"Sure," I say, struggling to pull my thoughts back to myself. Trey's hand drops as I move to the counter and grab my phone.
"I'll send some cranberry juice to the house," I say, bringing up my app. "Feel better," I add, realizing she needs to leave as soon as possible. I hold her shoulder and drop a chaste kiss to her cheek, noticing how hot her skin feels against my lips. Poor woman. She must feel awful.
"I will. Thanks, hun," she says to me before smiling back up at Trey. "It was great to meet you. Maybe we can get together for coffee or brunch sometime."
Trey replies with a stunningly beautiful smile, and suddenly I want her to leave. "I would love that," he says, his deep voice soft and indulgent. I don't love this jealousy burning in my stomach.
For my ex-wife.
Chapter fifteen
Trey
Seeing Gareth in a family environment is surprisingly endearing. The affection he still carries for his ex-wife is something I never thought I'd see. I always thought divorces meant drama and hatred and custody battles.
I know he has a crush on me, but he dropped everything to prioritize his kids' and wife's comfort without the slightest hesitation. I'm starting to really like this man. And that's a problem.
A tug on the back of my shirt has me turning to look down into two sets of wide blue eyes. Oh, God. Kids.
"Who are you?" the boy asks. Micah, if I remember.
I kneel so that I don't intimidate them with my size and height. I hold my hand out to the boy, who has positioned himself in front as if to protect his little sister. "I'm Trey. I'm your dad's friend."
Unimpressed, he crosses his arms across his chest and pops a hip. God, this kid is cute.
"Mic, don't be rude," Gareth says, still typing on his phone, likely ordering supplies for his wife. Ex-wife.
"It's alright. I'm a stranger, and I haven't earned his trust yet. I get it," I say, returning my smile to the kids.
"I've never heard of you," he states, leveling me with a skeptical look. It makes my smile widen.
"I knew your father back in high school, and we just became friends again," I explain. It's not a great one, but it's the best one I've got.
"Well, I don't know you, so I don't trust you."
God, I love this kid's confidence.
"Mic..." Gareth says in warning, still distracted.
"That's because you're a very smart man. Don't give your trust out to just anyone. Make sure they earn it."
His tiny chest inflates with pride.
"Especially when it comes to your family. They're the most important thing you'll ever have, so you have to protect them."
Gareth finishes ordering and turns to us.
"Trey, this rude little boy is Micah, and this is Lily, or Lil for short. Mic, Lil, this is Trey."
I stand and nod at them. "Pleased to meet you two. I've heard a lot about you." It's not a lie. At our first dinner, he couldn't stop talking about them.
Gareth ruffles Micah's hair and mumbles something about him needing a haircut. Awkward silence descends, and I know I need to leave. I shouldn't have stayed in the first place. Red flags have been waving in the back of my head since he opened the door.
That's a lie.
Red flags have been parading around in my mind since the hotel called me about the missing phone, and the fact that I was excited to see him again so soon.
"Well, I'll leave you guys..."