Page 108 of Fear of Intimacy

“I love you.”

I think I've loved Trevor for a while now, I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. Didn’t want to let myself believe it was possible.

Trevor went quiet, his hands frozen at my sides as he stared. When he had yet to say anything, nerves poked their way through. Maybe I shouldn’t have said it.Shit.I should have waited.

“I-I—” I stuttered trying to think of a way to take it back.

“You love me?” His voice was thick as his eyes roamed my face.

I nodded, the lump in my throat making it hard to swallow. I was trying my best not to freak out that he had yet to say anything to my declaration. Telling someone you loved them was like jumping off a cliff and hoping they’d be at the bottom to catch you.

“I fell in love with you the moment I met you, Tasha.”

Trevor’s hands left my sides, lifting to cup the sides of my neck. He used his thumbs to tilt my chin up so we were eye to eye.

“You stole my heart the second you started arguing with me about fries and ice cream. I was just waiting for you to feel the same.”

My legs threatened to give out from under me at his words. Trevor Hall loved me.Me.I wanted to cry and cheer at the same time. My heart skipped, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause, as if time itself was acknowledging the weight of Trevor’s words.

“You love me?” I needed him to say it again.

“I love you, Tasha Davis.”

Never did I imagine that the two of us would be here, confessing our love for each other. If someone had told me a year ago this would happen, I would have flipped them the bird.

It didn’t matter that we were in the Knightslocker room and that Trevor was sweaty and bleeding. Because this right here was the only thing that mattered.

“I love you too, Trevor Hall.”

31

TASHA

“What are you going to say to your parents tonight?”

I sighed through the phone at Josie’s question. I had absolutely no clue what I was going to tell them when I saw them. I'd been ignoring all their calls the past two weeks since the pictures of Trevor and I came out.

So far, they had called me every other day, more than ever before, but I didn’t pick up. The thing was, I knew exactly what they were going to say when I saw them. And I knew they’d somehow try and guilt me into doing what they wanted, but they were going to be surprised tonight. I wasn’t going to be a pawn in a game for them to use to help their firm. They’d gone too far this time.

“I honestly don’t know,” I replied. I still had a few hours to figure that out.

“Don’t let them get to you. You owe them nothing,”Josie said fiercely through the phone.“Want me to come? I can be ready in an hour.”

Even though she couldn’t see me, I smiled. If I said yes, she would drop everything and come to the gala with me. And as much as I would love her company tonight, I wasn’tgoing to make her go. Not after how rude my parents were the last time.

“I’ll be okay. Trevor will be there.”

The only reason I was okay with going tonight was because I knew I’d have Trevor by my side. When I finally got the nerve to ask him if he wanted to come with me last week, he didn’t even hesitate. I did try to tell him he didn’t have to, but he wouldn’t hear a word of it.

While him coming to the gala meant he’d have to meet my parents, and the world I grew up in, I was relieved he was coming. Having him there would help me get through the night with most of my sanity still intact.

“He’s going to make it in time, right?”

“I hope so.” I worried my lip between my teeth. The team was flying home, currently in the air as we spoke, but he was going to be cutting it close. He was gone for over a week for away games.

“Don’t worry, he’ll be there,”Josie assured me.

I wasn’t going to lie, I was a bit nervous that he wouldn’t make it tonight and I’d have to endure the night alone. Being in a room full of people who would stab you in the back at any chance was not all that fun. Neither was knowing that the second you turned around they were talking about you behind your back.

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