He smelled so good, like warm, spicy pine.
And he was so warm.
His strong, muscular arms held me to his broad chest.
“Really good.”
“Yeah?”
I smiled and nodded. “Yeah, really, really good. They’re an awesome group, I can tell already.”
Trey squeezed me. “They totally are. I’ve gotten to know most of them pretty well since the season started.”
I hugged him right back. “They all think you’re great.”
He kissed my forehead—and I held my breath. “That’s nice. Are you ready to read? Or do you need to eat first?”
I pushed away from him and stood. “Let me put in a load of laundry, first.”
I wandered back to my bag. After I dumped it, I sorted through what was there.
“I can throw some of yours in, too, if you want.” Instead of waiting for him to answer, I grabbed his black bag and shook it out onto the floor beside mine.
A few shirts tumbled out, along with some sweats.
And three, orange prescription pill bottles.
My heart stopped beating as I stared down at the familiar looking bottles.
I knew those all too well.
I snatched them up in my hands for a closer look.
Yeah.
Painkillers.
I straightened up on shaky legs. As I leaned on the back of the couch, I asked him a question. “Is this a problem, Trey?”
I stared into his eyes, hoping he’d give me the right answer.
“Sweetheart, no,” he said, then quickly plucked the bottles out of my hands. “There’s no problem.”
I waited a minute for my head to stop spinning before I spoke again, “I’m serious, Trey,” I kept glaring at him without blinking, “Is. This. A. Problem?”
He rolled his eyes at me. “Lex, I told you it’s not. I was in the ICU for Christ's sakes. There was some lingering pain for a while, but it’s improving. I hardly need these anymore.” He held up the bottles in his hand.
“I can’t be around anyone who has a—problem with those.” I pointed and glowered sternly at the offending orange bottles.
“So, if you do—” I inhaled a deep breath, “I need to know. Now.”
And I absolutely needed to know if the man I’d idolized for over a decade had a pill problem.
Because if he did—I was gone.
Do not pass go.
Do not collect two hundred dollars.