Always the One, page 3
part #1 of Always and Forever Series
“Hey, beautiful.” I hear his deep voice behind me. Turning to face Trey, my knees instantly go weak, and I can feel a blush creep across my cheeks then quickly spread to my neck when his eyes zero in on my chest. I almost melt into a puddle on the floor when his jaw quickly drops before closing with his signature lip bite. I’m a goner. “You look fucking incredible. Tell me you wore that just for me?”
Be bold, be confident, Shayla, don’t let him smell your fear.
“You know it, just for you,” I reply, trying not to let him see how nervous I am. Did I really just say that? God, that isn’t like me at all, I guess the tequila shots gave me a boost of confidence. And did he really just ask me if I wore this for just him? Hmm, Lana may just be on to something. I smirk at her smiling face beside me then place my attention back on Trey.
“Good, I wouldn’t want you wearing it for some other guy. I like to think I’m special.” I watch his cocky, lopsided grin and catch the wink he gives me. I feel my legs tighten, and I have to physically bite my lip to keep from professing my feelings right then and there. Nope, I need another shot.
“Of course you’re special to me, Trey.”
Shayla, you bold dog, you.
I think—as Lana so eloquently put it—I found my lady balls.
“That’s what I like to hear. Want to dance with me, beautiful?” He holds his hand out to take mine. “Let me sweep you off your feet.”
“You’re such a cheeseball. I’ll dance with you if you never use that pickup line again.”
He smiles, pulling me toward the dance floor. “You liked it, I know you did.”
“Oh, did I?” I laugh as he spins me and pulls me back into his chest. It may be fast-paced, but our bodies are moving in slow motion, as if only he and I exist in this club. I love the feel of his hand on my lower back and my other joined in his. I feel safe, warm…wanted. We continue to dance for a few more songs. Our dances are accompanied by light conversations, whispered secrets, and laughter. God, this is so new. We’ve never been like this with each other. It’s never felt this…this close…this flirtatious. It’s like something happened and we both drank the same tainted water. We’re acting out of the ordinary, almost in sync, but I’m not complaining. This is everything I’ve wanted for the past ten years, but here and now…is different.
I lost track of time and how long we’d been dancing, but we both need a drink to refuel, so we go and meet Kingston and Lana at the table. They’re sitting close together, engaging in what looks like a heated conversation. Lately, these two have been hot and cold with one another. One minute they are flirting and the next they are at each other’s throats. I know it has to do with Lana’s past relationship with Joel. Those two were together for two years, high school sweethearts, well if you can consider them sweethearts. In the beginning, it seemed picture-perfect and without flaw, until I started to notice a change. A couple of weeks into their relationship, I noticed that she was becoming reserved and distant, and eventually, with that, came bruises. Joel was a piece of shit, who beat her and cheated on her with anything that had legs.
I know Lana became really good at lying to her parents. Most of the time the bruises were in places she could hide them—her back, her upper arms, her legs. The ones she couldn’t hide she chalked it up to cheer. Her parents believed her; they trusted her and they never really knew Joel existed. She was always at his place or mine. Parents can be so naïve when they are shielded with a veil of trust, I guess.
She hasn’t been in a relationship since, she’ll tease guys until they’re drooling for her, and then she cuts them off cold turkey, leaving them a mess. I have begged her for years to get therapy, but she believes she’s fine, and I hate rehashing her past just as much as the next person, but it doesn’t mean I don’t try. I want to be able to help her move on from that part of her life.
I feel Trey at my side; he’s rubbing my lower back, slowly bringing me back to reality.
“Where’d you go there?” He moves to stand in front of me and makes eye contact. His blue eyes shift back and forth on mine, rapidly, looking for some sign of what just happened in my headspace.
“Let me in there, babe.” I shake my head rapidly, trying to clear my way through the fog. Emotions are running way too high right now. I just need to breathe.
“Let me in your head, Shay, what’s wrong? Is there something going on with Lana?” His concern for Lana is welcomed, just adding to the many reasons why I care so deeply for this man. One of the exact reasons he’s my best friend.
“It’s a lot, you know, the emotions running high between the two of them. One minute Lana seems ready to fall into the unknown and then something sets her back. Her nightmares, the persistent and demanding way my brother clings to her. It sucks watching the two people we love fight like that. You know?” I admit, my eyes sinking low and my heart feeling heavy.
“It does, I know. I see the way it hurts your brother. The big guy seems so tough, but Lana can cripple him sometimes. Then again, Lana had the shit end of the stick last time she fell in love, so I see her reservation.” Trey’s so right and we, as outsiders, get to see the brunt of it all. Sometimes their love affair is so raw and potent that Trey and I feel like we are a part of it.
“Let’s go stop the fighting before the entire bar starts to stare. Enough with the heavy, baby.” My stomach flips; he grabs my hand and leads me to the table. I try my best to focus on my hand in his and choke back any emotions I’m wearing on my sleeve. This is supposed to be a night out and I need to be the strong one for Lana and Kings. I need to break up the lovers quarrel and talk things out with Lana when we get home.
“Guys, people are starting to stare at you two. How about we take it down a notch, you know, take a breather.” I scoot into the booth next to Lana, and Trey takes the spot across the table next to Kings. The tension is thick at our table, and I hurry and muster up a topic in order to distract them.
“How about some shots?” Trey yells over the music, and I glance at him and smile. Both Lana and Kings tear their angry eyes from one another and focus on Trey. Beating me to the chase, he reaches for the round of shots the waitress placed at our table while we were dancing. Kingston stays still, not really saying much, while Lana’s mood switches in an instant.
“Yeah, you’re right, let’s just have some fun!” Lana cheers, holding up her drink, and I see Kingston smiling at her enthusiasm. Told you, hot and cold.
Looking back to Trey again, I mouth a simple ‘thank you’ and he nods his welcome in return. After a couple of shots are shared between all of us, Lana and Kings leave our table and make their way to the dance floor, once again turning on the hot water. Trey and I watch our friends dance and enjoy each other.
They have liked one another for as long as Trey and I have, if not longer. Even when they were both in committed relationships, they always had this spark. It’s undeniable. I’m still staring at them when I’m thrown off by Trey’s next statement.
“I think I’m a pretty good friend, maybe a best friend, and soon, maybe more.”
“What did you just say?” I ask, looking up into his eyes. That came out of nowhere.
“Let’s get out of here, go back to your place and talk?” He stands from his spot and tops off his drink. Without waiting for an answer, he grabs my hand and starts walking us toward the exit.
“Trey, we haven’t been here that long, Lana and Kingston are…” Looking around the bar, I spot them again, and I’m stunned back to silence, they aren’t even the least bit concerned with us. Nope. They’re too busy in the dark corner of the club, locking lips. Literally, I looked away for less than a minute, how did they go from dancing to kissing that fast?
“Let’s go, beautiful. I need to talk to you alone, you and me.”
I feel my palms start to sweat. I feel like I’m in a parallel universe. What is happening right now? This is not how I saw the night going at all.
Making our way out of the bar, I watch Trey hail us a cab. I busy myself and send Lana a quick text letting her know we left. Sliding into the back seat of the cab, the door shuts and the confined silence surrounds us. We both stay quiet. My mind, however, is talking too loud. She’s trying to process where this night is going and how in the heck we got here.
The first few minutes have passed and we haven’t said anything more than a couple of comments about the Seattle rain. I’m getting the feeling I’m not the only nervous one in the cab. Finally, he takes the plunge first.
“You really look beautiful, baby.”
Baby? First babe now baby.
“Baby? Trey…” I take a deep breath and look over at him. “What’s going on, you’re acting totally…different, I mean you never act like this with me. This is the second time you have called me some pet name, do you want to explain that to me?” He lets out a loud puff of air, and I see the storms gathering in his head. He isn’t sure either. I knew it; this is way too good to be true.
“Honestly, I don’t know, Shay, I’m just as confused. Let’s talk upstairs,” he says as the cab pulls to a stop in front of our building. I make a quick escape. I feel like I’m suffocating and just need to get some fresh air. Leaving my comfort zone is something that rarely, if ever, happens.
“Hey, wait up!” Trey says after me, as I take measured strides toward the revolving doors at the entrance of our building, waving quickly at our doorman, and leaving Trey in the dust, while he chases after me. I rush to the elevator and repeatedly push the up button, willing it to open faster with my mind. I’m not sure why my feet took flight, like I’m angry or something, I just felt the urge to run was stronger than staying. Right before the doors close he puts his hand in-between the metal doors, causing them to slide open again. He tilts his head slowly and squints at me, saying nothing as he steps in beside me.
What the actual hell is happening?
One minute we’re flirting and being open with each other, the next we are acting like complete strangers sharing an elevator. We remain silent as we make our way to my apartment door, and I contemplate shutting the door in his face and leaving him on the other side. Talking through the door seems safer and more realistic at the rate we’re going.
My shaking hands slide the key into the lock, turning it with haste. Trey has been nothing but a gentleman tonight, and if I’m being totally honest with myself, he is acting exactly how I wish he would. So why am I so shaken up?
Setting my clutch down and removing my jacket, he follows suit. We both head for the couch and the air feels thicker. I feel my insides burning. Spit it out, I just want him to spit it out already.
“Shay, listen… I know this is…” He pauses and sits on the coffee table, making it so he’s directly in front of me; he then places his hands on my knees.
“Shit, I don’t even know where to begin.” He and I both, I’m just as freaking shocked as the next person.
“Just say it, Trey, it’s me, you can always be comfortable to tell me whatever’s going on.” He’s known me for almost his entire life, and he knows that whatever he says is kept safe with me because we’re best friends.
“I know it’s you. That’s what makes this so hard, you know it’s hard for me to just spit my feelings out on the table.” He looks out the window and continues. “Ever since my mom walked out on me and my dad, I never trusted women, never wanted a girlfriend.” He takes a deep breath and I set my hands on his, giving them a light squeeze, encouraging him to continue. I know he’s not good with his emotions, but I know he can also be pretty sensitive. “I couldn’t trust a woman to not take my heart and fucking crush it, that was until.” He pauses, leaving me even more anxious and on the edge of my seat. He’s killing me, I’m curious to know what the heck is happening.
“Until what, Trey? That was until what?” I say, anxiously. He looks back over at me, his eyes are flashing with raw emotions.
Taking a deep breath, he starts again.
“Until you came along and we grew up. Growing up with you, things just progressed and I fell for you.” He stops and I feel my chest rising and falling, I can actually hear my heart pounding in my ears.
“You fell for me, like you like me?” He smiles that megawatt smile and I feel like I’m dreaming, this can’t be happening to me. Tonight I thought I would just flirt and he wouldn’t even notice it. Now, here he sits in front of me, giving me the words I craved to hear for years.
“Yes, I fell for you. I like you a lot, Shay, and I want to try this”—he waves his hands between us—“I want to try us.”
God, this is so surreal, but I’m not scared or hesitant anymore. Call me crazy, but I want to try this, too. My biggest worry is my brother. I don’t know if Trey has told Kings. I know my brother pretty well and if he knew about it he would have told me. But I truly don’t care. I’m not going to turn him down; this is what I’ve wanted this whole time. Some girls don’t get what they ask for this easily, so I’m considering myself lucky. Considering this to be a touch from the hands of fate.
“Trey, I want this, too.” He laughs, and all of a sudden I’m yelping as he helps me straddle his lap. I chuckle, feeling completely messed up in the head. One second my internal dialogue is screaming for me to run and now it’s telling me to grasp onto him and erase all space between us. Close isn’t close enough.
“That didn’t take too much convincing, now did it?” he teases with a cocky grin.
“No, no it didn’t. You can be pretty persuasive with your pretty smile and perfect hair.” He stands and spins me then heads toward my bedroom. Causing my nerves to come back.
A room, Trey, me, and a bed. Not a good combination.
“You forgot to mention my perfect eyes,” he says, winking at me then setting me down on the bed.
“What’re we doing?” He walks over to my dresser and starts going through the drawers with determination, and I see him grab my sleep shorts and tank top. I notice he found that drawer way too quickly. How did he know I kept my pajamas in there?
“You, baby, are going to get into your pajamas and meet me in the living room, and I’m going to be a gentleman and cuddle my girl while subjecting myself to a chick flick.”
Feeling a little more at ease, I take a deep breath, my mind wanders back to moments ago in the living room, where he pulled me in his arms, surrounding me with him. I was close enough to kiss his lips, and I was begging for it in my mind but then he brought me in here. I swear I think about those lips way too often, imagining them on mine. They’re plump, pink, and they look almost edible. I’ve wanted to kiss him for years now, and now’s my chance to do it.
“Trey?” I say just barely above a whisper as he sets the pajamas on the bed, sitting next to me.
“Yeah?”
“I’m still a little confused. I know you said you wanted to try us but what exactly do you mean by that? Am I your girlfriend or are we trying the dating thing first?” Gosh, I feel so foolish, what am I even doing right now? I got what I wanted. I should just shut up, be happy, and take this for whatever it is. But my big mouth breaks from the leash before I can run and stop it. He chuckles and once again I’m straddling his lap.
“Yes, Shay, I want to be a couple, I wouldn’t have brought this up if I didn’t want it. Besides, I won’t share you once you’re mine.” He smirks and bites his lip, and just like that I’m back to thinking about those dang lips on mine.
Kiss me, dang it!
“Shay, will you be my girlfriend?” Reaching up to my cheeks, he cradles my face in his warm palms.
I know this is it—the moment I’ve dreamed about since I learned about kissing from Nicholas Spark’s movies and books. That man sure set the bar high.
“Kiss me, Trey.” I’m dying to have my first kiss with Trey. Feeling that reckless sensation run through my body when he finally gives me what I’ve anticipated for years.
“I thought you’d never ask.” He slowly leans into me. My legs begin to tremble and I grab onto his shirt. When his lips meet mine it starts slow and soft, making my insides melt and my libido ignite. My heart flutters, skipping every other beat with each stroke of his tongue. I’ve never been kissed and I have no idea what to do. So, I mimic his movements, letting our tongues lash and battle beautifully like a dance, swaying and moving in perfect rhythm. My head feels dizzy and the kiss feels uniquely perfect, like we were meant to only kiss each other.
I wait a second longer in hopes he won’t stop, but when I feel him pulling away, I do the only logical thing I can think of. I bite his lip and pull him back in. Feeling his tongue tasting the seam of my lips, I moan and open my mouth, offering him entrance. It’s better than I could’ve ever expected. He tastes like mint and alcohol, mixed with his own unique taste, a taste that I can’t forget. I’ve never kissed anyone before and I don’t think I will ever want to kiss anyone else. He’ll ruin me for any other.
Slipping his hands into my hair, he gives it a light tug and pulls it back, exposing my neck to his mouth. He leans in again and nibbles, licks, and then sucks my neck. If we don’t slow down, I know we’ll be naked and ready within minutes. He pulls back just as my body slowly starts to rock against him.
“Baby, baby, stop. We have to stop.” He gently pushes me forward to get some distance between us. I’m panting like a dog in heat. He’s right, we literally just decided to start dating. Sure, friends or not prior, I need to slow my roll on this one.
“You’re right, we’re just starting out. We don’t need to rush, right?” I’m not sure if I’m asking for him or for myself. He’s been the apple of my eye, and the person I’ve so desperately wanted to get close to, to feel against my skin—against my lips. Trey has been whom I’ve wanted in my heart all this time.
“We don’t, that’s not what this is for me. Your heart is the end goal here.”
My heart spikes a new, fast rhythm, beating to the words he is professing. The way his watchful gaze looks over me, admiring me, I completely lose sight of whatever I was just thinking. I’m captivated by his endearing way of treating me like a dangerously perfect woman.
