Page 92 of Primary Seduction
Trent looked at Max, saw the determination in his eyes and took strength from that. Nothing could tear them apart. At least he hoped nothing could. “I’m sorry for rebuffing you,” he said suddenly.
Max looked at him confused. “Rebuffing me? When?”
“The first time you kissed me. I remember being so confused and conflicted. But I pushed you away and hurt your feelings. I’m sorry.”
Max smiled. “Well, it all worked out for the best, didn’t it?”
Trent smiled back and leaned in for a kiss.
****
It had taken two weeks before they could have a trial, which was fast in the scheme of things, but not to Trent. Samuel had worked his magic and managed to keep Trish and George detained without bail, saying they were a flight risk as evidenced by their previous taillights. The trial hadn’t lasted that long, only about three hours, but it had felt like a lifetime during the process.
Max had insisted on being there, making things a little easier on Trent, especially as Jocelyn and Harper had been there too. Neither of his daughters had wanted to see Trish before the trial, even though Trish had requested a visit. He didn’t blame them. His friends and family had been there to support him: Carter, Luke and Ava had his back, his mother sat quietly next to them, Sean, Asher, Zak, Ethan and Logan had all been there as well. Eric had been on set and sent his apologies.
His mother had been a pillar of strength. Ever since he told her he was gay four months ago, she had been on the phone constantly checking he was doing okay and making sure no one was “giving him grief”—her own words. She hadn’t been surprised at his declaration and when he’d asked why, she just said that he had always liked boys more than girls, even from an early age, so she had never been worried until he chose Trish. All the time he’d been with her, his mother had worried. She didn’t have that feeling about Max, she said. He was a godsend. Trent agreed.
Samuel had declared Trish an unrepentant mother, who had caused her children emotional distress, instability and a certain degree of neglect. Harper’s statement was read out in court, detailing the things she’d had to deal with: cooking her own food, washing her own things, buying food for the house, cleaning. Trent had been devastated when he’d heard it, looking at Harper in distress when he’d found out this had been happening since just after he’d left. Harper had been eleven, and she hadn’t said a word to him about it. He planned on discussing it with her later, not to upset her by telling her she should have told him, but to apologise for not seeing it happening.
Jocelyn’s statement was also read out. She was able to explain the more intimate side of her mother’s life. She knew about the men Trish had brought home over the years, she knew about the affairs with married men and other stuff as well.
George Pickering had received a reduced sentence because he had provided additional evidence against Trish. According to George, Trish had been swapping out Trent’s B12 prescribed tablets for her own anxiety medication. Trent had worried about proving this because his medication had been used and his prescription refilled several times over the last few months. Samuel had explained that. He’d told the court that when he’d seen Trent after their phone call and hospital visit, he’d been concerned about his demeanour, it hadn’t seemed right to him. They’d taken the medication to the hospital with them, but Samuel had confiscated the bottle on the way home and had Trent refill a new prescription.
Samuel had been able to get the bottle tested, and once it had been, the police had confirmed the results: Trish’s fingerprints were all over the bottle and the capsules inside. This had been the cause of Trent’s headaches, nightmares and jitteriness. Unfortunately, the results had arrived after Trish had already fled. As for the missing items, well, that was explained when Trent had found the receipts in her desk and when police had watched CCTV evidence. She had been entering Trent’s house, stealing his belongings and pawning them off for the money.
To say it was eye-opening was an understatement.
It made Trent realise how out of touch he’d become in his own life since he’d divorced Trish. And from that moment, he vowed to be better. He knew exactly what he wanted from his life now.
As they left the courthouse into the fresh air, he took a deep breath and pulled Max to a stop.
“You okay?” Max asked, ever the worrier.
Trent nodded. “I love you. This court case has made me realise just how much I love you. It’s made me realise how much you support me, how much you make my life better, how much you keep me young,” he said with a grin. “You have been with me every step of the way through this fiasco, through my awakening, through getting to know my children again. You have made my world a better place. You’ve made me want to live life to the best of my ability. With you by my side, and I cannot thank you enough.”
He knelt on one knee, keeping eye contact with Max, seeing his eyes widen and hearing gasps around them. He reached into his pocket for the ring he had been keeping on him for the last two months, waiting for the right time.
“We’ve never been a couple to take things slowly, ever since the first moment. I don’t see why this should be any different. I know how I feel, I know what I want. It’s you. With me, beside me, before me, after me, any which way I can have you. I love you with all that I am and all that I’ll ever be. Max Hughes, will you marry me?”
Trent saw tears running down Max’s face as he croaked out, “Yes.”
He smiled and slid the ring on Max’s finger to the applause all around them. He stood and kissed Max softly, wiping away the tears with his thumbs. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Max replied, wetly, holding Trent tight.
****
Four months later
Max
He couldn’t believe how much had changed in the past year. He had known Trent for a little under two years but everything between them started one year ago today. It was only fitting that they married on the same day.
He was getting married. Max bit his lip as he smiled. They were not having a huge wedding, just a small registry office one with a few family and friends, then they’d go back to Crush for the reception, thanks to Tom; he had insisted on closing Crush for the afternoon so they could celebrate in peace.
Max messed with his tie again, straightened his jacket and altered his collar. He was eager to get moving but waited for Jocelyn to say he could leave the room. Jocelyn and Harper had received their engagement well and had taken it upon themselves to work with Tom and Ginny for the reception. Max and Trent had left them to it, happily. As far as they were concerned, the reception was more for their friends and family to mingle. They both just wanted the wedding done so they can officially call themselves married.
He had sent invitations to all his family and almost everyone had confirmed they would be there. He hadn’t expected his parents to come, especially as the invites had been clear that he was marrying a guy, and they didn’t disappoint when their refusal was received.
