Page 27 of Primary Seduction
“No, don’t spoil your birthday. Stay here and have fun. I’ll send you an update in a bit.” With that, Asher gave him a hug and walked to the exit. Sean followed, after a hug too. Max watched them leave, annoyed that they hadn’t let him go with them. He stared at nothing as his mind whirled with the reasons for their sudden departure. Why would Trent need someone to look after him? Was he hurt? Was he ill? Was he drunk? Max had no idea, and it burned his gut that he had no reason to go and find out.
“If it’s any consolation, he’s in good hands.” Logan’s voice was quiet in his ear but still made him jump. “Sorry.”
Max waved him away. “It’s okay. I was miles away.” He chose to ignore the comment about Trent for the moment and took a drink of his wine, letting the flavours travel along his taste buds. He was not normally a wine drinker, but Romano’s had limited alcoholic drinks so when needs must and all that.
“Max.” Logan waited until he looked at him. “He’ll be fine.”
Max stared at Logan while biting his lip, frowning but nodded. There wasn’t much he could do anyway, so he concentrated on eating his food. Maybe he could nip over to see him tomorrow.
An hour later, he received a text from Asher.
Trent is fine. He’s suffering from headaches, but he’s sleeping now. Don’t worry. Happy birthday, Max.
He was still worried, but at least there was someone looking after Trent.
****
Trent
Trent sat on the sofa with the TV on, but he wasn’t watching it. He listened to Asher and Sean in the kitchen. They’d been with him, on and off, for the past three days. Since the visit to the hospital with Samuel on Saturday, he’d not been alone for more than an hour. And he was getting tired of it. He understood that they were just taking precautions until he got the test results back, but it was smothering him. He needed his own space back.
He made a decision. He stood and walked to where they were quietly talking—probably discussing him—and spoke firmly. “You two can go home now. It’s not that I’m not grateful, I am, but enough is enough. I am more than capable of looking after myself just like I was before this happened.”
Asher glanced over at Sean before looking back at him. “I know you are, Trent. That’s what we were just talking about. Samuel wanted to make sure you’re okay, but we think you are. We’re not doctors, but I can’t see any reason why you need to be watched, for want of a better word.” He smiled and came across to Trent. “But if you feel…I don’t know, unsure, confused, whatever, ring us straight away. Got it?”
Trent smirked. “Yes, Doctor.”
“Smart ass,” Sean replied just as someone knocked at the door.
Trent walked over to answer, raising his eyebrows when he saw Trish standing there. He gritted his teeth and tried to appear calm in front of Asher and Sean. “Hey, what’s up?”
She obviously had no qualms about airing their dirty laundry in front of others as she stalked past, ignoring Asher and Sean, already throwing barbs at him. “You’ve not answered any of my messages for three days, Trent. I know you have a ‘life,’” she used finger quotes, “but I need the money for Harper’s uniform. Like yesterday. She also needs some more books.” She stopped and turned to him, crossing her arms, her long fingernails tapping her bicep.
He took a breath. “You’re going to have to wait, Trish. You know I don’t get paid until the end of the month. You can have the extra money then.” He waited for the explosion to come as was the usual response when he refused to give her money. He felt bad that Harper couldn’t have the uniform straight away, but he honestly didn’t have any spare money, everything in his bank was accounted for with bills. And even though he’d said she could have extra money, he couldn’t really afford it. Most of his wage was taken up with bills and paying for two kids to go to university. Okay, Harper wasn’t there yet, but he’d been paying into a bank account each month ready for when she went. For him to afford the extra things was taking money away from where he needed it. But he’d deal.
“That’s not good enough, Trent. She needs them now.”
“Then you’ll have to pay for them for now, and I’ll give you the money when I have it.” His gaze flicked to where Asher and Sean were trying not to show they could hear everything.
“I don’t have the money! So how the hell can I buy the stuff for her?” she screeched, then stalked past him again, nudging his shoulder as she slammed the door behind her.
Trent shook his head, looking at the floor with his hands on his hips, wishing with everything that was in him that she hadn’t been the one to give him Jocelyn and Harper. He wouldneverwish things were different because otherwise they wouldn’t be here, but hecouldwish that Trish hadn’t been involved. Not much he can do about that now.
“You okay?” Asher asked.
“Yeah, same shit, different day, that’s all,” he replied with a humourless laugh.
“I’m so glad you got out of there.”
“Me too, although doesn’t seem much different to when I was with her in all honesty.”
“Just remember you now have your independence, which you didn’t have before.” Asher held up his hand. “And don’t try to tell me that she didn’t curb your nights out because I know she did.”
Trent clenched his jaw and looked away.
“Anyway, we’re going to leave you to it.”
“Thanks, guys, I appreciate it.”
