Page 12

No way.

I wasn’t a fucking kindergartener, pulling his pigtails because I didn’t know how to express my interest in him. I actually hated him. Had hated him for years.

That was what I needed to focus on. Because even if, somewhere in the far depths of my soul, I did like him…it wouldn’t matter. Andy absolutely fucking hated me.

And why wouldn’t he? I’d made his life hell. Had verbally and physically abused the man for years.

So there was no point even trying to untangle the knot of feelings I’d just sheepshanked inside my head about him.

I’d destroyed any chance of figuring it out with him before I’d even known there was something that might be discovered.

Way to go Trevor. Now you’re confused and totally fucked.

Chapter Seven

~Andy~

When my phone dinged with a text notification, I was honestly terrified to check it. I was sure that there would be something rude or inappropriate or mocking from Trevor, but he surprised me. He just sent me what I’d asked him for with no further commentary.

Maybe an old dog could learn new tricks.

If only my own damned body would take the hint.

I’d been so mortified by my reaction to him, to him noticing my reaction, that I’d skipped the rest of my classes for the day and locked myself away in my room, not even coming out when Caitlyn returned for the evening.

For years I’d managed to take punishment from him, to take the pain and hide the effect it had on me, and all of it had been ruined in a single moment.

He knew.

Trevor knew now what he did to me, and for the first time in my life…I was afraid of him. Afraid that he would take the knowledge he had and use it against me at every opportunity.

My alarm sounded and I blew out a sigh as I crawled out of bed and slid my shoes on. It was time for mass. Which was probably a good thing for me. I needed to sit in church and focus my attention somewhere other than Trevor Hix and his effect on my traitorous body.

“Hey!” Caitlyn said brightly when I walked into the living room. “I didn’t even know you were here.”

“Yeah,” I said with a shrug. “But I’m headed to mass. You want to come?”

“No I do not,” she answered firmly. “But thanks for asking. Will you be back for dinner?”

“Just eat without me,” I said. “I’ll grab something after church.”

“Okay.” I was almost to the door when she stopped me, her fingers curling around my arm gently until I turned back to look at her. “I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you about Trevor.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “You’re right, it’s time we all grew up.”

“Are you alright?”

“Caitlyn, I’m fine,” I lied, giving her a soft smile. “Everything is going to work out exactly like it should.”

I pulled free of her grip and walked out, closing the door behind myself before leaning against it for a moment, exhaling a shaky breath.

The last part at least had been true. Things were going to work out how they should. I’d help Trevor pass his Lit class and he’d go off to be a professional football player, and I’d become a good little celibate priest, devoting my life to studying theology and staying far, far away from anything and anyone that might tempt me…with an apple or anything else.

But just in case, maybe I’d hit confession after mass, too.

And then I’d head home and start working on Trevor’s project. The sooner he got his grades up, the sooner I’d be free of this stupid assignment.

Free of him.