Chapter 23
Kent
The drive home was pleasant, the feeling of James’s fingers laced through mine reassuring me that he wasn’t going anywhere. That waiter had put me on edge. He was handsome, confident, and since he hadn’t bullied James as a teenager, he was already a hundred times better than I was. James deserved someone that was good to him, which I was trying to be. But sometimes I found myself thinking that I didn’t deserve him.
However, that feeling melted away as I held his hand. He was there beside me, solid and warm. He wasn’t going anywhere.
I pulled into the apartment complex and parked, but neither of us moved to get out of the car right away. I turned to look at James, studying his profile in the late morning light that streamed through the windshield. He must have felt my gaze because he turned to face me, one eyebrow raised in question.
“What?” he asked, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.
“Nothing. Just...” I hesitated, trying to find the right words. “Thanks for breakfast.”
“You’re thanking me for forcing you to eat pancakes?”
“No. I’m thanking you for being patient with me.” I squeezed his hand, still tangled with mine. “I know this isn’t easy. Thesneaking around, the not being able to tell anyone. I appreciate you not pushing.”
James’s expression softened. “Kent, I told you. We go at your pace. I’m not going to force you into anything you’re not ready for.”
My throat tightened with an emotion I didn’t dare name. Before I could respond, I caught sight of someone walking toward the building entrance. Trevor.FuckingTrevor.
“Shit,” I muttered, dropping James’s hand instinctively.
James followed my gaze and tensed beside me. “Maybe he won’t see us.”
But it was too late. Trevor had spotted my truck and was now staring directly at us, his expression hardening into something ugly. He changed course, heading straight for us.
“Fuck,” James whispered. “Kent, just stay calm, okay?”
“I am calm,” I lied, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Trevor rapped his knuckles against my window, the sound sharp and demanding. I took a deep breath and rolled it down, forcing my face into what I hoped was a neutral expression.
“Can we help you?” I asked, my voice coming out steadier than I expected.
“Just wanted to see if you two gave it up yet,” Trevor said, his gaze flicking between James and me. “If you two were still... whatever the fuck this is.”
I felt James shift beside me, ready to intervene, but I put a hand on his knee to stop him.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” I said, “but James is mine. And that has nothing to do with you. Got it?”
Trevor’s laugh was harsh and humorless. “Right.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “You know what you’re doing is sick, right? It’s fucking disgusting. And I’m not scared of you.”
I felt something snap inside me, a surge of protective rage that blotted out everything else. Before I could think better of it,I was out of the truck, grabbing Trevor by the front of his shirt and shoving him back against the neighboring vehicle.
“Kent!” James was scrambling out of the passenger side, his voice sharp with alarm.
“I don’t give a flyingfuckwhat you think,” I growled, my face inches from Trevor’s. “You don’t know me, you don’t know James, and you sure as hell don’t get to judge us.”
Trevor’s eyes widened with surprise, but he recovered quickly, his mouth twisting into a sneer. “What you’re doing doesn’t seem wrong to you?”
“What I’m doing is none of your fucking business,” I said, my grip tightening on his shirt. “But what you’re going to do is stay the hell away from both of us. If I ever see you near James again, if I hear you’ve been talking about us to anyone, I will make you regret it. Understand?”
“Kent, that’s enough,” James was beside me now, his hand on my arm. “He’s not worth it.”
Trevor’s gaze shifted to James, something like hurt flashing in his eyes before hardening again. “You can do better than him, you know. I know his type. He’s just using you to figure his shit out. Once he does, he’ll drop you like yesterday’s trash.”
I pulled back my fist, ready to wipe that smug look off his face, but James caught my arm.
