Page 12 of Dear Future Husband (The Dearly Written #1)

Maybelle

I was so relieved to leave the rowdy party behind that I hardly noticed Trey was holding my hand, fingers intertwined.

Key word: Hardly—I noticed.

We didn’t speak as we trudged through the damp sand up the beach. But once we made it a significant distance, Trey halted and enveloped me in his arms.

I should’ve been a little taken aback by his sudden show of physical affection. But I was to overcome with the solace that flooded me as his grasp tightened to think too long on it. Instead, I impulsively wrapped my arms around his middle and held him back with equal fervor.

His heavy breathing was the only sound I could hear. Besides the rolling sea. One of his hands held to the back of my head, tangling with my curls. The other hand flattened in the middle of my back, hauling me into him.

Beginning to feel lightheaded, I released a deep breath that almost transitioned into a sob, but I quickly choked it down.

“I’m so sorry, May,” he whispered, and I felt my own arms reactively cinch tighter around him.

Feeling like there was a high probability that I would break down in uncontrollable tears if I tried to look up at him, I nestled my nose against his chest.

“What do you have to be sorry about?” I asked, because, really, what did he have to be sorry about? Didn’t he just do all the rescuing?

Trey laid his chin down on the top of my head.

“I told you to come to this stupid party. I promise, I only got here about a half-hour ago. I started looking for you as soon as I got here. Of course, Liam didn’t know where you were—” He paused and heaved a deep, frustrated huff.

“Last thing I wanted was for you to be alone, least of all, harassed by that scumbag Clayton.”

Hoping I wasn’t about to unravel into a mess of tears and snot, I lifted my head from Trey’s chest and chanced a look up at him. His jaw was clenched. In fact, his entire face was taut as he stared out towards the waves that crashed only feet away.

I didn’t think as I lifted a hand and placed it on his cheek. My thumb swept back and forth like it could coax those beautiful dimples back into his face.

“Trey, what is this?” I whispered.

I didn’t know why I asked, especially right then. Maybe part of it was to serve as a distraction from the Clayton situation.

But another weighty part of me needed to understand.

I needed him to answer the questions, doubts, and confusion I’d been contemplating all day. Trey needed to set me straight. Tell me it was all a facade. That he was only interested in looking out for his best friend’s sister, and that I needed to get my head out of the clouds.

Or say what a very minuscule but vital part of me hoped.

He dragged himself away from the black of the ocean and focused on me. “What’s what?”

Both of his hands were now on my hips, just under my sweater, holding to the fabric of my dress like at graduation .

He held to me so naturally, like his hands belonged on me and nowhere else. I dropped my hand from his cheek and held on to both of his sculpted arms just above the elbow. Filled with the need to mirror his fervent grasps.

“This, Trey. Us. Before this morning, we hadn’t exchanged more than a few words in passing. Now you flirt, you touch me, and save me.”

My heart was going to beat straight out of my chest. My brain was an anxious, chaotic mess of alarm bells sounding, pleading with me to run, to hide, to freeze. But I didn’t. Instead, I took the leap.

“If this is a game for you, I’m not playing. I’m afraid my heart is too vulnerable with you for me to ever win,” I admitted and surprised myself with my own fluent candor.

A flicker of self-pride sparked to life in my heart. Which was a very rare feeling I couldn’t help but grapple onto, to carry me through this moment.

Trey’s stare intensified, but his face softened at my confession.

His hands that clenched in my dress tightened and tugged me closer.

One of his hands left my thin dress to grasp around the back of my neck with his thumb caressing my cheek.

He tilted his face down to me so his forehead could rest against mine as he whispered, “This is not a game, May.”

I wanted to fall apart in this wonderful fever dream.

There was no way that this was reality. The way he held me.

The way his emerald gaze pierced my very soul.

The way his lips parted. The way he smelled of spicy cinnamon.

The way his head lowered to me; his breath minty sweet.

The way he was about to gift me my first kiss, on a beach in the moonlight.

This could not be real.

But it was…

Because just as his breath mingled with mine. His other large hand now pulled and splayed across the small of my back. His lips briefly lightly met with mine, Trey halted.

“What the fuck?”

Huh, weird how the voice in my head sounds just like Liam.

Trey lifted his face from mine, peering over my shoulder. He filled in the confused silence with one word, “Liam.”

I understood then.

I slowly turned from him to face my twin, who had a bottle in one hand, the redhead his tongue was assaulting earlier under his other and pain in his eyes. Like a knife were in his back and the blade kept twisting the longer he took in the scene before him.

The girl under his arm looked at me. Her intelligent eyes took in the scene, obviously trying to make sense of Liam’s reaction.

Panicked, I glanced at Trey. He was staring at Liam, but he was holding onto the back of my sweater, still keeping me close, keeping me safe.

My panic ebbed with that discovery. I let out a quiet, relieved sigh, thankful that it was too dark for anyone to notice the blush that now invaded my cheeks.

“What the hell is going on here?” Liam bit out.

My joints threatened to lock up in response to his anger, but I internally reminded myself that this was Liam. Liam wouldn’t hurt me. He may be upset, but he would never hurt me.

“Nothing’s going on, Liam. We’re just enjoying our night, same as you,” I answered, hoping to douse his rage with cool and collected responses.

He shook his head defiantly. “No, no, no, absolutely not.” He removed his arm from around the redhead. His beer sloshed as he shoved his drink into her hands before he closed the distance between me and him. “It’s time for you to go home, May.”

Without warning, Liam sloppily grabbed my forearm and yanked for me to follow him. I was floored. So stunned, I didn’t know how to function for a split second.

Liam had left me. He abandoned me after he promised to watch out for me. Now, he was angry I was with someone who had followed through with the promise he made. And he forcibly grabbed me—he laid his hands on me when he knew… He knew.

Against every nerve in my body trying to lock up against the aggression, I tore my arm free from his hold. “Get off of me, Liam!”

My demand held no sway as Liam instantly turned back and reached for me again. But Trey was a wall separating us.

“Liam, let’s calm down and talk,” Trey tried to coax as he extended a hand toward him, but my brother smacked it away.

“No, there is no way I’m leaving you alone on a dark beach with my sister.”

Trey stopped, taking a step back toward me. “You know she’s safe with me; I would never hurt her.”

“Nope, you’ll hook up with any girl that shows the least bit of interest. And my sister is not about to be added to that list as a high school finale or some shit like that.”

Trey scoffed. “And what are you doing right now?” he accused, eyes darting to the forgotten girl still holding Liam’s beer.

Before Liam could answer, the redhead shook her head and handed him his drink back. “Find me when you’re done with the family drama.” Without another word, she stomped off, back toward the fire, leaving the three of us alone.

Liam raked his hands through his hair and paced.

Trey rubbed an exasperated palm over his face.

I folded my sweaty fingers together, nervous from the tension.

I was pretty sure that this was their first fight ever.

These boys never fought over trivial things like sports, girls— but now—they fought because of me.

I really could do nothing right.

Hoping to fix what I broke, I held to that barely lit up confidence that had spurred to life in me. I stepped out from behind Trey and closer to my twin. “Liam, I understand you’re just trying to look out for me, but we’re good. And I can look out for myself.”

His attention shot to me. “Look out for yourself? Please, that’s rich.”

I felt that, and it hurt. My limbs trembled against the inevitable lock up, and my sliver of confidence nearly diminished. But while I fought this inner battle for control, Liam kept talking.

“You still can’t get through one hard conversation without shutting down. After all this time. How do you plan to take care of yourself?”

The last bit of control I regained over myself snapped, but I refused to be silent while he criticized me. The scalding anger broiling in my blood powered my voice.

“How dare you.”

Liam’s brows rose in surprise, but I continued before he could respond.

“How dare you throw that in my face! I’m sorry I haven’t recovered like you have, that I haven’t bounced back from what we went through the way you have.

I’m trying, Liam, I’m really trying, but you left me tonight.

You left me after you promised to stay by me.

I was fine, no thanks to you. While you were busy sucking faces with your high school finale, I had a little moment with Clayton Thomas. ”

The anger on Liam’s face melted. He stared after me, stricken. “Did he touch you?”

I rolled my eyes because, of course, the all-perfect Liam wouldn’t hear the part where I pointed out how he screwed up. He instead focused solely on who else there was to blame. “Yes, Liam. He tried to drag me off alone, but thanks to Trey, he didn’t get very far.”