I refused anything more permanent, but I was happy to help out Zach.
Except, now I can’t. I’m not allowed to be his pin cushion anymore. We’ll never get to finish the smiley face of cigarette burns on my stomach.
The shrink was horrified when I lifted up my shirt, which I found hilarious…which Zachary didn’t.
That was my last co-session with them.
So when he walks past and throws us a glare, it feels like it lands harder on me. Like I’m the one who said he has issues he needs to sort out.
Well…he did abandon us. And he didn’t do fuck all when Gabriel took our Trinity away.
So yeah.
Therapy is his punishment.
And he can glare at me all he wants for thinking I’m a hypocrite.
But I do feel for him. I can’t imagine what it’s like, having to deal with our shit on top of the maelstrom of pain and suffering churning around inside his head.
So I grin at him.
That makes him huff and turn his back on us. Big mistake.
Don’t ever turn your back on a wild animal.
Rube grabs the back of Zachary’s neck and shoves him forward, pinning him down on the bed.
Trinity gasps. Apollo shoots forward. I barely manage to grab the back of his shirt and haul him back before he can interfere. When he turns to give me an incredulous stare, I shake my head.
We all have shit to work out with Zach. Trinity, in essence, opened the flood gates.
“You really think he deserves to sleep up here?” Rube grates, looking back at Trinity.
I’m shocked—and a little amazed—that her voice is calm when she says, “Yes.”
Rube lets him go.
Zach scrambles up, turns, and Rube’s hand is around his neck again. Zach lifts his arms as if he wants to grab Rube’s wrist, but then he looks over at Trinity, and his hands fall down beside him as he lowers himself onto the edge of the bed.
Now I’m wishing Apollo had heard more than Zach apparently confessing his love for Trinity, because the fact that Zach’s allowing this shit to happen? I’m guessing we missed some serious drama.
Although, “allowing” isn’t quite accurate, judging from the expression on Zach’s face. I’m guessing there’s a hurricane brewing inside his head.
I feel sorry for him, I do. But it’s about time he starts manning up.
“How about we use a reward system?” I say, and start stroking Trinity’s shoulder again.
“I’m listening,” she says.
Rube glances at me over his shoulder. “Reward for what?”
“If he’s good, then he gets to sleep on the couch.” I move my head beside Trinity’s, like I’m the devil whispering into her ear. “If he’s bad, he sleeps on the floor.”
Zach clears his expression, and no wonder. I like whatever game Rube and Trinity are playing. I want in.
Who knows…tonight we could all be winners.
Apollo’s lips tug into the wickedest smile I’ve ever seen on him.
Trinity steps forward, out of my grasp. And then over to Rube and Zach, gently moving Rube out of the way.
And the sonofabitch goes.
But I guess we’d be in just as much shit if we disobeyed Trinity right now.
She touches Zach’s chest, and then points to the pink, padded headboard with its big rhinestone studs.
“Sit.”
Zach’s mouth twitches, but he manages to keep his expression neutral as he shifts back on the bed until his back is against the headboard. He grabs a handful of her pillows, and he’s about to toss them over the side of the bed when Trinity clicks her tongue.
“Leave them alone.”
He grits his teeth, but then he subsides, looking totally out of sorts amid the mountain of girly throw pillows. And then Trinity climbs onto the bed. And then she takes off her fucking robe.
“Hey,” I call out.
She turns to look at me, eyebrows quirked up.
“What the fuck, woman?”
Now it’s one eyebrow.
“Impatient, much?” Apollo mutters next to me.
“Yeah, obviously.” I wave at Zachary. “How is this any kind of fair?”
Rube chuckles.
The motherfucker actually fucking chuckles at me.
“Do you want to sleep on the floor?” she asks.
I drop my gaze. Shake my head.
Trinity faces Zachary and slowly crawls over the bed toward him. He sits up a little taller, glancing over at us with a blank face before looking back at her. Like he thought he knew how this game would go, but now he’s fucking clueless.
You and me both, buddy.
I feel like going off and having a sulk. I didn’t sign up for a spectator sport. I love a good tennis match, but nothing beats actually holding the racket in