Shane and Trey[ Enemies to Lovers 01 ] (19 page)

“Date number two?” I asked, raising a brow, and then gasped as Trey’s hand wandered to the crease in my jeans. “Stop that.” Although my voice, husky, didn’t match the words. Nope, not at all. I might as well have thrust myself into him and saidkeep going.“You’re making me hard.”

“Don’t like that?”

Duh? Of course I did, just these jeans, sitting this way… “Darn it.” I quickly fished a hand under the waistband and rearranged myself. “Your fault.”

I glanced at him, his eyes rooted to my crotch, his fingers twitching on my leg as if contemplating. In that brief second, his lust radiated, making my blood boil and, yeah, head faster down there. Man he turned me on. Was I lucky or what?

“No mistake, no fault,” he finally choked out.

“You trying to make me jizz in my pants again? ‘Cause, baby, as much as I like what you do to me, I don’t have a spare pair.”

He grinned and, reluctantly, removed his hand. “Now tell me more about this date,” I said. Just the thought of one unleashed butterflies.

Trey reddened a touch. “Okay, see this would be another great reason to be able to drive. Well, I won’t be picking you up, but meet me at Zebrini? Say eight-thirty?” “Sure. Do you want me to pickyouup?” I thought the offer made sense, but one look at his face told me I shouldn’t have said a word.

“Ah, no. I will get there my own way.”

We remained quiet for a moment. Then both of us spoke at once. We looked at each other a second, confused, then broke out grinning at each other, effectively melting any tension. “Ah, you go,” he said.

Hmmm… “Umm…” I indicated and turned into the last street before we reached Treewok Elementary, “so… nothing. You?”
“Had nothing either.”

We chuckled. Weird. This was weird and good. I breathed deeply. Oh yeah.

Within ten minutes we’d parked and made it to the office, picked up the key and met the kids in the gym. As soon as the doors closed behind us Trey and I acted like strangers. We kept an unusual distance (and a whole heap of kids) between us, overly sensitive someone would clue on to us.

The entire few hours messing about in the gym, and even out on the field where we tried to teach the kids some hockey, I was super aware of my physicality. The way I moved, held myself, gestured—nothing felt natural anymore. I’d notice I slouched a bit, and would straighten myself, stopping halfway thinkingdoes it look like I’m trying too hard?Ha-ha, which I was.

“L-l-leave m-me a-l-l-one.” At the sound of Paul, I honed my atten nned tion in on him, Jessie and Karl, by the fence under an Oak tree.

I stalked over, motioned Jessie and Karl to follow me a few steps away, and crouched to their level to look them all in the eye. “What’s going on here?”

Jessie shrugged, and Karl spat on the grass. “Nothing. Just… talking to Paulie.”

 

“Is that what he’d say?” I asked, knowing the answer.

Jessie snickered. “Of c-c-course.” Karl laughed, but stopped when he looked at me. And I wasn’t surprised. I took bullying seriously.

“Karl, Jessie,” I looked them both in the eye, “picking on others is not okay. I will be talking to your teacher about this. I want you to apologize to Paul.”

“Can’t make me,” Karl said, glaring back at me. I felt uncomfortable, and wasn’t entirely sure what to say to that. He was right; I couldn’t make him do anything. I held his eye, but felt myself starting to sweat. I wasn’t going to back down though, I was the authority here at the moment, and he had to learn there were boundaries.

Jessie nudged him. “I don’t want to get in trouble with Mrs. Treale. Come on.” But Karl didn’t move while Jessie ran to Paul and said a quick half-sincere sorry.

“If you want to take part in the games we play,” I said slowly, “you have to show me you can work with others in a team. And that means showing respect and being kind to them.”

He looked over my shoulder at others playing a bit of hockey, a light shone in his eyes. I could see how much he wanted to participate. Then he narrowed his eyes and shrugged it off. “Whatever. But with Paul I was only saying what’s true. He speaks funny. Everyone knows it.”

“Karl, can you do something for me? Can you imagine being Paul for a second? Imagine speaking is hard for you. Imagine how much you want to speak like others. Now, how would you feel if someone came up and made fun of you?”

He didn’t answer, he was too stubborn to, but I could see something change in his expression. It was a start. “Now, if you want to continue playing with us, apologize to Paul. If you don’t, I will take you to Principle Rollins, and you can spend the rest of the afternoon with her.”
Stamping his foot, he gave in. He waltzed up to Paul and without looking at him said, “Sorry.” And that was it, but it was a start. I’d make sure to talk to Mrs. Treale about it, though.

I nodded as Karl ran off, and went over to make sure Paul was okay.

 

“I’m g-good.” I rubbed his head with my knuckles, a little thing we did. He smiled. Tough kid.

 

“Now come and show me what you can do with a hockey stick. I can show you a few tricks, if you like.”

He nodded and we turned back toward the others. My breath hitched, as I saw Trey a couple of feet away, kids around him, but he was looking at me with something… hmmmsomethingin his gaze. Whatever it was it made the heat rush to my face, and I had to turn away from it.

For the rest of the afternoon, I was back to that physical over-awareness. Only once we were back in the car, alone, did I relax.Somewhat.

One of Trey’s large hands gripped the back of my neck. He squeezed and moved to my shoulders massaging them too. Oh boy did that feel good. I dropped my neck forward encouraging him to continue.
“Jeez, you’re tense.”

“Mmmm.”

He chuckled. “There’s more where that came from. Later. I want to get back to help Ma as much as I can before we meet up at Zebrini.”

I rolled my neck, feeling so much better. Double—triple-so, because yay, yay, yay tonight we were going on a date.

 

***

After parking my car (I scored a spot right outside Zebrini’s), I headed inside. We hadn’t made it clear exactly where we were meeting, so I hoped I wouldn’t look too much like a dork wandering around the large room. Maybe because it was a Tuesday evening, I wasn’t sure, but only a few billiard ns wiok tables were occupied. A good thing, I supposed. There’d be enough tables that we wouldn’t have to wait, or worse, play with others.

About to turn around and head back to the entrance, a long shadow crept over me and I knew—could sense it was Trey. I spun around before he could say anything. “You’re late.”
Trey gently picked up my wrist and looked at my watch. “Fashionably, I’d say.”

“Humpf!” I held back the grin, although it was doing its best to break free. “Does that make me on time, or eager?”

He motioned me to a table in the far corner, tucked away from view thanks to the back of the bar. Leaning to my ear he spoke. It was like his voice had fingers and specialized in tickling my spine. “Eager, I hope.”

There was no holding that grin back any longer. It erupted from me and with it a chuckle. “Then you’re lucky. Now teach me how to play some pool.”

“First let’s get a coke.”

At the bar we drank a refreshing soda and shared what we’d had for dinner. Trey shook his head when I told him Mom and I had microwave bolognaise, and promised to make it fresh for me ‘one of these days’. My nerves doubled at that point for about a half minute, and then either they toned themselves down, or I got used to it.

“Now,” Trey said after insisting to pay for my drink, “let’s find you a cue.” He dragged me past the green table, over to the cue stand. Pulled one out and checked the tip before handing it to me. “Hold it in your right hand.”
I grabbed it, doing as he said.

He came closer and moved my hand to the thick end. “Does it feel too heavy?”

“No!” Well, it wasn’t thatheavy, but weren’t there lighter ones? Another cue was placed in my hand. Much better. How did he know? Better not think I was weak or anything. Rrrr. “This is fine too.”

Trey’s eyes twinkled as if laughing. Minx! Then he grabbed a cue for himself and some chalk. “So,” he said, as we moved to the billiard table well lit up with suspended lights, “you said you know the rules, right?”

He took the plastic triangle off the set up balls.

“Um, yeah. I mean, I know the basics. Sink all the colors of your balls, either solids or stripes and—ah—go for the black one last.”

A cute smile. “The eight ball.” “Right.”

Trey rested his cue on a side trolley, took mine and carefully painted chalk on the tip, not taking his eyes off me. “Well, I don’t think we’ll play a game today.” He maneuvered behind me, taking my right hand and clasping it around the cue. “I think we’ll just practice your stroke.”

I shivered, pleasant, intense. Could he feel it? My guess was yes, as he pressed himself closer showing me where to place my other hand.

“The most important thing in the beginning is to feel comfortable.” At that I wanted to turn around and tell him I got the subtext, kiss him and suggest we leave to be a little more explicit about it. But, ah, I wasn’t quite gutsy enough to do it, because I was so freaking nervous. And he had to know, too, because the wood was all sweaty where I held it.

For over an hour Trey tortured me, giving me little mischievous looks now and then that confirmed he knew what he was doing. And I went with it, because crap it was hot, and I knew I wasn’t the only one almost in pain here. Trey was doing it to himself too. That thought held me out, until—“Okay, enough of this.” He stole my cue, putting his and mine away. Coming back, he gripped my elbow, leading me around the corner before letting go. “Let’s get to your car, now.”

The urgency in his voice spurred me on, because it was exactly how I felt. I quickened my step, and then stopped. Cold. Without thinking I jumped behind Trey and ducked my head.

“What the—” Trey began and I shushed him. “Oh, God. It’s Ryan. Fuck.”

Trey’s muscles tensed, I could f nsomeesteel them where I pressed into his back. I peeked around his arm and gulped. Yup, that was Ryan all right. Same lazy grin, blonde hair. He had an arm wrapped around a petite girl and laughed at something she said. But, what was he doing here? Hometown here? Did he have some type of special holiday? Or did he drop out of college? The last thing he said to me drifted into mind.Part fag.I gritted my teeth, and hoped he’d failed.

Trey turned around, still blocking me from Ryan’s view, a hard expression on his face. I sobered at the look. A warning blared through me,careful now.Careful what? I must say, I didn’t understand it.

“Outside, now!” he said, and stomped out of Zebrini’s. What? Damn! I started to go after him when Ryan caught sight of me. I thought to make a dash for it, but couldn’t.

“Shane?” His voice sounded just the same. But it didn’t thrill me like it used to.

 

“Hey, Ryan.” “What’s up?” He was talking to me now?

“Ah, nothing much. College, work.” And then, “You?” Why did I ask? I didn’t care. I just wanted to get to my Trey. I eyed the exit.

“Oh, here with Tiffany.” He gestured to the petite girl, a content smile passing his face. “Introducing her to Mom and Dad.”

I looked at Ryan hard. Trying to figure out what I’d seen in him. Sure he was still attractive, but—nope—zilch. Didn’t feel a thing. “Nice. Um, look, I’ve got to go. Someone’s waiting for me outside.”

“Oh. Wasn’t that Trey I saw just before?” He scanned the room. “Is June here too?”

“No. It’s just me and him.” And suddenly I didn’t care what he thought. He didn’t mean enough to me now for that. To prove it, I added, “He’s my boyfriend.”Boyfriend.Yeah, that felt so good to say.

Ryan flinched and I watched him struggle not to shudder or say anything. His restraint at least had grown over the months. “Hmm. Well.” His eyes looked sad, looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn’t bring himself to. “I’d better get back, too.”

I nodded and stepped away from him. As I turned I heard him mutter softly, “Sorry, man.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw him retreat. Memories of the old days panged in my gut. Yeah, I was sorry our friendship was ruined, because there’d been some good— more than good times. Kayaking trips, hiking, misadventures on road trips. One time we’d camped out and a fellow camper broke his leg really bad and together we’d piled him into his old campervan and drove him to the nearest hospital. “Me too,” I whispered.

Outside, Trey paced the pavement, hands dug into his pockets, kicking at a cola can. He looked up at me, but when I caught his eye moved away. I went to speak, but he shook his head and motioned to the car. “Get in.”

The hurt sound in his tone startled me, I opened the doors and waited until we both buckled up. “Sorry, Trey, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I’m not upset.” “Really?” If that wasn’t upset, what was? “You seem like it.”

“Well…” He fiddled with the handle on the glove box. Click. Click. Click. “You don’t… still have feelings for him, do you?”

“What the hell would make you think that? No!” I crossed my arms in a petulant manner—but I was mad. How could he think that after the few days we’d had together? Why didn’t he know already what he meant to me? That for no one,no one,had I felt this way. I sunk back into the chair knocking my head into the rest.

I closed my eyes, aware somehow that Trey was watching me. “Look,” I started, after replaying the scene in my head. (And coming to see how hiding behind him like that might have added to his insecurities), “I was surprised to see him, that’s all. That first glance had me remembering how he’d hurt—embarrassedme.”

No reply. Just: click-click.

I op ned, irsened my eyes, and started the car. Halfway down the street, Trey finally talked. “Shit Shane. I acted like a jerk. I should have been supportive and not—not got all jealous.” He cautiously rested a palm on my knee.

“You were jealous?” The glee in my voice made him smile. “Hell yeah, I even thought about going back in there and challenging him to a fight.”

I laughed. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you to pick on people your own size?” And just like that, our little, uh fight? Misunderstanding? was over.
“Um, Trey, what time do you start classes tomorrow?”

“Around lunch.” “Okay,” I said, making a left. “We’re staying at my place then.”