He smiles, hugging me tightly. “You too. Been far too long.”
“Seriously, what brings you to the frozen North?”
“It’s not frozen yet. Seemed like a good time for a visit.”
He follows me into the kitchen. I open the fridge and subtly adjust myself. My underwear feels weird from the sudden softening of my cock. Who knew the cold terror of a looming punishment hanging over my head could deflate my dick like a balloon with a hole in it?
“You’re evading my question,” I point out as I turn with a couple drinks in hand. Setting them on the counter, I slide one to Trent and give him a pointed look.
Trent nods. “Just following a lead,” he says.
It would be cryptic, but I’ve known this guy a hot minute so I know exactly what he’s getting at. I shake my head. “Haven’t learned to trust him yet, huh?”
“I realize this is totally shitty of me, but we got together while he was cheating on my sister for months. It’s hard not to think that he’s going to do that to me when he finds a better offer,” Trent admits.
“So you’re still playing PI.”
“Yes,” he says, shrugging one shoulder. “No need to empty my bank account with hired PIs when I can just do it myself.”
“Your bank account in trouble?” I ask, amused.
He rolls his eyes. “Are there still exports and imports?”
Trent has always been somewhat amusing to me. He’s the heir to a massive shipping empire. We’re talking the prosperity of the East India Company of the 1700s. I kind of think that his ancestors chose shipping because of their last name—Seagrave.I mean, what else should you be doing if not something on the sea?
“Why do you think he’s cheating on you this time?” I ask as I take a seat.
He sighs. “I… nothing. I’m aware I’m paranoid and that this is ridiculous, yet here I am, traipsing across the country because he received a package of maple syrup that originated in Winnipeg.”
“It’s Canada. We’re known for our maple syrup.”
“But so is Vermont, and that’s far closer than Winnipeg. Why is he ordering from Winnipeg and not Vermont? Is it that much better tasting that it’s worth custom fees that amount to far more than the cost of the productandthe shipping combined?”
I grip his arm. “I say this with love. Have you talked to a therapist?”
He rolls his eyes. “No. I need to, right?”
“I think you’d benefit from it.”
“I’m going to lose him, not because he’s cheating on me, but because I’m insecure and losing my shit over stories made up by my own head.” Trent closes his eyes and sighs, looking absolutely miserable.
“I think maybe you need to talk to him too. Where does he think you are right now?”
Trent’s eyebrows knit together. “I… don’t know.”
“Has it occurred to you that maybe he’s going to thinkyou’recheating onhimsince you randomly take off, trying to prove that he’s cheating on you?”
His eyes snap open, and he stares at me. “What the shit, no! Is that going to happen?”
“Maybe you need to give him a call and have a heart-to-heart, Trent. This has gone on foryears, and that’s a whole lot of stress and noncommunication for you and Oriel.”
“I’m realizing that I’m a very toxic person. I have an affair with my sister’s long-time boyfriend and convince him that we need to be together, but fuck if I can allow myself to trust him because he cheated on my sister! How fucked up is that? What’s wrong with me?”
Trent drops his head into his hands. I change stools to sit beside him and rest my hand on his arm. “Do you love him?”
“Yes,” he answers. “So much. I’m terrified of finding out that he’s cheating on me, but I can’t convince myself to look the other way when the little voice whispers in my head.”
“Listen. Talk to him. Tell him how you’re feeling. Tell him how you’re struggling. Tell him how much you love him. And get some counseling together. This obsession with his cheating is taking you away from him a whole lot, Trent. How many times have you left him to track his invisible footsteps as opposed to the time you’ve spentwithhim last month? This isn’t healthy. You’re going to push yourself into a mental breakdown.”
