Well, Trey intended to remind him that when you made a promise, you fucking followed through.
Rather than call, he figured showing up in person might drive his point home. Not to mention, it would guarantee that he got fucking paid for the work he’d done. He was due, goddammit.
It was shortly after noon by the time he got to Camp K-9 because he’d spent the better part of the morning arguing with himself about what a stupid fucking idea this was. He’d acknowledged that he didn’t need the money, so he knew that he was blowing this out of proportion in an effort to see Magnus again. And yes, maybe Ava. But only because he wanted to see them with his own eyes, not because he gave a shit either way.
At least, that was what was going with.
“You’re an idiot,” he told himself as he parked the truck in the Camp K-9 lot. “A stupid fucking idiot.”
Despite that acknowledgment, he walked inside anyway, swinging the door open harder than he should have. He silently apologized to Sarge because the dog’s head popped up, his ears back, obviously startled from his nap.
Magnus appeared, coming from the kennels, and the moment he saw Trey, he froze.
“You didn’t fuckin’ pay me, asshole,” Trey barked.
Magnus’s expression shifted from one of disbelief to rage in the blink of an eye. “The fuck I didn’t.”
“Then give me the goddamn paper check.”
“You got paid by direct deposit.”
“I damn sure did not, and you fuckin’ know it, Magnus.” Trey couldn’t fucking believe that he was having this argument or that he was this fucking angry over something so goddamn petty.
“I’ll prove it to you.” Magnus marched around behind the counter and pulled the keyboard drawer out.
Trey waited patiently, restraining himself from drumming his fingers on the counter. Not once had Magnus ever missed a paycheck, so obviously, he’d done it on purpose. And now he was pretending that he hadn’t.
Magnus leaned into the screen. “What the fuck?” His tone cooled significantly. “I know I submitted it.”
“Just fuckin’ pay me,” Trey bit out through clenched teeth. “You got what you wanted. I showed up.”
“Fuck you, Trey. I don’t give a shit if youevercome back here.”
Trey stared at Magnus in shock. If he’d been kicked in the nuts, he wouldn’t have felt worse pain than that single statement caused. The look on Magnus’s face said he meant it.
“You know what, keep it,” Trey managed as he stood up straight and started for the door. He damn sure didn’t want Magnus to see the pain he’d just inflicted.
“Trey, wait!”
He ignored Magnus and stepped out into the record heat, wishing the sun’s rays would make him spontaneously combust. How could he have been so fucking stupid?
Trey reached the door of his truck at the same time Ava called out his name. He glanced over to see her coming around the side of the building. She’d obviously been in one of the play yards and probably saw him pull up.
“I’ve gotta go,” he said, opening his door.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get far when Magnus grabbed his arm and spun him around.
“I didn’t mean that,” Magnus ground out, stepping up to him.
Trey was too shocked to respond. He didn’t even recognize the pain churning in Magnus’s eyes. Evidently, it was fine as long as Trey was the one doing the walking, but the fact that Magnus didn’t want him anymore ripped him up inside. If Trey hadn’t been led around by his goddamn emotions, he would’ve been able to prevent this. And if he’d stayed home where he fucking belonged, he could keep on pretending that Magnus was secretly pining away for him and waiting for him to come back instead of playing house with Ava.
He was a fucking pussy, that’s what he was.
Magnus stepped up to him, pinning Trey between his body and the truck. He lowered his voice even more. “I didn’t mean it.”
“I shouldn’t have come here.”
“I did it,” Ava called out as she came around the front of the truck.
