"Who's the guy?" Martin asked the instant she sat down.
"Someone I know."
"He looks totally out of place."
She gripped her thighs, sinking the nails into the flesh.
For the last hour she had listened to him speak. All the time she couldn't stop thinking about Trey. He'd done a number on her, and it was only supposed to be about sex with them. She couldn't handle anything else.
Picking her fork up, she moved the meal around her plate. She really hated the food. Martin was digging into his meal.
"I can't believe you know that man. He's not from a good family. Look at the way he slouches and sits. He's a fake."
Biting her lip she tried to ignore him.
"His friend looks the same. He keeps looking over here, but you're taken. I was thinking we could visit the Greek restaurant in the city tomorrow night." He reached over, touching her hand.
Pulling away from him she shot him a glare. "I don't want you touching me."
"Your family wants us to be together, June."
Staring at him, she dropped the fork to her plate. "You see that man? The one who is so out of place? I was fucking him while you rang my doorbell. That's right, he was inside me, and I didn't want to come here. This date has been awful." Her heart was pounding inside her chest, threatening to escape. "I don't like you, and I bet you've got a string of women up and down the country waiting for you."
He didn't disagree with her.
"This is not going to be anything. We're not going on another date. I don't want anything to do with you."
She pushed her chair back and stood. Without giving him another look, she turned on her heel and moved toward Trey. He was frowning at her approach.
"Get me out of here please. I need to get away from him."
His arm settled around her back, leading her out of the room. She didn't wait for her coat. Getting out of the restaurant was what she needed.
Trey sat in the back while Dale drove the car.
"We're going to stop for some burgers," Dale said. "I'm hungry."
"Can I come in with you?" she asked, needing something to eat.
Both men agreed.
"What's going on? What happened?" Trey asked. He stroked her cheek. The action was so tender she almost burst out crying.
"He was talking crap about you. Talking about how out of place you looked and he wouldn't shut up. I snapped and blurted everything out. I told him you were fucking me when he knocked on the door this evening. Crap, this is going to end badly."
Trey wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back.
She leaned forward, feeling her stomach ready to expel what little she'd eaten.
"I shouldn't have said anything," she said.
"Don't worry about it. We'll get through this together." Dale pulled into a burger bar. They left the car and
headed inside, taking a seat as far back as possible. She felt Dale's gaze on them as they looked over a menu together.
"What?" Trey asked.
"Nothing. It's just you look like a couple who has been together for years. It's kind of cool to see." He went back to reading the menu.
Glancing up at Trey she saw him glaring at his friend.
She shook her head, telling him without words to let it drop. When the waitress came over the guys ordered cheeseburgers with everything while she had a turkey burger with everything. She was starving and needed the calories to help her focus.
Her cell phone buzzed. Pulling the phone from her pocket she saw it was her mother.
"What's the matter?" Trey asked.
"I can't deal with her right now." Turning the phone off, she handed it to Trey. "Please don't let me have it until tomorrow."
"Are you sure?"
"Hell yeah. Mom is going to be shouting, cursing, screaming and not to mention my dad. No, I can't handle them right now." She let out a frustrated sigh. "Why can't they see the truth? I can."
"They want you to be happy."
"I'll be happy when they leave me alone."
Dale was watching them again.
"What?" she asked, snapping out the word.
"Nothing. I've got nothing at all to say."
"Just tell me," she said, expelling a breath.
"Are you two going to remain a secret, or are you ever
going to come forward with the truth that you're seeing each other?" Dale asked.
"Not now," Trey said.
"Let him talk." June looked at Dale waiting for him to continue.
"Both of you need to make a choice. It's not going to be easy for you. June, you come from one of the wealthiest men around. Trey, you come from one of the bad families in town. This is not going to go well. You're either in this together or not."
She didn't want to think about the points Dale raised. He didn't know anything about either of them. It wasn't up to him what they did with their lives.
The waitress brought them over their food, and they ate in silence. She spilled mayonnaise over her dress, and she didn't care. When she got home she'd be burning the dress in the bakery oven.
Trey sat in the back as Dale drove them home.
"I'll see you soon," Trey said, shaking hands with Dale. She watched as his friend walked toward Trey's house.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"He wants to stay at my place tonight. Do you think
you've got a place for me to crash and for us both to talk?" She nodded. Part of her expected to see her mother
camped outside her house. Climbing the steps, she unlocked the door and entered. The answering machine was blaring in the distance.
Leaving Trey to close the door she pressed the play button and started listening to the messages.
"Honey, I hope you're having a brilliant time. You'll love Martin once you get to know him. I'm sure of it."
Closing her eyes, she rubbed at her temples. A headache was forming, and she didn't know if she wanted to listen to the rest of the messages.
"You don't have to do this," Trey said.
"I do."
"June Armstrong, I'm disgusted and surprised at you.
Storming out with another man is not acceptable, not to mention what you said to Martin. The poor man is beside himself with grief. He really liked you and thought you could make a future together. You've got some serious explaining to do."
There were another two messages.
"I'm stood outside, and you're nowhere to be seen. Don't forget I know where you work, June. I'll be handling this in the morning."
"June, honey, it's your dad. Please, pick up. Your mother is worried, and I really need to make sure you're okay."
Her father sounded upset but not angry.
Picking up the phone, she reached out to dial their number.
"What are you doing?" Trey asked.
"I need to let them know I'm okay."
She pressed their number in and sat waiting. Her
heart sped up as her father answered the phone. "Hey, Daddy, it's me."
June heard him speak to her mother.
"I'm so glad you called me back. What's going on?" Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. "I can't talk
about it right now. Martin is not the guy for me, and I'd appreciate it if you don't throw your friends' sons in my direction."
"I didn't realize that was what we were doing."
"I know, Dad. I love you. I really do, but please, give me tonight and I'll tell you everything soon."
She listened to the talking, and when they were finished, she put the phone down.
"What's going on?" Trey asked.
"They're giving me tonight, and in the morning they want the truth. What do I tell them?" She looked at him, hoping he had the answers.
"I can't tell you what to say to them."
"What is going on between us, Trey?" she asked.
A couple of hours ago everything seemed simple, and now her simple little world was thrown up in the air. She couldn't think.
"I was hoping you'd tell me. We're exclusive. I won't share you with other men."
"Are you trying to tell me we're a couple?"
He stroked her head, pushing some strands behind her ear.
"We are."
"You don't even like me," she said, remembering all the times he'd bullied her. Even her memories were arguing with her. She didn't want to think about high school. The memories she once had were replaced by others of Trey.
"I more than like you, June. The past needs to be put to rest. I'm not letting you go, and if you think I am, then you're wrong. I can't do it. I'm in this for a good long while," he said.
It wasn't a loving declaration, but June didn't know if she could handle a loving declaration at the moment.
"Can you just hold me?" she asked.
"What?"
"Take me to bed without the promise of sex and hold me. Tell me everything is going to be all right?"
He took her by the hand and did exactly that. It was the best night's sleep she'd ever had.