jack nodded, grim. “Want me to handle it?”

“Nah, man.” Trent clapped him on the back. “It’s time I deal with him once and for all.”

Braeden was already starting for the house, Romeo right beside him. Trent turned to me. “Just stay here.”

I laughed.

Trent’s eyes stared unflinchingly into mine. “I’m not gonna lie in there.”

I stared unflinchingly back. “I don’t want you to.”

Trent measured me a second longer and then nodded. He walked right through the path B and Romeo were cutting, and I followed right behind. T was the first to walk in the back door of the house.

In here, the music was so loud it actually made my body vibrate. People danced all over, and there was a game of beer pong set up near the kitchen.

Trent went right through toward the main living space. It’s like he had radar for the guy, like he knew exactly where Conner would be.

The vibe the four of us gave off as we moved through the house got a lot of attention. All of us were impressive in height and build. I was the smallest, but I wasn’t so small I’d get lost in the crowd.

It was Romeo who garnered the most attention. He was intimidating when he wanted to be. His quiet power and blue-eyed stare were enough to make even the drunkest person sober enough to get the hell out of the way.

And Braeden… well, he simmered with temper. He was a hothead, had been since the day I’d met him. I knew he’d throw a punch. Hell, we’d exchanged a few ourselves.

Conner was in the center of the living room. His eyes were blackened from the hit I gladly delivered to his nose, and it was puffy and painful looking. Probably explained why he was self-medicating with the excess alcohol tonight. Maybe he was trying to dull away the pain of getting punched in the face.

He was talking animatedly to a group of mainly Omega members, but there were girls hanging on some of the guys, too.

Their gazes all shifted to Trent when he approached. Tension in the room spiked, and some people turned a wary eye.

“I hear you’re in here talking shit again, Conner,” Trent said, his voice icy and hard. He never talked to me like that. To anyone. “How many times have I told you if you got something to say, then say it to my face?”

Conner’s face screwed up into a mean look. His eyes swept toward the family standing at Trent’s back. “I see you brought backup.”

Trent shrugged one shoulder. “I know you like to fight in groups.”

Conner’s face paled.

Jack appeared, stepping around me, B, and Romeo and moving to stand near Trent and all the Omega brothers.

Conner sneered. “Had to run and tell, didn’t you?”

“I think maybe our president has a right to know what you’ve been saying about him. Don’t you?” Jack replied.

“He knows exactly what I’ve been saying about him,” Conner said. “He’s just too chicken shit to admit it.”

“Like you were too chicken shit to come at me in a fair fight?”

Conner laughed. “Your threats are getting old, Trent.”

“No threat. I think you’ve seen some action.” Trent raised his voice. Everyone around us grew quieter. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Romeo gesture for the music to be turned down.

Just like that, the music settled into a much lower tone.

“I knew it!” he yelled, pointing at T with an accusatory glare. “That was you! You’re the one who brought the biker over. And that game today?” He held out his arms. “That was just an excuse so you could thrash me!”

“I know it’s hard to believe,” Trent said, “but not everything is about you.”

“Admit it.” He pressed. “Admit the shady shit you’ve been pulling.”

“I can honestly say I haven’t done one shady thing. If you got knocked around in the game today, it’s because you’re a wimp who can’t handle himself.”

Conner’s eyes flared, and he threw his beer across the room. The cup hit the wall, and the tawny liquid splattered everywhere.

“But you…” Trent continued mildly, like Conner’s outburst was nothing at all. “You’ve been throwing all kinds of shade, haven’t you?”

“You deserved every last bit of it.”

I stiffened because that was a clear admission. One punch to his face just wasn’t enough. Nothing I’d done to this kid would ever be enough.

Trent kept his cool. I had no idea how or even why, but he did. “Conner’s been trying to get me out of here for months. He tried to do it by the book, and when that didn’t work, he resorted to other, more unorthodox methods,” he announced.

More of the Omega brothers gathered around. In fact, the party had pretty much come to a screeching halt.

“He’s been talking. You’ve been whispering. If someone has something to ask, then why don’t you just fucking ask it?”

One of the brothers stepped forward. I think his name was Josh. He’d been standing here with Con when we walked in.

“Are you gay?” he asked point blank.

Conner started laughing. “He won’t—”

“Yes,” Trent said, cutting him off.

Conner’s eyes widened in shock. “I told you! He’s been lying—”

Braeden moved so fast it was like no one realized it until Conner was no longer talking and on the ground. Braeden stood over him and shook out his fist. “Shut the fuck up.”

Conner moaned and sat up. Braeden planted himself in front of him and crossed his arms.

I couldn’t help it. I grinned. Romeo did, too. I also wished I’d done it.

“Did you say yes?” Josh asked.

“Yes,” Trent repeated. “I’m gay, and yes, I’m in a relationship with Drew.” He gestured at me with his thumb.

Murmurs and talking started working around the room.

“I wasn’t lying about it like Con would have you believe. I was trying to figure it out, trying to learn how to balance me with the person everyone wanted me to be.” He went on. “But I did lie about something.”

“Ha! I told you!” Conner yelled. “Liar.”

I started forward, and he flinched, his lips pressed together.

Trent rolled his eyes but then turned toward me and held out an arm, blocking me. To the room, he said, “I lied about not knowing who jumped me a couple weeks ago. I do know.”

More murmuring went through the house. “Who was it!” a couple Omega brothers demanded.

“What the fuck, man!” someone else yelled.

“It was my own brothers,” Trent said. “Conner was the ring leader. Daniel, Michael, and Jeremy helped him. They held me down in the parking lot right outside this house and beat me. For weeks, when Conner’s had a chance, he’s whispered taunts at me.”