Chapter 8

I watch in shock as Trey sits on the other side of us, his strong arms across his chest, watching us like the guard he is. He still looks really upset. I don't know why I keep forgetting that he is with us. But the look is enough to distract me from Amir for a moment.

"So, tell me gorgeous, hows the ice cream?" Amir smirks, once again stealing my attention. He runs his nose along the edge of my jaw, sending dark tingles through my body. Why does it feel like I've been drugged and I need more of this touch?

"It's really good," I blush. "Thanks for taking me."

"Any time... Maybe next time we can ditch the third wheel?" He asks with a wink.

I look back at Trey, and he looks like he's seething. I've never seen him so angry in my life! I don't know what I can do to make him feel better. I want to reach out to him and hold his hand... but I can't seem to move. Why can't I move?

"Trey?" I murmur his name. It's the only thing I can get my mouth to say... Everything else feels sluggish. I want to say something... but I don't even know what it is I want to tell him. I just want to make him happy.

And then he looks me in the eye and I see an emotion I've never seen before. It's hurt. I'm hurting him... But how? I don't want to hurt Trey. He should never be sad. I can't figure out what it is I'm doing to make him sad... Does he not want me to eat chocolate ice cream? That doesn't make sense because he's given me ice cream more times than I can count... so why?

"Trey isn't some third wheel, Amir. He's my guard and my friend," I state, still looking at Trey. That's the only thing my head that I can come up with. And somehow saying that shakes a little of the fog away before it comes back at full force.

"Well, yeah. But most friends don't tag along when you are on a date," Amir smirks.

A date? Is that what this is? My mind is all mushy. I feel like I'm caught in some sort of fog. Nothing is making sense right now.

I'm suddenly getting really dizzy, and I'm sure I'm going to pass out. Is there any oxygen in here? I can't seem to find enough breath in my lungs... Maybe if I lay my head down on the table I can close my eyes for a few moments and the dizziness will go away?

But before I can close my eyes, Trey stands up and pulls me out of the booth and into his warm arms. And suddenly something inside me shifts. Why does this feel so right, when just a minute ago I was enjoying Amir's touch? Everything is so confusing right now.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Amir demands, standing and stalking toward Trey. But Trey doesn't seem to be interested in sticking around to talk to Amir.

"She's not feeling well. I'm taking her home so she can rest!" Sneers Trey, carrying me out of the shop. The soft sway of his movements are almost enough to lull me into a sweet sleep.

The moment I'm out in the air, my head clears. I don't know why, but I'm able to focus so much better now. I guess the air was just thick in the ice cream shop? Was it too warm in there and it was making me sleepy? I can't seem to come up with a reason I almost passed out in there.

I blink up at Trey. I'm still a little confused. I don't understand what's going on. But I know that being in his arms feels right. Is this what it feels like to be in the arms of my protector? Or is it just Trey?

"Trey?" I whisper.

"Shh, it's okay Callie. I'm just taking you home. I'm sorry about that. Amir just rubs me the wrong way," he sighs.

I wrap my arms around his neck and cuddle up to him as he carries me home.

"I'm sorry too. I don't know what was coming over me. The second he touched me, all I could think about was him..." I admit.

I hear a deep growl coming from his chest and he pulls me closer to his body. This is my Trey. Protective. Caring. Even if he can never be mine.