18. Desperate For You
EIGHTEEN
DESPERATE FOR YOU
Rylee
It was a bad idea telling Trey I would meet him here. If he’d picked us up, I wouldn’t have to walk in alone. Instead, I’m sitting in the parking lot in front of an enormous steel building with a colorful Adventure Land sign attached to the side, working up the courage to go inside. While I’ve had conversations with most of Trey’s friends at Porter’s, and even offered a few of the guys dating advice, I’ve never talked to them outside of my work. That’s the plus side of not dating. No awkward meet the family or in this case, meet the friends.
Abby’s foot presses against the passenger seat. “Mooom. Let’s go in,” she whines.
I guess we can’t stay in the parking lot forever. I twist around and glance at her. “Do you remember what I told you?”
“Yes. Be nice and listen to the adults.”
I smile. Now I wish someone would give me rules, so I know what to do. I push open my door as Abby unbuckles herself from her car seat. When I open the rear passenger door, she jumps out. We walk hand in hand across the parking lot. As I pull open the door, laughter and gleeful screams echo amidst the vibrant colors of the intricate maze of inflatable obstacles, trampolines, and climbing structures. It looks ten times larger on the inside than from the outside. Not even ten seconds after walking in, Trey spots us and immediately rushes over as if he was waiting for us.
“Hi.” He flashes me a warm smile that settles my nerves. A little.
“Hi.” I glance down. “This is Abby. Abby, this is my—Trey.” I’m still not one hundred percent on how I should introduce him to her.
Trey kneels, so he’s eye level with my daughter. “Hi Abby. It’s nice to meet you. Have you ever been to the adventure park?”
“No.” She shakes her head. Her confidence is much higher than mine. At least one of us has our shit together.
“Well, you’re going to have a blast. Let me show you and your mom around.”
“Okay.” An eager grin takes over her face.
Trey plays tour guide as he shows us around the adventure park, pointing out all the cool and fun things to play on. I trail behind as the two of them talk animatedly about the foam ball pit. After the tour, Trey waits for Abby as she removes her shoes and replaces them with the special park socks. After a quick introduction to all the other kids, they all scamper off toward the ball pit.
Butterflies erupt in my belly at Trey’s kindness, thoughtfulness, and patience with Abby. And with me. Every day he’s proving my preconception about him wrong which makes it so hard to not go all in.
Trey turns around and a slow grin spreads across his face. He stalks toward me, and I hold my breath, waiting for him to catch me. All the surrounding noise dissipates, and the only thing I can hear is the steady thumping of my heart.
When we’re toe to toe, he leans down so only I can hear. “I never got to tell you how beautiful you look today.”
Heat spreads up my neck and to my cheeks.
“Also, I’m really glad you and Abby could make it.”
I love that Trey included Abby. “Me too. It looks like Abby has already made some new friends.” Both of us glance at the ball pit where the kids are throwing balls at each other and giggling.
“Let me officially introduce you to everyone.” He reaches for my hand and intertwines our fingers.
The gesture is sweet, but I’m sure it will lead to everyone developing the wrong impression of us.
“Ladies,” Trey interrupts the table, “you all know Rylee.”
“Yes. Come sit.” Parisa scoots over and pats the empty bench seat next to her. “Trey, the guys might need your help.” She points past us.
We spin around and Seth, Bennett, and Van are being swarmed by all the kids and foam balls.
“I’m needed. These ladies will take care of you.” He presses a chaste kiss to my forehead, then takes off toward the ball pit.
I stroll to the opposite side of the rectangular table and take the seat next to Parisa. Hollyn is on the other side of Parisa while Olivia and Charlie are across from us.
My gaze wanders to the ball pit where Trey is fending off balls from Abby and Maddox. Even from across the room, I can see how big her smile is.
Parisa nudges me with her elbow. “So, you and Trey, huh?”
“Oh. Yeah.” I glance at her. “We’re friends.”
“If I’m being honest, with how many years I’ve known Trey, he’s never brought a friend to any birthday parties or parties or get-togethers we’ve had. You’re the first,” Parisa adds.
“You popped his plus one cherry,” Olivia says, and the table erupts with laughter.
“Trey and cherry don’t go together,” Charlie adds.
“Oh. I don’t know what to say.” I nervously roll my lips between my teeth.
“If I had to guess, he might like you as more than just a friend,” Parisa says.
“I have to agree with Parisa.” Olivia perches her elbows on the table. “Also, before you hear it from anyone else, Trey and I kissed. Once.” She holds up a finger. “We wanted to see if there were any feelings there and, rest assured, there’s absolutely zero feelings. None. Nada.” Her long blonde hair falls over her shoulder as she tilts her head. “Actually, it was like kissing my brother. And I’m engaged to his brother. Funny how things work.”
I nod. I wasn’t expecting this. Olivia is gorgeous, so I can see why there would be an attraction between them. Trey has a past that I have no control over.
“Anyway, I just want to put that out there. I know Trey. He’s never acted like this with anyone. Ever. As much as he may seem like a playboy, he’s the most loyal guy you’ll ever find.” Olivia rests her forearms on the table and leans in. “I’d bet my relationship that he’s in love with you.”
In love with you. My entire body freezes. Love is the last thing on my list, especially with someone like Trey. Thoughts of him as more than a friend pecks at my brain. I don’t know what I want. Labeling him as a friend is easier to deal with. There’s less hurt that way. I know eventually there will be an end. Needing to change the subject, I turn to Parisa. “By the way, thank you so much for offering the extra ticket to Abby. She’s having the best time.”
Parisa’s eyebrows draw together. “What are you talking about? Extra ticket?”
My heart thunders in my chest. My gaze flits around the table. “Trey said you had an extra ticket because someone canceled...” My words trail off at the end.
Her eyes soften. “I don’t want to be rude, but there wasn’t an extra ticket.”
If there wasn’t an extra ticket, but one magically appeared… I glance over at Trey, who is now swimming through the balls like a shark pretending to eat Abby and Maddox. I hate Trey lied to me. That he bought the ticket assuming I didn’t have the money to pay for a ticket even though it’s true, I don’t, but it’s still the fact that he lied. Abby’s screams and giggles draw my attention to the ball pit. With the sheer happiness on her face, it’s hard to be mad at him for giving her that. Ugh. Why does this have to be so complicated?
* * *
After I tucked away the information about Trey paying for the ticket, that’s a conversation for later, I had the best time hanging out with the girls and laughing at all the stories they had about the guys. I even shared the one about needing a new table. Charlie said it now made sense why Bennett told her they now needed to have sex on their table, claiming quality control.
By the end of the party, all the kids are wiped out, including Abby. She’s curled up on the bench, using my leg as a pillow.
“I think it’s time for us to leave. Abby seems to be in a pizza and ball pit coma.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Trey jumps up from his seat.
I slide away while struggling to lift Abby’s dead weight. A soft groan escapes her, but she never fully awakens.
“I’ll help you.” Effortlessly, Trey lifts Abby and cradles her against his chest.
“Thanks.”
I say my goodbyes to everyone, as Trey does the same. Outside at my SUV, Trey deposits Abby in the backseat, buckles her in, and softly closes the door.
“Thanks for inviting us. Abby had so much fun.” A gust of wind blows a strand of hair over my forehead, and I tuck it behind my ear before crossing my arms over my chest.
“I’m glad you two came.” He takes a step closer. “Abby’s a great kid. And spending time with you is always my favorite part of the day.”
I meet his gaze, wanting the truth. “There wasn’t an extra ticket, was there? You paid for it.” Indignation laces my tone.
Trey rubs the back of his neck.
“Look, I’m not mad. With how much fun Abby had, I can’t be mad.” I meet his gaze. “But next time, tell me the truth. All I want is honesty.”
Trey nods. “I didn’t want Abby to miss out. Plus, I wanted to be a little selfish and spend more time with you.”
When he says things like that, I can’t even be a little mad. He has gone above and beyond what any other guy has done to spend time with me and Abby. Her own father has never shown such dedication in order to spend time with his daughter. Instead, he only calls to cancel, but Trey, whom I've only spent a few months with, is willing to go to great lengths for only a few hours with us.
I close the gap between us, rise on my tippy toes, and press my lips to his. It’s short and sweet and if we weren’t in public, I’d be tempted to do more. “Thank you.”
“So perhaps we can do this again. Maybe replace the adventure park with dinner.”
“Perhaps. We’ll talk later.” I stroll past Trey before I round the hood. His voice stops me.
“Just so you know, I’m going to text you tonight. I’m done waiting the three days to not appear desperate. If you haven’t guessed it already, I’m desperate for you.”
Warmth radiates through my entire body, settling in my cheeks. I flash him a small smile and he returns it with a sexy smirk of his own. It’s a look that will remain with me for the rest of the night. Especially, when I’m lying in bed, needing a visual while I practice some self-love.