Page 222 of Fragments

He’s talking to him for a moment, a sly grin on his face as he glances over at us, gesturing in our direction. Trevel is just blinking up at him, studiously observing his face. Then he looks at us.

Ren is seething. My mouth is hanging open.

Felix waves.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Ren whispers-scolds him.

Felix shrugs. “Might as well play nice, right?”

“Are you sure you’re a serial killer?” I arch a brow.

“Oh, yea. Big time.” He pulls a charming grin, glancing at Trevel once more. “The best way to get people to drop their guard is to act like you’re dropping yours.”

Well, this is awkward.

We’re down in the basement rec room, for the first time in like six months. Sure, it smells like mildew and rusty, old metal, and there are cobwebs everywhere. But still. Weshouldbe having fun, because at least it’s a change of goddamn scenery.

And yet all I can focus on is the lurker in our midst.

You know how there are some people you click with instantly? You meet them one time—hell, even just talk to them online—and suddenly you’re BFFs?

Yea, Trevel isn’t one of those guys.

Ren was totally right to be skeptical when we met him in the showers. Trevel just brings this aura with him, like when you can feel a ghost in the room. He’s too quiet, and he stares too hard, and he’s just… fucking creepy.

I mean, the guyisgood-looking. He’sextremelyattractive, in this slim, sharply-angled, severe European kind of way. He has that sickly-chic appearance, so you can’t tell whether he’s famous, or homeless. Like, he could be strutting down a catwalk in Versace, or overdosing in an alleyway with a needle in his arm.

But the fact that he’s hot and Ren hasn’t evenremarkedabout it? Now,that’sgotta tell you something right there.The red flags are billowing.

I have no misconceptions about the man I love. I know he’s been trying real hard to kick his sex addiction, and quite frankly, he’s killing it. But just because he’s finally trying out monogamy for a change, doesn’t mean he’s no longer a highly flirtatious, raging nympho.

If a man is attractive, Ren has something to say about it. But the only even slightly positive thing I’ve heard him call Trevel isHarry Potter’s drug dealer.

This field trip could have been a good opportunity to get to know the guy, but it isn’t really working. I’m too busy watching him, wondering what the hell his deal is. And I’m not the only one. Joy also seems unsure of how to act around Trevel. Felix is just playing his timid monster game, hiding behind his glasses and overall inconspicuous appearance. Ren is actively giving offBig Bitch Energy.

And Kang is smitten.

Okay, maybe notsmitten. It’s not like the two are actively flirting or anything. But they’ve been chatting here and there, and the rest of the time is spent casting one another gazes that are suspiciously seductive, based on howoftenthey happen.

Mostly, they seem like pals. Thatclickwe’re not feeling with Trevel, Kang apparently is, like they’re a pair of antisocial buddies, bonding over how much they dislike everything.

And unfortunately, onceourfriend, the buffer, runs off with Joy to begin their sparring, Ren, Darcey, and I are left standing around with the human version of an aloof Jack Skellington, making humdrum chitchat.

“Fuck it.” Ren finally says when the awkward silence gets to be too much. “I’m playing, if anyone wants in.”

He whips off his shirt and sashays over to grab the basketball, dribbling and darting up the court. My gaze lingers on my man for a minute, the way his muscles look while he’s jogging and shooting… Jumpsuit pants sagging enough to show off the top of that perfect peach of a butt in his boxers.

God, he’s fucking fine. I can’t believe I get to be with that.

I’m wiping away drool, wondering if there’s any chance of sneaking off into a dark corner somewhere so I can get inside that sweet booty, when a smooth voice with a British accent croons just behind me.

“Is he your boyfriend?”

Slanting my face to peek up at Trevel, I note the way his eyes are following Ren. He’s already seen all of us naked, so I guess there isn’t much surprise anymore. Still, it seems like he’s actually noticing how drop-dead beautiful Ren is a little easier now that he’s not speaking.

I have no idea what possesses me to say this. I’ve been adamantly denying it for months. But when this hot, ghoulish guy is looking atmyRen, asking me if he’s my boyfriend, the only word my mouth is able to produce is…

“Yea.”