“We will not,” she argues, her voice sounding faint while her mind is a million miles away.
“You’re already thinking about it, aren’t you?” I sit up suddenly, feeling my eyes widen with knowledge.
“I am not. I promise we won’t run off on our own. It’s just that we’ve listened to everyone complain about not being involved with our elopement, so we’re dragging everyone down there for one weekend to make it up to them. And I want you there.”
“Tell her that Trent’s coming,” Levi says off in the distance.
“Levi says Trent’s coming. Who’s Trent and why will you come for him and not for me?” she asks, accusingly.
“Trent’s coming?” I ask, dazing off and picturing all the ways I’ve had fun with that boy—dirty, dirty adult time, indeed.
“According to Levi. Who is he?” she asks again.
“He’s a guy that went to college with Mia and me,” Levi says. “They used to…” His sentence trails off, but I can only picture him pointing with one finger and making a circle with his other hand.
“Ohhhh, interesting.” I can hear the amusement in her voice.
“No. Not interesting.” The words rush out of my mouth.
“And the fact that you’re denying it makes it more interesting.”
My head and shoulders slump, my eyes closing automatically. “I promise there is absolutely nothing interesting in an old, college hook-up I had.”
“So, you’ve slept together?” she asks.
“A lot,” Levi says.
I scoff. “You’re one to talk, asshole.”
He must get closer to the phone because his voice is louder. “What are you talking about?” His voice is higher pitched than normal. He’s acting offended, but we all know there is no offending Levi.
“You’re talking about my hook-up that happened a lot? What about you and Danielle? You two were like horny rabbits going at it,” I joke—not that I know know, it’s just what Danielle has told me.
“What have you been telling her?” Levi asks Danielle.
“I haven’t told her anything,” Dani argues, but Levi must give her a pointed look because she follows up with, “What do you want from me? She’s like my only friend.”
I laugh. “Yeah, you’re just a little more persistent than others,” I say, thinking about my lack of friends. I’m more of a loner and always have been. I’ve let very few people into my life. I guess it’s just my way of protecting myself. I’ve let too many people in already, and unfortunately, most of them have hurt me. The only one I allow to continue to hurt me is Trent, and the truth is, he doesn’t even realize he’s hurt me time and time and time again. Every time we’re together, he steals another piece of me. Surely there can’t be much left as it is.
I realized this a long time ago, which is why I always make up an excuse not to meet up with him when he’s in town. I’m not stupid, I know I have very little control over myself when Trent Ford is involved.
“Oh, you love me, and you know it,” Dani says, pulling me from my thoughts. “So, final thoughts on Vegas?”
“Sorry, Dani. I can’t do it. I can’t afford the plane ticket, the hotel room, or the drinking I’ll do while I’m there.”
“Fine,” she says, now pouting.
“I’ll talk to you guys later.”
“See ya,” they both say at the same time.
I hang up the phone and drop it onto my desk. I lean back in my chair and stare up at the ceiling. I think about the guy I haven’t let myself think of in a long time. Trent Ford is a guy I went to college with. He’s the first person I met when I stepped onto campus that first day, and from there on out, we were always together. For a while, he was the cute popular guy at school, and I was his weird, awkward friend that tagged along wherever he went—sad that I’m talking about college and not grade school. Then our friendship turned into something else. I found myself extremely attracted to him, and he was starting to flirt with me. He’d smile, say things like I looked beautiful, be my shoulder to cry on when I got dumped, and we’d even kissed a time or two—both times we were very, very drunk when it happened, and it was never talked about because neither of us wanted to face the awkwardness. Then drunk kisses turned into sober make-out sessions. The only bad thing was that Trent was very popular on campus, and by that, I mean every girl wanted him. I didn’t stand a chance. The most he could offer me was a random hook-up, and being the dumb, stupid, head-over-heels in love with him girl that I was, I went for it.
I started a random fuck relationship with my best friend. That’s actually how I met and became friends with Levi. He and Levi were best friends when he wasn’t always hanging out with that stupid Nick guy that Dani was with. I started this relationship thinking if that’s all he’ll give me, that’s what I’ll accept, while in the back of my mind, I thought maybe this was the way to make him realize he actually loves me. It was a gamble I was willing to take. And it was a gamble I’d lost. I ended up heartbroken, and the worst part was, I didn’t have my shoulder to cry on anymore.
Over the years, I’ve managed to mend my heart—the only problem with mended things is that they could easily break open again. I put space and distance between myself and Trent—I’ve seen him a few times but only during the day and only in group settings. I wouldn’t allow myself to be used again. And I’ve even had a couple of steady relationships along the way—none of which have lasted.
Hearing that Trent is going on this trip makes me want to go so badly, but I know I shouldn’t. Trent is and always will be my addiction. I’ll do anything to stay away from it, but I always fall back into the same trap. Then, I’ll do anything to hang onto it, and that’s where I get hurt.
My phone starts ringing again, and I pick it up hesitantly. Trent’s name is flashing on the screen.
Damn it, Levi! I know this is all your doing.
I know I shouldn’t answer it, but I have to. He’s a drug, and I’m an addict. It’s being dangled right there in front of my face. Maybe just hearing his deep voice and his raspy laugh will be enough.
“Hey, you,” I say into the phone as I lift it to my ear.
“Hey, sweetheart. How ya been?” he asks. His voice is deep and smooth like the richest chocolate you could ever taste. It’s thick, sweet, and oh so delicious.
“Good, and yourself?” Just talking to him gives me jitters. I find myself twisting at the ends of my hair, a smile never leaving my face.
“Good. Tired. I’ve been working a lot. I haven’t had time to meet up with you in a while. Did you know that I’m back in the city?”
I damn well know you’re back. You think I don’t watch your Facebook page like a hawk? You think I don’t rush to the phone when it goes off with chirping bird sounds when you update your Twitter? You think I don’t watch your Snap stories on repeat the whole 24 hours they’re there? But I don’t say any of that. Instead, I say, “Oh, you’re back?”
“Yeah, I’ve been back for a couple of months now.”
“Oh, I’ve been so busy I guess I didn’t notice.” I want to roll my eyes at myself.
“So, Levi roped me into taking this trip to Vegas…”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, and he tells me you’re not coming. What’s up with that? Too busy to hang out with the cool kids like old times?”
I laugh. “I wish that was it. I just…” What’s a good excuse? “I have a lot of work to do.”
“Mia, everyone has a lot of work to do. But it’s important to Levi that we come on this trip. I mean, the guy has a lot to celebrate.”
Fuck. Why is it that he can talk me into anything? “He does,” I agree.
“Then why are you flaking? Come on. Come out with me like the good old days.” I picture the grin that I know is on his face: delicious lips turned up at the corners, his perfectly straight white teeth, and the way his big brown eyes light up.
I take a deep breath. “I can’t afford it,” I blurt out, which also isn’t the truth. But I
can’t tell him the real reason why I don’t want to go.
“Bullshit,” he calls my bluff. “We all know how much you work, and we all know you get paid a pretty penny for what you do. Stop lying to me, Mia. You know I can always tell when you’re lying. I bet you’re biting your lip right now.” He knows all my telltale signs.
I have to forcibly remove my lip from between my teeth. “Am not,” I argue.
“Yeah, sure,” he laughs out. And oh my God, his laugh. It’s like a dam just burst. “So, what do you say, Mia. Please? Please come on this trip with us. It’ll be fun,” he promises.
“I…”
“Mia, you’re coming, and that’s final,” he says, his voice low and demanding.
I feel myself quake with need for this man and his demanding ways. Not many people know this side of him. I’m one of the lucky few. Trent is a real people person. He’s always the center of everyone’s attention. He’s also always making jokes or doing something stupid. And because of that, everyone knows him: the guys want to be his friend and the girls want one night alone with him—more, if they’re lucky like me. But not many people know this in charge, demanding man he really is behind closed doors.
“Okay, fine,” I breathe out.
He laughs. “Ha! That’s my girl. I knew if playing nice didn’t work, I’d just have to use a little force. I know how much you’ve always liked that,” he says quietly into the phone, turning my insides to mush.
“Yeah, yeah. When are we leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning. Eight A.M.”
“Fine. Text me the info.” I pull the phone away from my face to hang up, but I hear him say something else, so I jerk it right back to my ear.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing you, Mia. I’ve been missing you for a while.” I don’t know what to say to that. Is he insinuating something? Does he mean that as in, I’ve really missed fucking you, wanna have a romp, or does he mean that as in, I miss my old friend, let’s have a drink and tell each other how awesome our lives have been since we last saw one another?
Not knowing is killing me.
“Yeah, me too.” My phone beeps, indicating another call. “Gotta go, Trent. Bye.” I hang up his call and answer the other one.
It’s Levi. “We’ve already purchased your ticket. See you in the morning,” he says, amusement in his voice.
“You did this, didn’t you? Dani couldn’t talk me into going, so you threw Trent on me. Admit it.”
“I may have,” he says around a laugh.
Levi doesn’t know how hard I’ve worked to get Trent out of my system, or how badly he wrecked my system. “Thanks, asshole.”
“Awe, shucks. You can thank me later,” he jokes.
I can’t help but laugh. It feels good. I guess I do need to get out of my apartment. I have become a bit of a recluse lately. I mean, I don’t leave my apartment for anything anymore, not even groceries. Why would I leave when I can have everything delivered?
“Later, asshole,” I say, hanging up the phone and dropping it back onto my desk.
I make it to the airport bright and early the next morning. I have my bag hanging on one arm as I hold my phone, and my other hand is holding the Starbucks coffee to my mouth as I nearly chug it. I run on very little sleep, so caffeine is a must.
Levi and Dani find me first.
“Hey, is everyone else here yet?” Dani asks.
I shrug since I still have a cup glued to my lips. “I don’t know any of these people. How should I know?” I finally ask.
“Oh, there’s Bennet and Maddie,” Levi says as he scans the airport.
We all head over in their direction.
“Damon and Jazz are on their way, and Callan and Valerie just pulled up,” the man I’m assuming is Bennet says.
Levi nods. “Bennet, Maddie, this is one of my best friends from college, Mia.” He introduces us.
The three of us shake hands and talk casually.
Soon, the other two couples are here, and we’ve all been introduced.
“Where’s Trent?” Levi asks, looking around.
I’m wondering the same thing. We all begin looking around, though I’m not sure why all these people I don’t know even bother looking. It’s not like they know what he looks like.
Just then, Trent comes walking through the doors on cue. He looks like a damn model walking through the doors, his dark hair perfectly styled and blowing in the air. He’s wearing a loose pair of dark wash jeans, a red t-shirt, and a black leather jacket. He’s tall, lean, and toned—but not muscly. I hate it when guys get too thick. I like a guy that can throw me around, but not one that can hold me down…if you get my drift.
He spots us as he enters, and he offers up his friendly smile. His brown eyes light up and sparkle like melting chocolate that’s been left in the sun too long.
“Hey, Levi,” he says, closing the distance between us and pulling him in for a hug. “This must be your beautiful wife.” He turns to Dani.
Levi wraps his arm around her lower back. “This is Dani.”
I stop paying attention as they talk, forcing my attention on my coffee instead, and the fact that it’s now gone. As I’m reaching out to drop the cup into the nearby trash can, the air gets knocked from my lungs when Trent wraps his arms around me in a big bear hug, lifting me off my feet.
“How ya doing, sweetheart?” he asks, teasing me but also not releasing me.
“Can’t talk….can’t breathe…let…go,” I manage to get out.
He drops me onto my feet suddenly. I look up at his eyes, and the anger melts away.
“How have you gotten smaller?” he asks, holding his hand above my head. “Seriously, have you shrunk?” He’s wearing a big smile, happy to be torturing me again.
“How is it that I’m getting smaller when the size of your assface has doubled?” I ask, smirking at him as my hand lands on my hip and my head tilts.
He laughs and points at me, reaching over and pulling me to his chest. “God, I’ve missed this! We’re going to have so much fun this weekend.” He starts walking away with me. “I don’t think Vegas is ready for the two of us.”
2
Trent
FUCK, I don’t know what it is about this girl, but she’s always had me wrapped around that tiny finger of hers. It may be that fuck-off attitude and quick wit. Or it may be that big mouth on such a tiny frame. Yeah, that mouth and that body, damn. It makes things go from six to midnight for me. Mia has always been the one I wanted. The thing is, I’m not the one she needs. With my job, I travel a lot, and I knew Mia needed a full-time boyfriend, not one that would be gone ten months of the year. She’s too good for that. She needs a man who can be whatever she needs him to be.
But still, a part of me always wonders what would’ve happened between us had I not left right after college. We had this “agreement” back in college. We’d hook up from time to time, and at one point in time, that’s all we did. But it was never serious. She knew not to fall for me because I would be leaving. I knew not to fall for her because I didn’t want to break her heart. Back then, it was easy to follow the rules. We’d do what we could when we could.
No more.
No less.
But then, after college, we went our separate ways. While our friendship stayed strong, our sexual relationship didn’t. We’d done it a few times after college, and it was always unimaginably amazing for me. I’d come into town, make a call, and minutes later, I’d be sliding inside her. Then, I left that one time a few years ago, and she got a boyfriend. Finally, she had smartened up and left my ass in the past. Our sexual relationship was broken off completely at that moment. Even though her relationship didn’t last, the sex didn’t last either.
Going so long without seeing her made it easy to forget how in love with her I am—that and the countless women to keep me warm at night. Seeing her now, I forget everything except how good she always felt to me. She was always there when I needed her, in any way I needed her. She’d
be anything she could for me. She was my punching bag when I’d had a bad day, and it didn’t matter what I said, she knew it wasn’t personal and would just let me vent. She was my friend when I needed one. She was a lover when I needed that side of her. Mia, she’s always been there for me, which is another reason I vowed to stick with the no sex rule we’d somehow agreed to. I didn’t want to fuck her and leave her anymore. It killed me each and every time I had to leave her naked in bed and walk away. Good thing for me, she doesn’t know any of this. She’s always made it clear that we were just friends with benefits. I don’t know how I managed to fall in love with her, knowing she has no feelings for me.
I opt to push everything from my head as I all but drag her onto the plane. My seat is right next to hers, and I allow her to slide in first.
“Are you kidding me? I have to sit next to your annoying ass the whole way?” She rolls her eyes, but I can see the smile she’s holding back.
She slides into her seat, and I watch her round ass the whole way. “Just wait until you find out where you’re sleeping,” I say around a smirk as I sit down next to her.
Her back stiffens. “What?” She leans forward, looking at Dani and Levi. “What’s he talking about?”
Dani smiles. “Well, it just made sense, Mia. Levi and I get a room, Jazz and Damon, Maddie and Bennet, Valerie and Callan, and you and Trent.”
The smile I’m still wearing grows bigger as I look over at her. She’s giving me the death glare and muttering something under her breath.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” I reach down and grab her thigh, squeezing slightly, so it just tickles her.
She jumps and pushes my hand off of her. “I never would have agreed to this had I known I’d be stuck with you all weekend.”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “Sure, you would’ve. You can’t wait to catch me in the shower in the morning, right?” I nod my head as I wiggle my eyebrows.
She scoffs, rolls her eyes, and shakes her head, refusing to acknowledge me.
His Every Desire (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 56
