“That boy loves those kids and you too, if you’d just open your damn eyes you’d realize it. His mom called me and invited all of us, including you, which is more than I can say I would do from the way you’ve treated her son.” I release a deep breath from exhaustion of her attitude with me.
“Fine. Go. I’ll stay here.” I shout at her while I walk up the stairs. A memory suddenly floods to mind of the fights I had with Jen when I was sixteen. Oh, how I miss her.
When I get to my room, I slam the door like a teenager and flop down on my bed. Anger rising within me, the nerve that she’s taking the kids away, and with Trey. My phone dings in my pocket, and I pull it out.
Trey: Please think about coming. It would be good to get away. Love, your little drummer boy. Although, there’s nothing little about me. ;)
Tossing the phone into my pillow, I let my head fall down onto my crossed arms. The ache that occupies my body is for Trey. I’ve been dreaming about him every night. The feel of his warm arms wrapped around me. There’s no way, I can be in a car with him for three hours, but at the same time there’s no way I can’t. The pull to him is too strong, and he’s weakened me these past weeks as much as I hate to admit it.
Already accepting I should be packing my bag another text comes through.
Trey: Not even a LOL or smiley? Give me something.
The smallest smile starts to form. Damn him.
Me: LOL. Happy now?
Trey: I won’t be happy until you agree to come. Come on my cat girl.
Say no, say no.
Me: Fine.
Trey: Pack a skimpy bikini. Wait, strike that. Bring a one piece too. The bikini will be for the midnight swims with just you and me.
Uh, the audacity of him to think just because I’m agreeing to go, I’ll be skinny dipping with him in the middle of the night.
Me: Don’t get any ideas. I’m not going to be skinny dipping with the likes of you.
Trey: Look has the dirty mind now. I said bikini, not naked. But hey, I’m sure you can persuade me. I’m leaving my house, so pack that bag because I’m coming to get ALL of you.
Just like that the butterflies swarm within my stomach, and the anticipation of being near him grows more intense. Jesus, Kailey, you have no self-control. You’ve held off for the past two weeks, and now you’re just going to give in. What the hell is wrong with you? You love him that’s what.
Trey arrives fifteen minutes later. I barely have everything packed by the time he’s at my bedroom door. He leans against the doorframe so cocky and sure of himself, bearing that flirtatious smirk. “Did you pack it?” he slyly asks.
“Maybe,” I playfully respond, shrugging my shoulders.
He comes into the room and grabs my bag from the bed. When he passes by me, his hand grazes mine and goose bumps spread like wildfire up my arm.
“I just want to make something clear, Trey. This doesn’t change anything. You still need to move on with your life.” His eyes drop, and he takes a long breath before they open again.
“Got it.” His lips turn up into a smile.
We climb into the van, all the kids in the back row, and Holly and I in the second row with Trey and Clyde up front. Holly pats my knee and smiles at me, obviously deliriously happy that I changed my mind.
Three hours, two bathroom breaks, and an hour filled with whining later, we arrive at Trey’s parents’. It’s an enormous two-story brick house set back on a lot of empty land. Classic and modern all rolled into one. With tons of windows and black trim, it’s stunning to look at. The lines are sleek but jagged. Whoever designed it had a keen eye for architecture, that’s for sure.
Trey parks the van in front of the four-car garage, and all of us are eager to escape the confined space. “I forgot what it’s like to travel with children,” Holly says to me and just shrugs. I want to remind her she’s the one who was so keen on this little road trip, but this will be uncomfortable as it is, I’ll need her as an ally not an enemy.
Trey and Clyde carry the bags, but before we open the door it busts open with Elena standing in the doorway. Seriously, do these people have magic powers? Have they ever heard of letting some knock before answering? “Hi, everyone. Welcome.” She throws the door open all the way and signals us to come in. Anxiety builds inside of me that maybe I’m not really welcome, but of course she quickly proves me wrong.
Once I’m through the door, she squeezes me tightly just like her son always does. “Welcome, Kailey.” Her arms bring a warmth around me, almost chipping away some coldness. I nod and clench my teeth, so I don’t break down.
Elena makes a huge pot of spaghetti with homemade meatballs for dinner. We sit on the patio that overlooks acres of land. The kids play in the yard, Chloe does cartwheels, Tara somersaults, and Drew just running in circles. It’s nice to see them so happy and carefree, like children should be. Not that they aren’t at home, but Aunt Holly was right, they needed to get out of that house and Western. Damn, I hate it when she’s right.
“Kailey, will you help me?” Elena asks, taking the dishes into the kitchen.
I automatically stand, kicking myself for not offering first. Trey rises to his feet to help. “Trey, you stay. I only need Kailey. We’ll be right back.” She smiles, and I look at Aunt Holly with fear of what I’m in for.
Elena is already at the counter, placing desserts on the tray to take out. She shuffles with such grace from the cabinets to the counter and back again. I wonder if she was a dancer at one time in her life. After she places everything on the tray we need to take, I scoop up a stack of plates and turn around hopeful to escape. “Kailey, can we have a quick moment to talk?” I close my eyes take a deep breath and turn her way again with a perfectly wide smile encased across my mouth.
“Of course.” I go back, and she signals for me to scoot the stool out. My eyes are darting everywhere but at her.
“I know this is hard for you. Although I’ve never lost anyone so close to me, as you have. I imagine it’s unbearable.” She pats my hand.
“We’re managing, but thank you for your concern.” I act nothing short of polite.
“Trey’s been through a lot,” she starts, and I just want to roll my eyes. Here’s the mother bird protecting her helpless baby.
“I know.”
“Don’t get me wrong, he’s been no saint. But I can tell you he loves you, and I hope that you can see you’re hurting both of you.” She gives me a small smile and turns around.
“I just don’t want to force him into taking care of us. It’s my love for him that has me pushing him away. Please, don’t confuse it for anything, but me wanting the best for him.” I’m even surprised by myself that I’m revealing my fucked up feelings to her so fast.
“That’s admirable, honey.” Oh good, she’s on my side. “But, it’s not your decision to make if Trey wants to be a part of yours and the kids’ life. It’s his. If I know my son, he’s made his decision, so it’s only you that’s making him unhappy at this point.” Her lips tighten and she pats my hand. “I am sorry for your losses, Kailey, but you are here still. Make the most of your short time, be happy. If Trey is it, don’t push him anymore, embrace him. Don’t let your fears determine his future.” She scoops up the tray and walks back outside. “Could you bring those plates on your way?” She asks as though she didn’t just give me a nice kick in the ass.
By the time, I venture out with the plates, Trey’s in the yard playing with the kids. All three of them are chasing him around the big yard, and when he pretends to fall, they all topple on top of them. The laughs and giggles are contagious among everyone. A small smile spreads across my lips, and I want nothing more than to be out there with them. For the first time, I admit to myself that I want this life, and that I desperately want it with Trey; the kids, the husband, and the whole fairytale. I’d been pushing it aside, not wanting to admit it to myself. He catches me out of the corner of his eye and winks before focusing his attention back on the kids.
&nb
sp; Elena grips my arm on her way back to the kitchen, smiling at me. Fully aware I finally had my ‘aha’ moment. Trey stands up with his eyes only on me. The girls grip onto his legs, but he continues walking my way with them giggling and pulling on them. He bends down whispers something to them, and they scurry over to the swing set, Drew two steps behind the girls.
“Holly. Mom. Can you watch the kids tonight?” He asks them with his eyes staring right into mine the whole time.
“Of course.” They both say in unison. He grabs my hand without saying a word, and I don’t argue or pull back for the first time in two weeks. He leads us to the garage and punches in a code, the double door opens, revealing any guys dream. Motorbikes, four wheelers, and mountain bikes fill it from wall to wall. Every adrenaline junkie’s dream. “What do you want to ride?” He opens up a metal cabinet with hanging keys like a valet case.
“Um...I can’t ride a motor bike.” I admit.
“Do you think I’m letting you ride by yourself?” He smirks at me, grabbing a set. “Let’s take the four-wheeler.” He looks me up and down, and a surge of heat flows up to my cheeks. “You okay if you get dirty?”
I glance at my jeans and sweatshirt. “Yeah.”
“You might have to strip down when we get back and shower in the back of the barn,” he slyly says, and all I can think of is if he’s with me, I’ll make do.
He hops on the green and black one and holds out a helmet for me. After both of us are equipped, he starts it up. “You’re gonna have to hold on to me really tight.” He chuckles.
“I wouldn’t think otherwise,” I flirtatiously say, wrapping my arms around his stomach. My hands on the hemline of his shirt, he takes them and puts them under his shirt, so they’re splayed on his bare skin.
“Better,” he tells me, and I conform my body against his, my head resting on his back. His muscles tighten and ease as he steers the vehicle through tree lines and mud lined fields. Usually not being in control would scare me to death, but Trey has always relaxed me. I’ve trusted him with everything, but one thing. It’s time I change that, he’s deserving of my heart. I know he’ll protect it.
He stops us, and I pry my body away from his, missing the heat the second I push back. The sky streaks orange and yellow as the sun begins to set. He holds out his hand for me, and I willingly take it in mine. Grabbing a blanket from the bag stashed on the back, he leads me to a tree house.
“Watch your step,” he instructs me, pointing at the narrow steps leading up to the wooden house.
“This is quite elaborate for a tree house,” I remark, stunned at the two winding staircases to reach the actual house.
“Well, not much to do when you’re a kid. It got us out of the house.” He continues taking the steps slowly every once in a while peering down in my direction. “My brother used to throw crazy parties up here until all the parents finally clued in on what everyone was doing. It made for a great make-out place, though.” He winks over his shoulder, and the thought that this is the place he got his girlfriend pregnant flashes to mind. We finally reach the landing after the first set, and he cages me against the railing. “I wouldn’t have brought you here,” he tells me, obviously aware of where my thoughts ventured.
“What? Oh, that doesn’t matter.” I attempt to play it off as best as I can.
“Well, I just wanted to make it clear.” He takes my hand and positions me in front of him. “This is a steep one, so you go first.”
“I think there might be another reason why you want me to go first.” I arch my eyebrows, and he chuckles.
“Just hope my hands don’t disobey what my head is telling them,” he says with a bellow of laughter.
I shake my head, even though I love his flirtatious talk. It’s surprising how fast I can get back into our banter, it must mean something. Trey gives me directions on how to undue the latch and pry the door open. “Is some animal going to attack me when I open this?”
“No. Well, there shouldn’t be anything in there, but I don’t know the last time anyone was here.” He shifts his jaw and raises his shoulders. “Here, let me do it.” He begins squeezing by me. I grip the railing as his body slides along mine. He stops when we’re right next to each other on the narrow steps. I vaguely think we might plummet to our deaths, but the back of his hand touches my cheek, slowly flowing down. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers.
My eyes begin to water, and I push the tears back. Now is not the time. His eyes fall, and he turns around to open the latched door. “Nope, no animals,” he says, climbing in. He holds out his hand to help me climb in. While he positions the blanket across the floor, I look around at the torn boxes of board games, a few beanbags positioned in corners, and miscellaneous knick knacks that have been left behind. It’s the most spacious tree house I’ve ever been in. Not that I’ve ever been in one. I always imagined them some makeshift small room that you had to sit in due to low ceilings. That the wood would creak every time you moved, making you think it would crash down to the ground and you would fall to your death with pieces of wood scattered around you.
But this is opposite from every vision I had. The ceiling is tall, and there’s even another small staircase that takes you to the next level that has a window to look out of. “This is amazing,” I say, taking in everything around me.
“It was okay. With you here though, it’s breathtaking.” He smirks, knowing he’s purposely sweet-talking me.
“Nice, Michaels,” I compliment, walking over to him. He lies on the blanket, and holds his hand out for me to join him. Slowly, my legs make it to the hard floor, and he pulls me on top of him. “Trey,” I sigh.
“Shhh.” He places his hand on the back of my neck and brings me down to his lips. I begin to push, placing my hands on his muscular chest, but he just grips me tighter, not allowing a miniscule of space between us. “Enough, Kailey,” he says. “You can’t push me anymore.” His lips crash into mine again, and he licks the seam of my dry lips. I slowly part, but he doesn’t wait, thrusting his tongue into my mouth. Our lips dance like always, a reminder of how well we fit together. Our connection showing with the surge of electricity between the two of us. My body collapses, and he rolls me over to my back. Instantly, my hands find the familiar hair line right above his neck, mindlessly massaging it while my one leg wraps around his waist. Pushing his body against my small frame, he tucks his hands under my thighs, and I wrap both legs around him, clasping him against me. Holding me there, he allows his lips to explore my neck and throat. “I fucking love you, Kailey. You’re not going to toss me away because you’re scared,” he says, and I moan pressing his head against my neck. Not willing to let me get away, he backs his head up slightly and stares down at me. “I’m here. Do you understand? I’m not going anywhere. I’m yours.” He waits for me to answer.
I continue to gaze into his brown eyes. “Are you sure?” I ask, and he sighs.
“Yes, damn it,” he presses his body against mine, cupping my face with both his hands. “I want this life. I want you and the kids. I want to drop Chloe at kindergarten and Tara to pre-school. Have chaotic dinners filed with laughter and sometimes tears. I want to argue with you on whether we should allow them to do something we disagree on. I want to hire a babysitter and take you on dates, knowing that when we return home, you’ll be mine for the taking. I want to wake up early and surprise you with breakfast with the kids jumping around us. Yes, maybe this life would have scared me shitless a few months ago, but now I’m scared like hell you’re going to shut me out of what I want most in this life.”
I bite my lower lip. “What do you want most?” I ask in a whispery voice.
“A future with all four of you.”
Unblinking, I bring my hands to his cheeks. “It’s yours.” A small smile creeps over his lips before I push him back down on me.
Chapter 21
Trey
Not willing to let Kailey get away, I continue to kiss my way down her neck. I want to take her so fucking
bad. The need to be inside of her, my dick surrounded by her clenching warmth is so intense, I could practically come right now. With her legs tightening around my waist, I know she’s thinking the same.
My hands begin to roam up her shirt, until my hand cups her breast, massaging her pebbled nipple between my fingers. God, how I’ve missed them. Unable to hold back, I pull down her bra, letting the fullness spill out. I inch her shirt up until it rests at her chin. One breast out and one barely concealed inside the green satin of her bra. My fingers twitch with need to unclasp her bra. To my surprise, she reaches forward and does it for me. When the green fabrics falls to the side, revealing her luscious, creamy skin with the small pink nipples, my mouth salivates with the thought of it wrapped around one of them. “You’re so damn hot,” I say, bending down and taking a mouthful. As I take turns switching from one to the other, never completely satisfied, Kailey begins to squirm under me. She’s getting as hot as I am, and the thought of how soaked she is right now, makes me grow even harder.
She doesn’t make me wait long, as she begins to guide my hands down to her waistline. My fingers unbutton her shorts and pull the zipper down, revealing a peek at her striped underwear. Her body wiggles back and forth, and I help her drag down her jeans, watching her as she gets her legs out and kicks them across the room. Peering down at the sight of her in only her underwear, her legs spread out waiting for me my breath stops. Her eyes holding my gaze with the love and life I haven’t seen in weeks. “Well, are you just going to sit there?” She cocks her head to the side, giggling.
“No,” I answer, staying right where I am. “You’re mine?” I question, craving the finality that her fight is over.
“I’m yours,” she confirms and holds her arms out. I inch forward but she places her finger up in the air. “Take the shorts off,” she demands, and I scramble to take them off as fast as I can.
Once I’m on top of her, my cock begs me to relieve him, I gently nudge her with my hardness and she moans. “Say it?” I ask her.
Let Me Love Page 22
