CHINA
As everyone checks their phones, making sure they got a great copy of the fight to post on Instagram and Snapchat, I turn my attention to Trellis.
“Well?” I ask as he keeps me tucked close to his chest.
Pulling back a step, he groans as my arms come unlinked from behind his back. “Well what, Doll?”
“Well, what was that shit about, Tre? Give me what I want to know. You’re both holding back, hiding a really juicy story that only seems to matter to the two of you.” I hate bullshit. I can’t say it wasn’t fucking hot as hell watching the two of them beat on one another, and even though it had nothing to do with me, it was sexy as fuck. Their muscles popping and stretching as they took hits and dolled them out. The blood being spat out I could do without, but fuck! I loved it.
“It’s nothin’, Doll. Mason knows what it’s about and he—”
Tossing my hands in the air, I push away from him. “That’s my point, Tre. You two have some shit that’s unresolved, and it just came out in Rorschach paintings on my pavement.”
“They aren’t paintings, Doll.”
“Fuck you, Trellis. You know what I mean. Tell me what the fuck that was all about.” I’m getting more pissed off that he’s not answering me, and I’m wondering if I shouldn’t have just left these two to pummel each other. I wasn’t siding with the right guy, or wrong guy. I just need the truth. I’m hoping I can trust Trellis after knowing him for years.
“Doll…”
“Trellis,” I growl. Tucking his dress shirt back in, giving in on the busted off buttons, I take in all the beauty of Tre. I’ve never once thought he wasn’t gorgeous, but when you add in splotches of blood, spit, and attitude, I find it hard to like him when he’s stubborn.
“Tell me what that was about. I don’t care about the bullshit—”
“China, it wasn’t about some girl. It was about Marnie.”
Okay, I’m stunned. “Tre…I uh…shit.” His high school sweetheart died in his senior year of university. The killer was never found, and the circumstances behind it was always very vague. “What the hell did he have to do with Marnie?”
“More than you know. Let’s just leave it at that.” Patting me on the head, like my brother always does, I need more information, but he’s not about to share. “Do me a favor and stay away from him. Yeah, I get you have to be here with him all the time, and that he’s your babysitter, but just do me this one solid and stay away.” Kissing me on the lips, I taste the blood, and hate that it feels brotherly. I’ve always had a crush on Trellis Anchor, and for once, he’s not the one I want to comfort me when I’m upset.
Wiping away the blood, blending it in with the rest on his shirt, I grin. “You have the mess, don’t make me dirty, mister.”
He winces as he smiles. “Never, would I ever.”
Starting off toward the shed, where I was originally venturing, I ask, “Why were you here, Tre?”
“I’d told Cas that I’d check in on you after that fiasco at the C&A Ball.”
“That was over three weeks ago, Trellis. Don’t you think you’re a bit late to the party for that?”
“I had some trouble at Anchor. Had to straighten it first before I could pop out. I’ve been...” He pauses. “Out of town.”
If I haven’t gotten an answer out of him about Marnie, then I’m sure as shit not about to find out about Anchor, specifically why he was ‘out of town’. Dropping it and moving onto a new topic, I consider going back to the house to check on Risen. I don’t get a great deal of time with Trellis, and I do enjoy his company, so I opt for the moment with him. It’s not like he’s stuck here with me, and I know him well enough that if he isn’t sharing, he isn’t sharing.
“So before you so rudely interrupted, I was on my way out to the shed. Creaper found Harriet. She was in pieces, mind you, but she’s finished now. Wanna see?”
“Yeah.”
Turning us, laying his arm across my shoulder, I laugh at the male posturing still taking place. Trying to show his stamp of ownership on our friendship, Tre and I walk off. We both know that there’s no way Risen would have turned tail and just sulked in the corner. At least, I hope not, and looking over my shoulder as we saunter off, I see Risen standing on the porch, watching us intently. His gaze is heated, serious, and deadly. The last thing I want him to think is that Trellis Anchor is who I want in bed. That ship sailed, but I don’t know him well enough to show the acceptability of fighting as a means to an end with my friends.
I move away from the party, off to the shed, thinking about the whole situation. I know this is going to cause some awful trouble in my future. I feel it brewing.