I just know this whole night will end up being miserable. I almost wish I had asked Audrey to come. At least she’d keep Ma busy and unable to play matchmaker.
Unable to hide out upstairs any longer, I make my appearance as the rest of the guests arrive. Dad and my cousin Brian are setting up the last of the chairs and tables under the tent out back. My folks always go all out for a party. Brian waves at me. I feel so bad for him. Karen, his ex-wife left him while he was out of town receiving training for his job. I wish he could find a good girl to settle down with now that the divorce is final. I wonder if it would be weird if I tried to set him up with Audrey?
Felecia and Ma are going behind the guys with tablecloths and silverware.
“Nattie, start bringing out the centerpieces, they’re in the hall closet.”
I smile, but inside I am grumbling. It’s an awful lot of trouble to go to for someone who doesn’t even want to be here. The least Nate could do is put in an appearance and spend some time with the people who love him.
The smell of food is making my stomach turn as more dishes show up on the kitchen table to be carried outside to the buffet. Someone turns on the stereo and the top 40 blares through the speakers over the chatter.
Like the good daughter I am, I start dragging the box of battery-operated candles and flower arrangements out the back door, when a hand on my back stops me dead in my tracks.
“Need a hand, Bunny?” Trey. I freeze. I’ve not seen him in a year. Why is he here? Why now? He sure as shit didn’t show when we buried my brother, one of his supposed best friends. “You going to spend the evening staring at your toes, or are you gonna let me help,” he says with a shit eating grin. I can’t see his face, but I know it’s plastered on his smug face.
“Have at it.” I back away not bothering to look at him. If I do, I will be a goner. Trey has the most hypnotic grey eyes I’ve ever seen. Not to mention the rest of him that is just as pretty. Yeah, he’s pretty. The man is perfection. He’s dessert after Sunday dinner. He’s an asshole too.
Since I was a little girl all I wanted was to be with him. I crushed on him so hard, he was Nate’s buddy too, they even enlisted together. I saved myself for him and one weekend when he was home on leave he got what he wanted from me then he vanished. It was the best night of sex I’ve ever had. No one has been able to measure up to him. I’ve compared every man I’ve slept with since to him.
I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what I did wrong to make him flake out on me completely after he said he loved me, that he had always loved me.
Whenever I would bring his name up to Joe JR, he’d get this weird look on his face and change the subject, like something smelled bad.
Audrey said they had stopped speaking, Joe and Trey, but she claimed not to know why. I never knew if it had anything to do with me.
I follow Trey outside to the tent, I still have to help Ma, she’ll have my ass if I don’t. And speaking of asses if Trey’s don’t look damn good in those dark jeans he’s wearing. I recall how fine it looks out of them too. I remember digging my nails into his tight cheeks briefly. His blond hair curls around his ears, needing a trim. I want to run my fingers through his messy hair, and then down to his neck to choke him.
For not calling.
For not writing.
For not saying anything at all.
“Trey Darlington,” Ma yells at him as he sits the box down. “Get over here and give me a hug. It’s been way too long.”
“Hey, Ma. I’m so sorry about Joe, I wanted to be here.”
“I know you did.” She pats his back.
Huh, so Trey can keep my mom up to date with his whereabouts but not me. Jerk.
I do my best to ignore his eyes traveling over me as I set out the candles and flip them on, adding the flowers accent them as they glow.
“You okay there, Bunny? You seem to be pissed at those flowers.”
Grr. Why is he talking to me again? And why is he calling me Bunny? He lost the rights to that nickname when he fucked me and left me without a word. Was it that horrible? Was I imagining the off the walls chemistry we shared? I must have been, but damn if my cheeks don’t turn red remembering the way he touched me.
He shoved me against the wall and ripped my shirt open. My buttons popped off and rolled across the floor. His mouth was on my neck, his tongue tracing a delicious pattern down to my breasts.
I shake my head. I don’t need to remember. I’d be better off if I could forget all about Trey Darlington, and the power his touch holds over me.
“I’m great. Never been better, you? Oh, it’s been what? A year since we’ve spoke. But you weren’t much on chit chat last time I saw you,” I spit my words at him in an angry whisper.
The ghost of his hands travels my waist and unbuttons my pants as his kisses are peppered across my stomach. Images of him pulling my pants down as I pulled his hair dance in my mind on replay.
“Can we talk. Later? I know I screwed up with you.” He’s making an effort, but it’s too little too late.
However, my heart and my mouth are in disagreement with my head when I say, “Sure, I’d like that, Trey.” And dear God, I just have to bat my lashes. I might as well rub up against him and shove my tits in his face too.