“Are you worried about what the school would do if someone found out?”
“Partly. Technically, I’m not breaking any rules. I’m not using school property or resources. There’s no nonconsensual distribution. No public displays of indecency. But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t find a way to kick me out regardless. Claim I’m affecting their reputation or something.”
“And you want your degree.”
“I do,” he says with an undercurrent of feeling. “I’ve worked hard for it. I might not need it in the long run. I have the knowledge and tools I require already. But I’m not the only one responsible for getting me here. I want it for myself as much as I want it for others.”
“Your uncle,” I say gently.
He nods, his hands in his pockets as we take a bend in the sidewalk. A bicyclist zooms past us, and Trevor tugs me closer to him without a second thought.
At least the nip in the air can be blamed for the flush on my cheeks.
“What’s your goal long term?” I ask.
Trevor keeps his eyes ahead as he thinks that over, although I have a feeling he already knows. He doesn’t strike me as the type of person to jump into things rashly. He’s thought this through, possibly for years now. I have no doubt he has a plan for every decade down the road.
“I want…simplicity,” he finally says. “I don’t need to strike it big, but stability? Not having to struggle to make ends meet? That’s what I want. So I can enjoy the day-to-day the way it’s meant to be lived.”
My chest aches at the absolute perfection of the image he painted. I see a modest house. Quiet hours at home after the workday is done. Waking up and enjoying a peaceful few minutes with the sun and the people…or person…I love. A library, maybe, tucked into the corner of the home.
I have to dispel the picture before it can become too whole. Before I want it so badly it hurts.
“I like your idea of success,” I tell him. “That’s what I want, too. To be…happy.”
“I know,” Trevor says softly. At my raised eyebrow, he shrugs his massive shoulders. “You’re an English major, remember?”
I huff a laugh. “Well maybe my porn star boyfriend will keep me rolling in riches, ever think of that?”
Trevor smiles his secretive smile. The one that pulls up only the edges of his lips.
I smack his chest. “Stop being so smug right now. All I did was call you my boyfriend.”
“Mhm,” Trevor hums, catching my hand and tucking it in his own. “And it sounded really nice.”
I glance around as we walk hand in hand. Trevor doesn’t seem perturbed in the slightest. “You’re not worried about PDA?” I ask quietly.
Trevor raises an eyebrow impressively high as he looks over at me. “This coming from the guy who was humping my leg inside a bar just last night?”
“Oh myGod,” I groan, hiding my face with my free hand until I’m fairly sure my cheeks have stopped flaming. “Number one, that’s entirely different. Bars and clubs aren’t…this.” I wave my hand around us for emphasis. “Totally different sets of rules. Number two, I guess I just wasn’t sure how…open you wanted to be.”
“We’re both out,” Trevor says evenly. “And I don’t plan to hide you away like some secret I’m ashamed of. Unless you’re uncomfortable with this?”
“No,” I say quickly, my hand tightening around his.
By the twitch of his lips, he noticed. “Then, no. I’m not worried. I highly doubt anyone would be brave enough to give us trouble.”
“Yeah,” I say in agreement, sliding my free hand up and down his arm. “They’d be a fool to try.”
There go his lips again. “I was talking about you, Red. You’re a feisty little thing when you want to be.”
I snort a laugh, knowing damn well I’m not the one in this relationship likely to scare someone off. Although the thought makes me frown. “You don’t scare me, Trevor.”
His expression sobers into something considering and…possibly affectionate. He seems to have followed my train of thought easily enough because he says, “I know,better-than-averageRed. You made that more than clear the first time we met.”
“Well, good,” I mumble. I can’t even find it in me to grouse at him for using that horrible nickname I’ll never live down.
I simply tighten my grip on his hand, glad Trevor knows I see the person he is inside.
