Power Switch (Power Play #3) - Kennedy L. Mitchell Page 0,82
you'll get another one?
He pulls back and waggles his eyebrows, exuding boyish charm. I miss this Trey. The one who flirts, fights, and laughs. A part of me hates that I've changed him.
“Do you think I've changed you?” I blurt.
“Yes,” he says quickly, not understanding the strain in my voice. “In a good way. Why?”
“When we first met, you were… I don't know, more mischievous maybe. Freer, not as stressed. And now you sometimes look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Do you blame me for that?”
He shakes his head, his dark hair swiping across his eyes before he flicks it back with a toss of his head. Something like humor shines in his eyes. With a grunt of pain, Trey pushes off the floor to stand, stretching his arms to the ceiling. A few cracks pop from his back through the quiet living room.
“I wouldn't use the word ‘blame,’ Mess.” I eye his outstretched hand with caution before lacing my fingers through his. With a quick tug, I'm on my feet and tucked to his side. “Next time you see Tank, ask him how I've changed. I'd say I've grown up more than changed.”
Not given a choice in the matter, I match his long strides toward the back door. Outside, the earlier cool breeze has shifted colder. Snuggling against his side, I turn my face into his ribs.
“There's some things that come into your life that make you have a purpose. Before being assigned to your detail, I was lost, I guess. Nothing mattered. Well, Tank and the team mattered, but other than that, I was a selfish SOB.”
A grunt in the dark as we follow the path to the beach makes me smile.
“Pipe down out there,” Trey shouts with no heat to it. “As I was saying, I'm a better version of myself with you in my life. Do you not agree?”
The squishy, cold sand slides between my bare toes, shooting a chill up my spine. Scanning the beach, I squint at the faint outline of a tent-like structure closer to the water. Anticipation boils in my belly, sending excitement rushing through my veins.
“Yeah, I guess, but I never really saw that side of you. I only saw the asshole who softened. But I do kind of miss that mischievousness we used to have. Now things are so… heavy, if that's the right word to use. It's like every breath, every word in every day has some kind of weight to it that's tied to something that's life-threatening.” I smile at the white canvas popping in the quick breeze. “What's this?”
“You didn't think me cooking was the best surprise of the night, did you?”
That and the hundred—hell, maybe thousands—of dollars of flowers.
Releasing his hold around my waist, he grips my hand and tugs me into the makeshift enclosure. Once inside, the wind ceases instantly, making me warmer without its cold breath brushing against my bare legs. I grin at the blanket spread along the sand highlighted by the few glowing lanterns dangling from above.
“When did you have time to do all this?” I ask in awe.
“I might have had some help.” He tugs me toward the blanket, forcing me to follow him as he lowers onto it. “When I told Tank about my plans, he didn't want the whole team to see us, so we came up with a way for you and me to have some privacy while getting out of the house and being secure.”
“It's perfect.” Lying back, I track the slow sway of a lantern. “High hopes of getting lucky?”
“You could say that.” His voice is deeper, huskier than just moments before.
The sand shifts beneath my head as I roll it to look over to where he leans on his side, head propped up on his hand with his elbow dug into the blanket.
“As much as I hate that idiot Birmingham, I'll always be grateful for his hand in bringing you into my life.”
Love swells in my chest and my heart thunders, each beat making me fall deeper in love with this man before me.
“I love you, Trey.” His eyes close like he's savoring my words. “I didn't know what living was before you.” The honest words, words I've never spoken out loud, bring tears to my eyes. “I knew deep love because of Tae, but this, what we have… it's different. It's… soul-consuming because I chose this. You chose this. This, what we have, is on purpose. I didn't