Click. Click. Click. Click.
My heel was on the verge of snapping off if he left me waiting out here for much longer. Was I an impatient person? In short, YES.
That's why I was sliding my phone out of my purse for the millionth time and opening my texts once again.
Leaving me on seen you asshole.
I hit call before I could think twice, "Trey, pinche guey contesta tu fregado celular. I swear when I see you I'm going to rearrange your ballsack y ni creas que-"
"Slow down, mamí," my words got caught in my throat as soon as I heard that deep voice behind me.
I turned around slowly, eyes landing on the black god himself looking like he just came from the gym. "Rome, right?" I quickly hung up on Trey.
A sexy grin stretches across his face, "I'm glad I made an impression for you to have remembered my name. Although hearing you snap at a brotha like that, I'm not so sure that's a good thing," his eyes are filled with amusement.
Warmth blossoms on my cheeks and likely on my chest, too, otherwise his eyes wouldn't keep wandering down.
"I appreciated you turning around that slow, too," he licks his lips.
I raise a brow, "So women are just eye candy for you?"
Rome's eyes widen for a moment then twinkle, "No, it's just a bonus when a woman is smart and beautiful. But today...I think you're sexier than the last time I saw you."
My eyes roll out of habit, "Says the man who has probably had at least 3 girls in his bed since."
The way he's looking at me is the way a man who likes a challenge looks at a competition. It's a game he's willing to play for the hell of it. And would be swelling with pride for winning.
"I thought you said you had lectures between lunch and dinner," I remind him.
"You caught me on a good day. I don't have lectures on Wednesday. So, I usually just hit the gym."
I let my eyes roam over him, eyes taking note of the very prominent outline in his pants, "Seems it was a very intense workout."
That smirk is second nature to him, "Oh, I think there's an even better workout I could show you. I'd love to lift your-"
"Cas, fuck I'm sorry, I forgot we had... Rome." Trey's voice went from being apologetic to short and testy in a matter of seconds.
"You'll be lucky if Patrick even let's us join his party," I hiss at him.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I fell asleep. I got your message.... you know you talk a mile a minute when you're talking in Spanish, right?"
He would be dead right now if eyes could kill. Rome takes the time to chuckle at his expense.
"I thought I told you to keep away, Rome."
"I was just tryin to get into the building, bro. Can't help it if this fine honey was standing in the way." Rome looks me over again. "Unless she's yours?" He turns to Trey.
"I'm no one's, thanks for asking. Trey let's go." I grab his arm and haul him down the steps.
"I hate to see you go but I love to watch you leave, sweetheart."
I flip him the bird as I pull out my keys. "Hurry the fuck up, Trey. Any longer and I'll literally cut his tongue out."
Trey gets in the car as told and as I hop in to buckle up, he speaks up again. "Why are you dressed like that?"
"Like what exactly, Trey?" I pay no attention to him as I pull out of the parking spot.
"Like you're tryin to impress someone, Cas? This is almost club-level-Cas." He explains to me.
"I can't look cute when I want to? Is that a crime, Trey? It was your idea that I put myself out there. Besides, Patrick has some very cute friends. A lot of cute girls for you, too," I force it out quite naturally now. Even though I hate telling him about any kind of opportunity with the opposite gender.
Breathe, Cas, for fuck's sake.
"I thought you didn't wanna date anyone for a while?"
"I changed my mind, I have the right to change my mind," I answer testily.
Especially since you won't give me what I want.
"Okay then."
And that was that.
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Raúl was definitely giving me the worried look the entire night. While Trey and I were best friends, Raúl felt like the older brother I never had. That and he very much wanted me to own up to my feelings for Trey before I hurt myself any more than I have.
"Trey, go give head to that bottle of Grey, it's been calling you over all night," Raúl said.
Trey looked thoroughly confused by the hints he was dropping.
"Bro, just fuck off and let me talk to my sis alone." He stated more simply.
My bestie looked a little hurt but raised his hands and backed off, going to talk to Patrick instead, who had been glaring at him all night.
"Don't even start tonight, really," I said before Raúl could get another word in.
He gave me this empathetic look, "I'm just tryin to push you to make yourself happy."
"I can't when he doesn't feel the same way back. You know that."
"Well, have you asked him? You won't know if there's a chance unless you tell it to him straight. Trust me, I'm not saying a girl and a guy can't be friends, I'm just saying that there's no way Trey only looks at you like a friend. I've been there when he's tryin to pull handsy guys away from you. It's not just as a loyal and protective friend that he does that, Cassie."
"How would you even know? Have you asked him? Do you have some insight because you're a guy or something?" I argue.
"Trust me. It's just a gut feeling."
"Well, your gut feeling hasn't always been right, Rulie. Remember freshman year?"
"We don't talk about that night, Cassie," he groans in nostalgic pain.
I laugh but it quickly dies down when my eyes find Trey. Except he's no longer talking to Patrick, but his boyfriend's best friend. Who happens to be the prettiest thing and just Trey's type.
"Guess your gut isn't right this time either, bro," I force a smile as I grab a bottle off of one of the tables.
"Cassie, hey, don't-"
"You're taking care of me this time," I tell him.
He sighs but nods.
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My mouth felt dry and my head was spinning. Raúl had convinced Patrick to let me use the extra room to sleep off the alcohol I had basically been inhaling until dinner rolled around.
"You really put off every available guy at this party, Cassie," he told me as he combed his fingers through my hair.
"But you're a keeper." I joke.
"You know we're not like that," he said gently.
I nod against his legs, "I do. My sister is stupid for not liking you. Who cares if you're a little younger."
He chuckles, "Apparently, she does." He rubs my arm in comfort. "But I can understand how you're feeling right now. It would be so much easier with you, Cassie."
"Thanks. Love you," I kiss his knee.
"Love you, too, you drunk skunk."
I smile at that, "Where's-"
"How's she doing?" My heart warmed at the concern.
"Well, she did down like two bottles within two hours," Raúl reminded him snidely.
"That's messy," and my smile was gone at the stranger's voice.
"We're all messy," Trey joked.
"No that's just unnecessary, Trey. You're friends with her?"
"Yeah. She's my home girl. What's your point?"
"Call me when you drop her."
"Fucking bitch," I muttered.
Apparently, I wasn't that quiet because Trey laughed, which doesn't happen as often as you think. This was a full laugh, not just a social chuckle.
"Don't worry, Patrick hates her, too," Raúl informs us with a lighter tone.
"She's nice to look at but that's where it ends. I was tryin to get rid of her all night but she wouldn't take the hint."
My eyes widen at that and Raúl squeezes my arm in excitement.
Maybe all hope isn't lost, Cassie.
"Should I leave you two alone?" Although Trey asked that to be considerate, there was something in his tone that said he wanted to do anything but.
"We were just talking, but I do need to get her more water. Are you gonna stay with her or should I?"
Big brother is really trying to help me right now.
"I'll keep her company while you go. I need to talk to her about something," Trey replied.
I sat up slowly as Raúl helped me. When he left, Trey took his seat.
"What's up with you and Raúl?"
My eyes widened comically, "What?"
"You've been hanging out more recently. I just thought maybe you two were..."
The snort slips out before I can stop it. "That's cute that you think that. We're just friends. He's like a brother. He likes my sister anyway. Not like anything can happen."
"Right, yeah. That makes sense." But his fingers are fidgety.
"Something else on your mind, Trey?"
"Cas, just don't get involved with Rome. Okay?" His eyes look so serious and distraught. I'd never seen those caramel eyes so clouded with emotion.
"Trey, I can make my own decisions. I can make mistakes, too."
"Cas, that's not what I mean. He's-"
"Trey, you're my best friend. But you're not my relationship expert. Rome is hot, yeah, but I can see how his mind works and his personality doesn't clash well with mine. Why do you care?"
"Because I...." he shakes his head, looking away from me to answer, "I've seen the girls walk out of his apartment the next day. Looking like they just got their hearts ripped out. I don't wanna find you like that."
"You won't have to worry about that, Trey."
Because you're managing to do that just fine.