Page 64 of Loving Trent
Another growl comes from Trent, and I laugh as Andie’s eyes widen, and a blush rushes up his neck.
After Trent reviewed the gym contract, I signed it and closed that chapter of my life. Dad thought it would be best if it looked like I was actually thinking about selling the restaurant, even though we decided that I wouldn’t until we could figure out what was happening. So, my partner, who happens to be the day manager, Tory, started spreading the rumor that she was weeks away from closing the deal between us. The hope is that whoever is behind the theft will make a mistake and we can catch them.
We narrowed it down to two employees. A dishwasher named Carl and my night manager, Nathan. Uncle Joey and Ryan say they are close to figuring it out, and I believe them. But I’ve pushed everything that causes me stress out of my mind because this time of year is my favorite. We’ve spent most of November with our family doing everything fall-related, and now tomorrow is Thanksgiving. But what’s more important is that Boe and Trent are finally meeting today. Since I’ve moved here, Boe has been busy working with Adam and Levi at the company our grandpa started, going to therapy, and studying for school. We've discussed Trent, and he knows how much he means to me, but they have never met.
There is a part of me that is worried about how Boe will take seeing me in a healthy relationship while he is mourning the loss of his. Bec’s dad hasn’t said a peep about where she is, and we are all pretty sure that Nana knows as well, but she is staying tight-lipped about it. Boe knows that he fucked up and is putting in the work to change the way he views what a man is supposed to be. Still, without having the opportunity to show Bec, he’s stuck.
“You’re sure Mr. Boe will be okay with me tagging along?” Harley asks for the third time in the last ten minutes. Turning around in my seat, I take in her worried face and fight a smile because even with her brows drawn low and a worried line cutting across her forehead, she is adorable.
“Yes, Firecracker. He knows all about you and is excited to meet you.” Okay, excited might be a stretch, but I’m going with it. Last night, Boe admitted that he was nervous to meet not only Trent but Harley as well.
“And I look okay?” She runs her hands over the front of her favorite sweater, which is black with purple ravens on it. She has paired it with a leather skirt and her favorite black riding boots. We don’t police what she wears, but when Trent saw her in that skirt, I thought he was going to have a heart attack. His face got red, sweat pooled on his upper lip, and his breathing picked up. The way he has taken to the father role is heart-stoppingly sweet and sexy at the same time.
“You look beautiful,” I say, reaching for her hand. “Why are you so worried about meeting my friend?” She bites her bottom lip and breaks eye contact with me.
“Harley Jean Wisco, what’s going through that pretty head of yours?” Trent asks, slowing the truck down to turn into Boe’s driveway.
She sighs and rolls her eyes at being full named but says, “It’s just that…” She finally looks at me, and I hate the tears shining bright in her eyes. “I’m nervous about meeting new people. Especially people who mean so much to either of you because…” A tear slips out and down her face. That tear is like an arrow to my heart, and I guess Trent’s too because he slams on the brakes.
“Because?” Trent’s voice has taken on the tone that it always does when something someone does or says is hitting too closeto home for him. Something that reminds him of his past. The pieces of the puzzle start sliding together.
“You’re worried that they won’t like you? That if they don’t, it will somehow change what the three of us have going on?” I ask, forcing the words out around the lump that has taken up residence in my throat. The entity inside that was born after hearing Trent’s story wakes and claws at my insides to hurt the people responsible for making Harley believe this could be a reality she has to face.
“Just the first one,” Harley shakes her head before bowing it. “Is it stupid that I still worry about people liking me? Seriously, all of the Hills love me, but I still can’t seem to let go of the idea that?—”
“I’m twenty-five and still worry that the next person I meet might not like me because of who I am,” Trent says, reaching over and tipping her chin up. “I don’t think there is an age where that worry goes away. Not fully, anyway. I think that we learn to tame it into something we can live with.”
“He’s right, Firecracker, I’m twenty-eight and the same way. Everyone is worried about people liking them, but for us and others like us, it’s overwhelming. The world is changing, but it’s still a scary place for people who aren’t seen as normal,” I say, and then add. “Whatever that is.” In hopes that it would make her smile. It does, and I feel like I’ve won the lottery. “I promise you that no one in mine or Dad’s life will ever not like you.” That promise is easy to make and one that I will make sure never gets broken.
“Damn straight. We will never take you around anyone we think would say or do anything to harm you. We love you, Harley. You know that, right?” Trent says, and the way Harley’s eyes brighten and her whole being seems to inflate in front of us means that she wasn’t sure.
“We love you so fucking much,” I say, voice thick and eyes misty.
“I… I love you. Both of you…” She looks straight at me and says, “Daddio.”
It’s the first time she has called me that, and I don’t know what to do with myself. I want to jump for joy and shout at the top of my lungs, but I also want to fall on my knees and tell her I’m not worthy. Learning how to parent hasn’t been difficult because Harley is terrific. Still, I have worried that I wasn’t making that connection with her that Trent has, but it looks like I’m wrong. My other hand that isn’t holding Harley’s finds Trent’s, and I squeeze until I’m sure I’m going to break it. Holy shit.
“You feeling better?” Trent asks, his voice as thick as mine.
“Yeah, I’m ready to learn how to make a pumpkin pie from scratch,” Harley says.
Trent and I turn around. He looks at me, and I mouth “Daddio” and point to myself. He mouths, “I love you. You’re amazing.”
When we park outside Boe’s house, he and his mom are waiting on the porch for us. “Holy nuggets,” Harley says in a whisper.
Trent turns his head in her direction and lets out a low growl. “Shawn.” I turn to see what has his hackles rising, and I almost piss myself with how hard I’m laughing. Harley’s mouth is hanging open, her gray eyes are wide, and there is a red hue on her cheeks. She is staring straight out the window at Boe. “Stop laughing. This isn’t funny,” Trent hisses in a whisper.
“Welcome to raising a teenager, where they are ruled by their hormones,” I whisper, leaning over and pressing my lips against his neck. “Come on, Harley. I’ll introduce you.”
We leave Trent in the truck to cool down, but he doesn’t waste too much time before joining us. Mrs. Aldridge instantlyfalls in love with Harley and pulls her into the kitchen to start making pies for tomorrow. Boe invites Trent outside to fire up the grill, and when I try to follow, he looks over his shoulder and says, “Nope, you sir, are staying here while I talk to Trent.”
I throw up my hands and growl. “That’s not fair.”
Boe smiles at me, and I let go of the act of being angry because I haven’t seen him smile in so fucking long. Trent steps forward, cupping my face, and says, “Don’t worry, Baby Boy, unlike our daughter, I don’t find him attractive.”
“Dad!” Harley screeches from the kitchen.
“Sorry,” Trent yells, but the look in his eyes says he isn’t sorry one bit.
