by Evans, A. K.
Trent dipped his chin and advised, “Eat dinner with your family. I’ll take you out for dessert.”
Trent Michaels was taking me out for dessert.
“That works.”
Trent smiled and asked, “Are you taking the bus home, or can I give you a ride?”
“I’d love a ride.”
Pushing away from the lockers, Trent urged, “Let’s go.”
It was six-thirty that evening when the doorbell chimed. I told my parents over dinner that I’d been asked to go out for ice cream and to the haunted house. My mom was happy about it, even a little excited, but as expected, my dad was a bit hesitant. The time when his little girl had reached the stage in her life where she was interested in boys had come along, and he didn’t like it in the least.
“Wait here,” my dad instructed, walking out of the kitchen toward the front door.
I looked to my mom. “It’ll be fine,” she reassured me. “He just loves you and this is hard for him. You’ll always be his baby, so he’s going to need some time. Don’t worry, though. He’ll come around. Sooner or later he’ll figure it out.”
I was too nervous about what my dad might say to Trent, so I didn’t listen to his orders. I moved toward the front door.
“How old are you?” my dad asked, sounding a bit irritated.
“Seventeen, sir.”
“Delaney’s only fifteen.”
“Yes, sir, I know that,” Trent assured him.
This was already too tense for my own liking, so I jumped in. “I’m ready,” I announced. I pressed up on my toes, kissed my dad’s cheek, and said, “Love you, Dad.”
He looked down at me a moment before he looked to Trent and demanded, “She’s home by ten. Not a minute later.”
“Absolutely, sir,” he confirmed before looking at me. I watched his features soften before he asked, “All set?”
I walked toward him and said, “Yeah.” I looked back at my dad, found my mom had joined him, and called out, “Be back later.”
“Have a good time, honey,” my mom returned.
We got to Trent’s truck, where he opened my door and made sure I was safely inside before rounding it to get in behind the wheel.
Once he backed out and pulled away from the house, I lamented, “Sorry about that.”
“For what?”
“My mom said that this is difficult for my dad. He still sees me as his little girl even though I’m going to be sixteen in three months.”
Trent let out a laugh. “Delaney, I expected there’d be a standoff with your dad. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I’m sure it could have been. I would have been more concerned if he didn’t give a shit about you.”
I let out a sigh of relief, thankful Trent wasn’t annoyed by my father’s reaction.
The two of us spent the drive chatting about inconsequential things, mostly all related to school. He also confirmed that I hadn’t had any run-ins with Jared or the rest of his crew. Luckily, I hadn’t. But I wasn’t convinced they were finished with me.
When we parked in the lot at the haunted house, Trent turned off his truck, looked at me, and asked, “Ready to get scared?”
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and shook my head.
He just laughed and got out.
Trent met me on my side of the truck and walked beside me through the field that led to the house. We’d only taken a few steps before I felt his fingers slide through mine. My belly was already a bundle of nerves about the haunted house. Trent holding my hand only made me that much more anxious.
The closer we got to the house, the louder the screams became.
My fingers tightened in Trent’s.
After he paid for our admission and we stood in line for a few minutes, it was our turn to enter. I was fidgeting.
“You’re fine,” he insisted, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “Just stay with me.”
I nodded my understanding because I was entirely too freaked out to speak.
Trent led me inside. I gripped his hand harder and brought my other hand up to his bicep. My body was tense. We’d just barely gotten inside, where it was pitch black, when I heard a creepy, evil laugh. I started panicking at that when suddenly the strobe lights started, and a killer clown jumped out.
“Ahhh!” I yelled, squeezing my eyes shut and burying my face into Trent’s shoulder. “I hate clowns. Hate them!”
He wrapped his arm around my back and guided me away. We continued slowly in the dark again.
“No,” I started, the nervousness in my tone clear as day. “No, no, no. I know something bad is going to happen.”
Sure enough, at that moment, I heard a chainsaw.
“No! Not a chainsaw! Are you kidding me?!” I shrieked.
I could feel Trent’s body shaking with laughter. My arms slid around his waist, and I kept my cheek pressed tight to his chest. I wanted to take in the feel of his body and his masculine scent, but I was too worried about what was coming next.
“I’ve got you, sweet cheeks.”
Sweet cheeks.
I barely had a second to process that when we saw light down at the end of a long, dark, narrow hallway. Sitting under that light was a little girl on a swing. The swing was moving back and forth, and her hair was covering her face.
“Kids are creepy. No way. I don’t like this.”
We couldn’t turn around, so we had to continue moving forward. Once we were within about five feet of the girl, the swing stopped. This caused us to stop. My heart was pounding in my chest. Her head snapped up, the hair flew out of her face, and she was covered in blood.
“Get me out!” I cried. “Oh, God, please I hate this.”
Trent only held me tighter. I squeezed my eyes shut, kept my arms around Trent, and allowed him to guide me through the rest of the house.
“I’m not looking until we’re out.”
“Okay, babe.”
Babe.
While it felt like hours had passed, it wasn’t more than a minute or two before we stepped outside. I knew we were out when I felt the cool air and Trent’s hold on me loosened.
I opened my eyes and looked up at him, still feeling utterly terrified.
The look on his face was partly amused, but mostly concerned. “Are you okay?”
“If you’re still taking me for ice cream, I think I’m going to need rainbow sprinkles. I need something bright and cheerful now.”
Trent laughed and threw his arm around my shoulder. He tugged me toward him and kept me close as we walked back toward his truck.
Fifteen minutes later, we were sitting in a booth at the ice cream shop.
“You’re hysterical when you’re scared,” Trent teased me.
“I’m traumatized,” I admitted. “If you were hoping for another date, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it.”
“Nothing happened to you, though. I told you I’d keep you safe,” he reminded me.
“You did.”
A moment of silence stretched between us before he whispered, “I’d never let anything happen to you.”
And even though I didn’t know Trent that well, I knew I could believe what he told me. His voice held so much promise, it would have been impossible to think otherwise.
Trent and I spent a long time sitting there with each other, even after we’d finished our desserts. I’d learned a lot about him in that time, but what I liked the most was learning that he wasn’t like other guys. I already knew, based on what happened two days prior, that he was the kind of guy who’d stick his neck out on the line for someone in a bad situation.
But this was different.
Trent was such a sweet guy. He didn’t have to act tough or macho, and he wasn’t out to prove himself to anyone. He was who he was, and he seemed to be proud of that. Trent wasn’t like most of the guys at school. He was confident without being cocky. And, best of all, he never had to make others feel bad just to feel good about himself.
Around nine-thirty, Trent and I got back in hi
s truck and he drove me home. When we got there, ten minutes before my curfew, he came around to meet me on my side and walk me to the front door.
“I had a really good time tonight, Delaney. I hope you did, too.”
Smiling at him, I confirmed, “Other than the moments when I was utterly terrified, I had a great time. Thank you.”
Trent leaned in and gave me a hug. When he pulled back, he said, “I’ll see you in school tomorrow.”
“Okay. Good night, Trent.”
“Good night, sweet cheeks.”
Once I was safe inside, Trent turned and walked back to his truck.
It was when I was in my bed that night that I had to be honest with myself. In the moment, I’d been terrified in that haunted house, but I loved every single minute of it being there with him.
Two months later
“Trent,” I cried, whispering into the phone.
“Babe, what’s wrong?”
“Can you come pick me up? Please?” I begged.
Without a moment of hesitation, Trent assured, “Absolutely. Are you home?”
“Yes.”
“I’m on my way. Please at least tell me that you are okay?”
I tried to take in a settling breath, but it was useless. “I’m not okay. I need you.”
“I’m coming, baby.”
Fifteen minutes later, Trent pulled up. I ran out of the house and climbed into his truck before he had the chance to even get out.
“Talk to me, Delaney.”
“Drive,” I urged. “Please.”
He took in a deep breath. “Where am I going?”
“Anywhere that I can clear my head.”
Not wasting a moment, Trent backed out of the driveway and took off. Twenty minutes later, we were parked in a spot in one of the parks that had a great view of our hometown.
It was covered in snow.
It was three days after Christmas.
And it was the worst day of my life.
“What’s going on?” Trent asked, desperate for answers.
“She’s going to die.”
His body went solid. “Who?”
“My mom. She found out two weeks ago that she’s got stage four pancreatic cancer. It’s spread too far, and they can’t do anything for her.”
“Oh, Delaney. I’m so sorry.”
That was all it took for me to burst into tears. Trent immediately slid me across the bench seat, closer to him, and hauled me up in his arms. He held me tight like that for a long time.
“Get it out,” he urged.
“What am I going to do without her?” I cried.
Trent pressed a kiss to the top of my head and ran his hand up and down my back. “Do you know how much time she has?”
“Two to six months.”
“Fuck,” he hissed.
Silence fell between us.
“I wish I could fix this for you, babe. I’m sorry. Whatever you need, whatever she needs, I’ll help you any way I can.”
I took in a deep breath and blew it out. “I know.”
For a long time, I stayed there, finding comfort in Trent’s embrace.
Some time had passed when I rasped, “She’s going to miss it.”
“What?” he asked.
“My mom is going to miss everything. She’s going to miss me fulfilling my dreams of becoming an interior designer. She’s going to miss me falling in love. She won’t ever see me get married or have babies.”
Trent gave me a light squeeze and promised, “She’ll be there, sweet cheeks. Maybe you won’t be able to see her, but she’ll be there. No way your mom is going to miss out on all of that.”
I let out a small sigh of relief. Trent was right. My mom would never not be there for me. I returned his earlier squeeze and said, “You know just what to say to make me feel better.”
And because he did, Trent also knew when not to say anything. He simply held me close, soothing the gaping wound in my heart.
Three months later
“Alright,” he got out. “We’ve got to slow down.”
“No,” I cried. “Why?”
Trent and I were in his truck, parked in our spot at the park, and we were making out.
“There are a lot of reasons for that,” he began. “The most important is that I don’t have any condoms. Another is that even if I did, I wouldn’t do this here.”
“What?”
I was currently straddling Trent’s lap. I could feel him hard under me, so I knew he was excited and wanted the very same thing I wanted.
“It’s going to be your first time, Delaney,” he noted. “It should be special for you.”
My hand slid from the back of his neck up into his hair. “If it’s with you, it will be special.”
The truth of the matter was that I wanted more with Trent than just kissing. Somehow, Trent was showing superhuman restraint. He hadn’t progressed things between us past first base. I wanted something…anything else he could give me, and I was making my desire very clear.
“I can’t,” he claimed, his voice gentle. “I want you to have more than this. Can you understand that?”
My chest depressed, disappointment washing over me.
Trent saw it, like he had several times before, and gave me something else this time. “I want to wait to go all the way with you when I have the means to make it everything you deserve. Until then, I can give you something else.”
Just as my brows pulled together, Trent’s hands slid from my waist, up my sides. He stopped when his thumbs were just below my breasts. I looked down at him, my breaths coming quick.
Trent grinned and swiped his thumbs up over my breasts and across my nipples. With each brush of his thumbs, I felt a shot of desire run directly between my legs. I attempted to squeeze my legs together, but couldn’t since I was straddling him. My knees pressed tight against his sides as my hips rolled over him.
It was the end of March, so it was cold outside. Despite that, I was getting hotter by the second. Quickly, I moved my hands to the hem of my sweater and lifted it over my head.
“Delaney,” Trent whispered.
I was still wearing a tight camisole and my bra. His hands were back on me, but now he moved his mouth to my chest. He kissed me all along the low-cut neckline of my top, continuing to touch and squeeze my breasts.
“Trent,” I breathed. “Please.”
He pulled his head back and curled his fingers around the straps on my shoulders. Slowly, while keeping his eyes on mine, he lowered the fabric of my top and my bra, exposing my breasts. Then, he brought his hands to my bare skin. His touch felt good, but it was nothing compared to what I felt only moments later when he closed his mouth over one of my nipples.
“Oh,” I moaned as his tongue teased the hardened peak.
Trent was incredible with his mouth. I’d already known since I’d spent months kissing him. But this was so nice.
He continued to tease me with his tongue and his hands. I still wanted more. I was aching between my legs. I ground down harder on him, searching for friction.
Trent groaned and suddenly shifted me off his body. He planted me next to him, keeping one hand wrapped around my back while the other trailed along the front of my body. He started at my breast, lifting it toward his mouth before his hand moved down over the fabric covering my abdomen.
When his hand made it to the fly of my jeans, he pulled his mouth from me and asked, “Do you want me to make you feel good?”
“Yes, baby. Please,” I begged.
“If you change your mind, tell me and we’ll stop.”
“Trent?” I called.
He tensed a moment, but asked, “Yeah?”
“Will you please touch me?”
Trent grinned, bigger than I’d ever seen before. I was taking that in, realizing just how beautiful he was when I felt him expertly unbuttoning my pants. Within seconds, he’d lowered the zipper and had his palm pressed flat against my belly.
Excruciatingly slow, he slid
his hand down between my legs. My panties were the only thing separating the skin of his fingers from the most delicate spot on my body. The moment I felt the pressure of his fingers against me, I knew I was in for something big.
“I can feel how wet you are through your panties, sweet cheeks,” he shared. “You like this?”
Nodding, I rasped, “Yes, Trent. So much.”
He brought his mouth to mine, kissed me, and moved his fingers against me. Searching for what I could feel happening to me, I moved my hips.
Within seconds of having his touch, my moans became whimpers. My chest was rising and falling rapidly.
Trent disconnected his mouth from mine.
“Kiss me,” I pleaded, wanting his mouth back.
“You’re going to come for the first time for me, Delaney,” he started. “I want to watch you.”
Knowing that, knowing he wanted to see me like this, sent me over the edge. I instantly cried out, feeling something else take over my body. I couldn’t describe it; I just knew it was the most incredible thing I’d ever felt in my life.
And Trent gave that to me.
It took some time, but I eventually got my bearings about me. When I looked up at Trent, I knew I’d never forget the look I saw on his face for the rest of my life. He obliterated me when he rasped, his voice husky, “You’re the one.”
I blinked in surprise. “What?”
“Give me your heart, Delaney,” he pleaded.
My lips parted.
“I’ll never break it,” he promised.
“Trent,” I whispered.
I couldn’t say anything else because he kept going. “I’ll work my ass to the ground. No matter what it takes, I’ll do anything to give you the life you deserve. You have my heart, baby. All I want is yours.”
Tears welled in my eyes.
Trent wasn’t done.
“I love you, Delaney.”
My breath caught in my throat.
Trent Michaels loved me.
He stared at me, his hand still between my legs, waiting for me to say anything.
When the first tear leaked from my eye and spilled down my cheek, I said softly, “I love you, too.”
