Page 87 of Fear of Intimacy

Everyone was standing around the counter talking with Mila and Bryton. Apparently, that had shown up while we were in the bathroom. No one seemed to notice the two of us, which I took as a good sign. Acting normal, I moved to stand beside Josie while Trevor approached Bryton.

I caught the end of what Josie was saying. “I would love it if you were one of my bridesmaids.”

“Of course!” Mila squealed, pulling Josie isn’t a tight hug. “We gotta start planning the bachelorette party!”

I laughed along with Josie, loving how that was the first thing Mila thought of. As the two of them kept chatting, I looked around to see if anyone was acting differently but they were all lost in conversation. None of them seemed to have noticed Trevor and I were gone.

I caught Trevor’s eye and sent him a questioning look.What the hell?Maybe Mateo didn’t tell a soul. Trevor just shrugged in response, clearly as surprised as I was. I wasn’t going to question it, though. If he didn’t tell anyone, then Trevor and I could do it on our own when we were ready.

Slowly, all of us started filtering out to the backyard, ready to get the BBQ started. Seeing a cooler filled with drinks by the table, I made my way over, desperately needinga drink. Reaching to grab a beer, a hand nudged mine. I looked over, finding Mateo grabbing his own beer.

“What?” Seeing me, he shot me an innocent grin.

“You’re only eighteen,” I reminded him. I had nothing against him drinking, but I was pretty sure Evelyn would skin him alive if she caught him with alcohol. That was if Wyatt or Landon didn’t do it first. It didn’t matter that he was of legal age in Canada.

“I’m a university student, babe.” Mateo popped off the bottle with a twist of his wrist. Clearly wasn’t his first time opening a beer. “Want to be with a real man?”

The smirk on his face made me grin. I couldn’t deny that Mateo was good looking. He definitely had the Boone gene. Strong jaw, high cheekbones, sandy blond hair that he cut shorter, which made his face seem thinner than the last time I saw him. Those blue eyes drew a person in immediately. If I was his age, I would no doubt have a huge crush on him from looks alone.

“You think you can handle a woman like me?” I leaned my hip against the table, sending him a teasing smirk.

“Oh, I can treat you real nice. I've been told I make a great boyfriend.”

“You know your mom’s opinion doesn’t count, right?” I said.

“I’m a momma’s boy, what can I say? She taught me to treat women the right way.”

“Did she?” As I leaned toward him, he nodded, his eyes widening a fraction. “That’s a quality I look for in a man.” I batted my eyelashes at him, knowing exactly how to hook him in.

Suppressing a grin, I traced a finger down his arm, causing him to swallow hard and look at me with wide, startled eyes.

I continued. “Someone who’s strong, smart, caring, and can have a good time.”

“We can leave and go have fun somewhere else.” He offered.

I leaned in closer so I could whisper. “Not in this lifetime kid.” Stepping back, I snatched the beer from his hand and walked off with a smirk. From behind me, Mateo sputtered out a reply that sounded a lot like a string of mumbled words.

“You’re gonna fall for me one day, I know it!” he yelled.

Turning around and walking backward, I sent him a grin. “Thanks for the beer!"

Mateo stood there grinning widely as he stared after me. That kid was trouble. I probably shouldn’t have teased him when he knew about Trevor and me—and had yet to tell everyone, but the opportunity was too good to pass up.

As I walked back toward the girls, Mateo’s whining faded.

But then someone said, “No, not happening.” Glancing over, I watched as Landon ripped another beer from Mateo’s hand.

“That kid, I swear,” Wyatt muttered, standing behind Josie.

“I love him,” Josie said with a shrug. Wyatt tugged her back against him, leaning down to whisper in her ear. She giggled. I smiled at the sight before looking around for Trevor.

He was standing over by the grill with Bryton and Landon. I didn’t spare the other two a glance as I took in Trevor. It was surprisingly nice out today, which was perfect for a BBQ. But it also meant that Trevor was wearing a T-shirt that showed off his arms and his tattoos. Tattoos that I spent multiple nights tracing with my fingers and tongue.

Even though he was only wearing a simple blue shirt and jeans, he looked delicious enough to eat. Every part of mewanted to go over there and wrap my arms around him but I couldn’t. Not until we shared our news. Mateo obviously kept what he saw to himself. Although, I was tempted to say screw it and waltz up to him anyway just to see what everyone said. Or tug him back into the bathroom and have my way with him. Both were incredibly tempting.

As if sensing the weight of my gaze, his gaze shifted to me and those eyes of his slid up and down my body. I was pretty sure he was thinking the same thing I was. I had never craved anyone like I did Trevor. I just wanted to be around him and touch him every chance I could get.

For the next little bit, all of us stood around talking and drinking as the guys worked the grill, conversation jumping from subject to subject. Trevor and I slowly gravitated toward each other as everyone talked. He started off across the way from me until he was right there, his arm brushing against mine.

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