“Kya loves it,” Trent chuckles.
“Kya?” Teagan glances over at him. “You have a girlfriend now?”
“What? Oh…no….niece,” Trent stutters. “My niece, she has a thing for fairies.”
“Are you close to her?” Teagan asks. “I love having nieces.”
Trent presses his lips into a hard line. “I am sorry Teagan, but my family stays private.”
“Oh, I am sorry,” Teagan gasps. “You brought it up, so I thought it was okay to ask.”
“No,” Trent replies, shaking his head. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Teagan states. She reaches over and pats his hand. “I know where your boundaries lie.”
He looks down at her hand. “Touching is one of them.”
“Oh my gosh!” Teagan exclaims, “I’m sorry!”
“I’m kidding,” Trent chuckles. He grabs her hand and squeezes. “I don’t like strange girls touching me, but it’s all right if you do.”
“Really?”
He nods, “Yeah, it’s fine, as long as you don’t try to grab my junk.”
“Oh come on, we haven’t been on the sixth date yet,” Teagan laughs.
“Six dates?” Trent snorts. “Wow, okay.”
“Okay, like that’s close to being true. I have had sex once in my life. It was horrible; I cried, and it was broadcasted on the Internet. I am surprised I am not in a convent taking a vow of celibacy.”
Trent furrows his eyebrows and shakes his head. “If I go to Michigan with you, that guy will not come within ten feet of you.”
“Yeah, about Michigan,” Teagan exhales. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Why?” Trent asks. She notices he grips the wheel a little tighter.
She shrugs, “I don’t know. I don’t want to lie to people. I mean, there is a huge part of me that wants you to go. You’re fun. All the girls would drool over you. Justin would be scared shitless.”
“What are the cons?” Trent inquires curiously, cocking his eyebrow.
“I don’t know,” Teagan sighs and leans back in her seat. “I would be lying. I can’t go there and say you are my personal protection. People will think that I am nuts, but I can’t lie and say you are my boyfriend either.”
“Just explain that I am your friend, your very scary and protective friend,” Trent emphasizes.
“Is that what we are?” Teagan asks. “You constantly throw fraternizing around, and yet you act like we could be friends, and I don’t know what to think.”
A heavy silence fills the air as Trent drives. He stares out the window and doesn’t say anything. Teagan doesn’t know what to do because it gets more and more awkward as the seconds pass. She is about to say something when Trent exhales heavily. “Listen, I have a past, okay? I’m very protective of my life and my family, extremely protective. I am very careful and extremely cautious about whom I bring into my life. I helped you escape those attackers, and I don’t know how much of this has to do with you really wanting to be a friend or some infatuation. I don’t want it to be the latter because it makes things really difficult and horribly awkward.”
“Oh, you think I am going to fall for you because you saved me? Have we not covered this about me? I’m not ready for a romantic relationship. I just think…you’d be a great friend to hang out with,” Teagan reassures him, despite the flutters she feels in her stomach when he touches her hand. “Don’t get me wrong. I am attracted to you. You’re gorgeous, but one, I don’t really know you and two, I am still figuring out my own feelings after everything with Justin.”
“So, we can be friends then?” Trent inquires.
Grinning, Teagan says, “Isn’t that fraternizing?”
“Sort of, I usually say that to girls so they don’t get the misconception that I want to date them.”
“No dates,” Teagan quips. “Maybe lunch or something, but strictly as friends, we can go dutch.”
“I will pay,” Trent states, giving her a look. “I make a lot more money than you.”
“Hell no,” Teagan argues. “I can pay for myself. We will just stick to cheap places, something with a drive thru.”
“And a hell no back at you,” Trent laughs. “We will eat well if we go out, not some crappy ass French fries from a dollar menu.”
Teagan crosses her arms. “I have to pay somehow. Otherwise, it’s a date.”
“Well, it can be a platonic date.”
“A platonic date,” Teagan giggles. “Really? What does that even mean?”
“It means we’re friends who go out together, but I get to pay.” Trent replies with a grin. She smirks at him. “So, how do you like the classes so far?”
She nods, “I am learning a lot. I still have nightmares about what happened, but I am even starting to fight back in my dreams.”
“That’s awesome.”
“Yeah, it kind of is,” Teagan sighs. She pauses and then asks, “So, what are you up to for the rest of the evening?”
“Going home and watching the news,” Trent answers. “Why?”
“Want to come up and have a beer?” Teagan inquires. “It’s okay now that you know that I am not trying to lure you in.”
“Don’t you have class in the morning?” Trent asks.
“At 9:30, we are all good,” Teagan states. “So, are you coming up?”
“Sure,” Trent says. “I am curious to see what your place looks like.”
Laughing, Teagan retorts, “Why?”
“Ex cheerleading captain,” Trent chuckles. “I want to see how you decorate.”
“Boy band posters everywhere. N’Sync right above my bed.” Teagan declares, spreading her hands out over her head, trying to put on a serious face.
“Really?” Trent chuckles.
She bursts out laughing, “Not even close!”
“You never know,” Trent replies, with a smirk.
“No. I have a blue and green color scheme,” Teagan declares. “You will have to suffer through the furniture; I had to get everything used.”
“Will I be sitting on something gross?” Trent asks.
Rolling her eyes Teagan says, “No, they are very clean. It sort of looks like a college kid’s dorm room.”
“Been there,” Trent replies. “It will be fine.” Teagan is slightly nervous about him coming up to her apartment, but the thought of him being there also makes her smile. She thinks back to the morning to make sure she had at least done the dishes and thrown the laundry in the hamper as he interrupts her. “I don’t remember the exact address, just the cross streets.”
“It’s that brick building,” Teagan says, pointing to the right.
“Not very big for an apartment complex,” Trent states.
With a smile, Teagan replies, “They are very small apartments. I’m the only apartment occupied on the third floor right now.”
“That’s not good,” Trent looks at her. “If you’re in trouble, no one would know.”
“You take this security thing to a whole different level,” Teagan laughs. “It’s okay. There isn’t much crime around this area.” Trent frowns, as he pulls up to her building and gets out of the truck. Teagan gets out, too, and she nudges her head to the apartment building. When they get there, she opens the front door and they walk in.
“They don’t lock the front door?” Trent grumbles.
“There is a lock, but it’s been broken for a year,” Teagan sighs and puts her hands out. “Not much I can do about it.” Trent frowns even more. Teagan giggles and touches his arm briefly. “Will you relax? Nothing is going to happen!”
He shakes his head and says, “This crap just worries me. You live alone. It makes me nervous.”
Teagan tries really hard not to grin broadly. “Always the bodyguard?”
“It’s who I am, I guess,” Trent shrugs his shoulders.
When they get up the steps, Teagan goes to the first door. She takes out her keys and opens it. The smell of fresh laundry meets them at the door. Quickly f
lipping on the lights, Teagan says, “This is my home.”
Trent walks in and looks around. “It’s definitely a girl’s apartment.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Teagan asks, a little offended. She glances around the room, scanning her small bookshelf next to the couch. The picture frames on top of the shelf are straight. The wall art hanging haphazardly around the room add a homey touch, but she knows it’s not all she’s ever wanted to do with the place.
“The decorating actually looks good. None of the guys I know could make their place look this nice, especially if they don’t have a lot of money.”
“Oh, thanks,” Teagan replies, grinning. She shuts the door. “Do you want a beer?”
“What do you have?”
Blushing, she whispers, “Stella. I bought it yesterday.”
A smile crosses Trent’s face. “That would be fine.”
Completely embarrassed, Teagan goes to her refrigerator. She opens it and takes out two beers. “So,” Teagan says, popping off the tops. “Tell me something about yourself.”
“Like what?” Trent replies, taking a beer from her.
“I don’t know. You know about me, so let me ask about you. What were you like in high school?”
“Straight up brawler,” Trent sighs. “Got into a lot of trouble.”
“Really?” Teagan replies surprised. “I wouldn’t have guessed.” They both take a seat at the small, glass top café table in the corner of the kitchen. She plays with a napkin between her fingers as she listens to him, watching him.
Trent takes a sip of beer and nods his head. “They were my rebellious years. My parents were very proper. My mom was a second grade school teacher, and my dad was a bank manager. I had two very well behaved siblings Then there was me I tagged along with my uncle everywhere when I was younger He taught me my fighting skills, which I put to great use when I became a teenager.”
“You were a scrapper,” Teagan giggles. She sets the napkin aside while her fingers run circles on the condensation on the beer bottle.
He smiles; a vaguely reminiscent look crosses his face. “Yes, I was I was very disciplined until….well until I stepped foot into my high school, then I lost it all I was big, even back then, and I ended up in the wrong crowd. The older I got…..the worse I got.”
“You didn’t try out for football with your build?” Teagan inquires.
With a snort, Trent shakes his head. “Sorry sweetheart, I didn’t fall into the same crowd as you.”
“Hell, I didn’t even fit into my clique,” Teagan sighs, sipping again from her beer.
“What do you mean by that? Weren’t you the cheerleading captain and dating the top jock?”
She wipes her top lip and nods, “Yeah, but I did it because I thought that was what I should want. I was really good at cheering The guys liked me I thought that is where I belonged, but I don’t think I ever truly fit in I wasn’t into drinking all the time. I didn’t want to sleep around. Hell, I didn’t even want to sleep with Justin.”
“That guy….I swear,” Trent growls.
Teagan has to smile. “He is a douche bag, plain and simple.”
“So, can I ask a question?” Trent inquires.
“Sure.”
“Why didn’t you want to have sex with Justin I mean, are you saving yourself for marriage? Trent asks, sounding very curious as he rests his elbows on the table.
Laughing, Teagan says, “I just didn’t feel the drive to do it. He was a horrible kisser and was very aggressive in that department. It didn’t….turn me on, I guess. I loved him, so I looked past it, but I definitely wasn’t curious about what it would be like.”
“Huh,” Trent exhales. “This guy sounds more and more like the ultimate loser.”
“I know,” Teagan snorts. “I didn’t see anything coming, what he was going to do. I mean, I didn’t think he was capable of something so horrible.”
“Were you 18 at the time?” Trent asks, narrowing his eyes.
She nods, “Yeah.”
“Did you press charges?”
“Yup, he got probation I think,” Teagan sighs. “I didn’t really want to know. I tried to stay as far away from him as possible.”
“That’s wise,” Trent states.
Teagan pauses and says, “Would you like to sit down somewhere more comfortable?”
“Sure,” Trent replies. They go and sit down on the well-worn blue couch in the living room. They turn to each other at the same time. Their eyes meet. “You need to take me to Michigan.”
“Trent….” She starts.
“No, I’m being serious. Say I am your date because I don’t want this guy around you. Trust me, he won’t come near you if I am standing there. Word has it I can be very intimidating.”
With a slight smile, Teagan puts her arm on the back of the couch. She nods. “Yes, I can see why people think that.”
Trent smiles, “So, let me go with you.”
“But you don’t even know me,” Teagan sighs. “Why are you being so protective? What if I am a serial killer?”
“I think I could handle you,” Trent chuckles, crossing his arms. “You need someone to protect you from this guy. I can do it. I want to do it. I like you, and you seem like a good person who got shafted.”
“I am,” Teagan retorts. “Are you sure about this?”
“Positive.”
Grinning, Teagan inquires slyly, “Will you dance with me?”
“Do you think I dance?” Trent stifles a laugh.
“Damn,” Teagan mumbles. “Well, at least Justin won’t ask me if you are there.”
“He better not.”
“Okay, well I am leaving on Thursday. It’s a day’s drive,” Teagan declares, taking a swig of her beer.
“Uh, we will fly,” Trent counters. “It’s much faster.”
“Maybe you are,” she laughs. “I can’t afford that. I will be driving in my car.”
He raises an eyebrow. “We will fly.”
“No, we will not fly. You will fly,” Teagan asserts.
Trent leans in close to her and whispers, “I am going to buy you a ticket, and I would rather not waste the money, so please fly with me.”
Scowling and crossing her arms, Teagan says, “Fine, but I will pay you back, somehow.”
“You can come work at my office to pay me back if you want to,” Trent states, sitting back up.
“In my cheerleading uniform?” Teagan teases.
The corner of Trent’s mouth twitches. “If that wouldn’t be inappropriate.”
“I can file stuff in your office while wearing it,” Teagan says. “Keep you preoccupied for a few hours.”
“I thought you weren’t trying to lure me in?” Trent scoffs.
“Who said anything about luring? You can appreciate my goods from afar; there is nothing wrong with that,” Teagan giggles.
“Your goods?” Trent laughs. She shrugs and smirks. He shakes his head. “No, dear lord, the rumors that would fly. No, strictly professional attire.”
Raising her eyebrows, Teagan quips, “So, I should dress like a schoolmarm or a nun perhaps?”
“Something dressy,” Trent instructs politely.
“Prom dress!” He gives her a look. Teagan pouts, “Fine, I will wear a nice dress.”
Trent nods, “That works.”
“A nice dress that barely makes it down my thighs!” Teagan exclaims. “I have a few of those!” Trent places his face in his hand. Teagan laughs, clapping her hands. She enjoys this side of him, making him laugh and blush a little bit. He almost seems human every now and then. “I am kidding! I have a nice suit I can wear.”
“Thank you,” Trent replies. Teagan takes a drink of beer and wiggles her eyebrows. He smiles. “You are a smart ass, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea,” Teagan laughs. “You should see me and Victoria after we have a few drinks in us. We are something else.”
“I bet.”
They stare at each other for a few s
econds before Teagan looks away and takes a nervous gulp of her beer. Finally, she says, “So, I know you are very private, but what else can you tell me. When did you get out of your rebellious stage?”
Looking down and fiddling with his beer, Trent answers, “Something happened when I was 20, and I had to grow up and be a man.”
“What was that?” Teagan asks, taking another sip of her beer.
He exhales and replies, “There are some things I just won’t talk about Teagan. It has nothing to do with you, trust me, but certain things stay private.”
“Oh, sorry,” Teagan gasps. “I didn’t mean to pry!”
“It’s fine,” Trent assures her and pats her leg. “Some things will have to wait until we have known each other a little while longer.”
“Well, you know the worst about me,” Teagan whispers. “I really hope you don’t tell anyone.”
Trent looks shocked. “Why would I!?”
“I don’t know,” Teagan mumbles. “My fear is for it to get out here. I moved away because everyone back at home knew how Justin humiliated me. When I arrived here, I got a fresh start. I just don’t want to ruin it.”
“If it does, I will handle it,” Trent assures her, his hand on her leg again. “No one will know. I will protect you, I promise.”
She looks up and stares him in the eyes. “Always my hero?”
“I will always be your Batman,” Trent declares. “You have nothing to fear, okay?”
Teagan leans over and kisses him on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” Trent replies softly.
Teagan narrows her eyes. “So, what will you tell me about yourself?”
“My favorite food is Italian. Can you cook?”
“Mmhmmm,” Teagan hums.
“Good, then I will be over for dinner because I can only cook the basics: Mac n Cheese and Spaghetti.”
“I can teach you,” Teagan states proudly.
He raises his eyebrows and snorts. “That may be a hopeless cause.”
“What is your favorite Italian meal?” Teagan asks.
“Manicotti.”
“I can make that. Do you like spinach?”
“Yup,” Trent answers.
She smiles widely. “Well then I can make you a wonderful dinner. Do you want to do it this week?”