Playing Passion's Game (17 page)

Juliet gasped. “What had you done to warrant such a thing?”

Carefully placing her beer bottle down before her tightening grip smashed it, Trent stalled in replying. Did she really want Juliet to know what kind of life she’d had? She looked into Juliet’s compassionate eyes and saw her answer.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Juliet said, stroking Trent’s hand with her own.

“My father walked in on me and my girlfriend Corrine when I was fifteen years old,” Trent said in one breath, wanting the words out.

“He didn’t know you were gay.”

“No, but he got a swift introduction due to the fact that Corrine had her head between my legs and was bringing me to what would have been an earth-shattering climax just as he walked into my bedroom.” Juliet whispered a soft
Oh God
. Trent shook her head. “No, God
wasn’t
there that day. My father was a good, God-fearing man. I was brought up to believe everything was a sin, and in my family,
I
was the most sinful.”

“Oh, Trent.”

Trent laughed without humor. “Even my name was a sign of his disappointment in me. He’d fathered two daughters already, good girls, pious and pretty. On the third try I was to be the son he dreamed of. Instead, I came into the world and my mother began to bleed so badly from the birth that they had to perform a hysterectomy. His dream for a son died as I lived. So he forced my mother to give me the name he’d wanted for a boy.”

“What a bastard. But, truthfully, the name suits you.”

“I grew into it.” Closing her eyes, she unwittingly relived the anger visited upon her during her childhood. “You can guess the rest. I know not every family is perfect. Mine was no different to what other kids live through. When I met Elton, though, it was like he came from a totally different world. His family was
nothing
like mine.”

Juliet leaned closer to Trent. “I’m glad you found him.”

“He saved me, in so many ways. He was the one who explained to me that the feelings I had for other girls meant that I was gay. ‘Homosexuality’ was not a word used in our house in polite conversation. I was terrified. I knew my dad would kill me if he ever found out. I was pretty close to the truth on that outcome. I remember telling Elton that God would despise me for what I was. He just said, ‘Then I think you need to find a new God who practices what his son preached—love for
all
.’” Trent could still hear the young Elton’s voice from so many years past. A tear slipped from Trent’s eye. She brushed it away swiftly, embarrassed by it.

“So I hid it from my family like so many other things.” Trent paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “Elton had a console and we would play on it for hours at his house. I begged my dad for one and he finally agreed, after a comment about the devil making use for idle hands. I had to work for it, but it was a labor of love when I was able to go buy one. I’d play when everyone else was asleep. I loved the night hours where I got to be left alone, no preaching, no beatings for something I had done, just me and the games.”

She caught Juliet’s eye. “My being gay was going to be just another part of the long list of failings I had where my dad was concerned. I turned out to be more like the son he’d wanted than he would ever have imagined. I met Corrine at school and we’d steal kisses in the playground. Sometimes she’d take me to her home, and she was my first in everything. Until I made the stupid mistake of bringing her to my home when I thought everyone would be out.” Trent fell silent as the cold press of fear slipped through her. “I’ve never witnessed so much hatred from a man who claimed to follow a God of love. I dimly remember hearing the front door close, but I was pretty preoccupied at the time, then Dad called my name out as he barged into my room and found us on the bed.” Trent shuddered as the memories poured back. “I was trying to get my trousers pulled back up and Corrine was hastily wiping her face on her school shirt. God, we must have been a sight to behold. Corrine grabbed her clothes up and got out fast, but she wasn’t the one Dad was furious at. I got the full force of his righteous indignation.” She unconsciously rubbed at the scar in her hairline. “He was a big man and usually circumspect as to what punishments were visible. This time he just laid into me, and I think he must have knocked me off the bed because I remember blacking out for just a moment before coming to and finding him smashing my room to pieces. My console was thrown to the floor and stomped on. He did the same with my games, ripped the boxes apart and smashed the cartridges under his heel. All the time he was telling me he’d have me
cleansed
of my sinful soul. I knew what that meant. I’d learnt enough from the congregation he’d drag me to that people got
counseled
from their sinful paths. I knew the whispers. You toed the line or were physically punished. My dad would have me be humiliated rather than bring shame on the family and him. He’d make sure I saw the error of my ways, and if he had to use the strong arm of his church, then so be it.” Trent smiled a little and let out a breathy laugh. “Fuck, it all sounds so melodramatic!”

Juliet hugged her tightly. “No, it sounds terrifying. I can’t begin to imagine what you went through.”

“Once he’d mentioned the council of elders, I knew I had to run. Screaming at me that I had sinned for the last time, Dad locked me in my room and went back to work. Wouldn’t it just figure that the day I choose to take my girlfriend home for a quickie was the day he passed by on his lunch break and needed to pick up some papers he’d left that morning?” She shook her head. “I immediately scrambled into some clothing, stuffed what other clothes I could grab into my school bag, and grabbed anything else that wasn’t wrecked. Unbeknown to my dad, I had a bank book hidden under the floorboards. My uncle Stan had given it to me, told me to hide it and never mention it to my family. ‘You’re going to need to be away from them one day,’ he’d told me. ‘I’m making sure you’ll have the means to do so.’ I found out he’d had a savings account set up for me. He never gave a penny to my sisters and he left me everything when he died. I swear he knew what was going to happen and gave me a way to never have to ask them for anything again. His doing that was a bone of contention between me and my sisters once the will was read, but I didn’t care.”

“He sounds like a sweet man.”

“He was the best, and thanks to him I had a very handsome deposit for my house when I bought it and a little to set aside for emergencies.” Trent took comfort from the feel of Juliet holding her close and was able to continue. “I got my bank book, then spotted a box half-hidden under my bed. The one game Dad had missed destroying. That in hand, I opened my bedroom window and climbed out. I hurt my shoulder jumping to the ground, but I just ran as fast as I could. I must have looked a right sight. My face was covered in blood and my eye was closing up, but somehow I got to Elton’s house. Mama Simons took one look at me and gathered me inside. She cleaned me up, took me in, and made sure I never had to see my family again.”

“What about your mother? Didn’t she have anything to say?”

“She’d never stood up for me a day in her life. She wasn’t about to start now over something as controversial as me being gay. My sisters turned their backs too. It would be safe to say I never saw eye to eye with my siblings.” Trent laid her cheek on Juliet’s head. “I had one last conversation with my dad over the phone where he informed me that I had lost all rights to ever having a family, seeing as I had chosen a vile and disgusting road to travel. He told me he’d known all along that I would bring shame to his name and that he was disowning me.”

“You got a better family given to you, one that truly cares for you.”

“I got a great adopted family of Simonses that keeps growing with nieces and nephews for me to love. But deep down I know they’re not truly
mine
.”

“Family comes in all manner of ways, Trent, adopted or otherwise. You make your own family with the people you love and who love you.” Juliet leaned up to kiss her gently. “No wonder you have such a marvelous game room that you fight to keep safe.”

“Those games kept me sane while I lived under my father’s roof. With them I was able to escape the world around me and just be
in
the game. It was safer in there.”

“I understand.” Juliet touched the tattoo again. “This is a badge of survival, isn’t it? A lasting reminder that some things remain untouched no matter what hell they have come through.”

Trent stared at Juliet in amazement.
She understands
. “I wasn’t as untouched, though.”
I lost everything that day, my family, even my girlfriend. Corrine was never the same. She still cornered me for sex, but it was in secret places. Quick and uncaring fucks that she felt I owed her. It became the only way I thought I could be with women. Until you. And you, Juliet, scare me like no one else ever has. You make me feel and you make me want to be much more. I don’t know if I can give you what you deserve
.

“For all you went through, it made you the person you are today, and that is someone who is kind and gentle to little lost kids. Someone who demands fair play and promotes fun in everything she does. Someone who is fierce and loyal to her friends and their family. Your own family had no idea what a marvelous woman they had in their midst. Their loss was everyone else’s gain.”

Trent shrugged uncomfortably. “Yeah, well.” She comforted herself in the steady rhythm of stroking Juliet’s hair. It calmed her after leaving herself so open and vulnerable. She sighed when Juliet snuggled into her arms and held her tight. “No one outside of Elton’s family knows what happened to me.”

“No one will ever hear it from my lips,” Juliet said, then asked softly, “Do you want to stay here tonight?”

Trent thought about the invitation for a moment, but her feelings were too raw. “I think I’d rather go home if that’s okay.” Juliet shifted as if to get up, but Trent held on to her tightly. “But can we just stay like this for a while? I don’t want to go home yet. I just want to stay here with you.”

Juliet moved so that Trent’s head was against her chest. The hold made Trent feel protected and safe. “For as long as you want, Trent.”

I’d like forever. If I’m worthy of it…with you?

Chapter
Eighteen

Trent was busy unpacking the new delivery of boxes when Elton joined her in the stockroom. Without a word, he began helping her.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on the shop floor?” Trent peered at him suspiciously.

“I just wanted to see how you were. You’ve been rather quiet since you came in.”

“I didn’t realize my being less than gregarious on a Monday morning was a cause for concern.” Trent leaned back against the shelves she’d been putting games on and waited for Elton to explain.

“Are you still having those nightmares of yours?” he asked gently.

“No, surprisingly enough I haven’t. And I expected to battle that particular demon last night after I had regaled Juliet with the story of my childhood.”

Elton’s mouth fell open almost comically. “You told Juliet?”

“She asked about my family and I filled her in.”

“Wow,” Elton muttered. “You’ve never told anyone before.”

Trent shrugged. “I think it’s safe to say Juliet is different.”
And she makes me feel different too, safe enough to talk about the things that no one has known about me in years.

“If she gets you to talk, the woman is a certified miracle worker.”

Trent waved off his awe and turned her attention back to her work. She dug into one box and let out a happy yelp. She held aloft a game case like she’d found the Holy Grail. “It’s about time this was delivered. Dina said she’d sneak me a few copies before release date.”

Elton sighed. “You reveal your deepest, darkest secret to someone and now it’s ‘oh look, a new game’?”

Trent held out the case to him. “Not just any game, it’s
this
one.” Her excitement was justified when Elton’s eyes lit up too.

“Well, that’s enough about you and your revelations. This
really
is more important!” Elton hugged the game to his chest, but his eyes belied his dismissive words. Trent knew he’d find her again later to make sure she was all right. For now, it was time to forget the past again. “I’d forgotten this was out this week.” He began reading the back cover.

“You’ve been too busy making nice with Ms. Monica. Love has clouded your mind to the important things in life.”

Elton snorted and pushed open the stockroom door. “Reapers! The call to duty has been sounded!”

Zoe and Rick dropped what they were doing and rushed to the open door. Zoe danced on the spot while Rick tried unsuccessfully to wrestle the game from Elton’s hold.

“Nah ah ah,” Elton said. “It’s not supposed to be available until Friday, remember? What’s it worth to you for me to allow you to even”—he dangled the case before Rick’s face—“
touch
it?”

Trent punched Elton’s arm gently. “Stop teasing the children. Let him have it.”

“Oh, come on,” Rick grumbled finally managing to get the game off Elton. “We need to practice this before we take our clan online.” He shared the game with Zoe. They both pored over it, oohing and ahhing.

“When we close up tonight, have your money ready. Dina sent enough for the team.” Trent smiled at the excited squeal Zoe let loose.

“Trent, you know the company policy about selling games before release.” Elton’s official company-line tone was negated by the fact he was digging into his wallet to check how much cash he had. “We’ll send Dina her favorite chocolates again. She’s a good girl and we need to keep her on our side.”

Trent nodded. Dina always made sure they got certain games ahead of release so they could hone their skills. “This Friday night we go online prepared. We have a few days to learn the layout of the maps before this hits the shelves. I’m not stepping into the online community’s sniper sights blind.” She cut Elton a glance. “And company line be damned, they’re quick enough to capitalize on our wins. They get free publicity for every trophy we raise.”

“Eddie and Chris can have their copies when they come on shift tomorrow.” Elton smirked in Trent’s direction. “And I promise to text Eddie later to give him plenty of time to ask his mom for the money.”

Zoe collected Rick’s money along with her own. “We’re all set.” She gave Trent a sweet look. “And just think how beautiful this game will play on my brand-new, bright red pleasure machine.” She mimicked cocking a rifle and taking aim. “Friday night belongs to the Reapers.” She leaned forward to whisper to Trent while Rick and Elton were reading to each other all the new features the game had in store. “Want to join me in some multiplayer action tonight?”

Trent nodded swiftly. “I’d love to. Just promise you won’t keep me up
all
night like usual.”

Laughing, Zoe patted Trent on her arm. “Don’t let Juliet hear you say that! Something tells me she’s mighty serious about you and wouldn’t take kindly to another girl getting near you.” Her amusement deepened at Trent’s unashamedly delighted grin. “Geez, you two have got it bad for each other. It’s a pleasure to see and a long time in coming.” Zoe’s attention was caught by a customer. “Dang it, Rick, we need to get back to work.”

As her colleagues rushed to deal with customers, Trent marveled again at what good friends they had all become. Elton invaded her space and nudged her out of her reverie.

“You’ve got tomorrow off. Are you really going to spend it traipsing behind two women picking out flowers?” Elton was rubbing at his mustache, trying unsuccessfully to hide his enjoyment at her expense.

“I’m told if I want my yard to look presentable, then I need to have some input into its decoration.”

“But you haven’t got a bloody clue about plants.”

“I’ll have Monica and Juliet holding my hand throughout the whole process. I’m sure it will be painless.” Trent slipped back into the storeroom and began picking out the games for her colleagues and leaving them to one side.

“I’m betting you last an hour before you start dragging your feet like an errant four-year-old.”

Trent was tempted to agree with him, but she brightened at a thought. “Maybe, but if I do fall behind, just think of the view I’ll be afforded.” Her sly wink made Elton laugh out loud.

“I love the way your mind works. And your fair lady has a very fine ass—”

“Elton, you’re needed on the floor!” Zoe called out and cut off whatever comment he was about to finish. He waved at her and turned his attention back to Trent.

“I’m glad you’ve got someone to talk to, Trent. It does my heart good.”

Trent waved him out. “It does mine too,” she told the empty room. She looked at the last few boxes. “Guess I’ll just unpack these myself, then?” No one answered her, so she ripped off the tape and continued where she’d left off.

*

The kiss Juliet greeted her with when Trent opened the front door made her wish someone else wasn’t waiting on them. Juliet’s hand was cupping the back of Trent’s neck as she pulled her closer and kissed her so thoroughly that Trent’s knees actually buckled. Trent grabbed for Juliet’s shoulders to keep both her balance and to stay upright. Juliet sucked Trent’s lower lip between and then nipped it gently. Trent couldn’t hold back her moan as the short, sharp pain was then soothed by Juliet’s teasing tongue.

Juliet’s lips curved with wickedness when she finally drew back. “Good morning,” she said huskily, running a finger along Trent’s swollen lower lip.

Trent’s tongue slipped out to taste Juliet’s fingertip. She let her tongue swirl along the length of it, then sucked the teasing finger into her mouth. She was satisfied to see Juliet’s eyes darken a shade and her skin release a telltale flush. Slowly, Trent pulled back and let Juliet’s finger slide from her pursed lips suggestively. “Good morning to you too.”

Groaning, Juliet fanned at her face with her hand. “You have no idea what you’ve just done to me.”

“If Monica wasn’t getting ready to lean on the horn, I’d pull you in here to find out.”

Frustration danced across Juliet’s face and Trent forced herself not to just snatch Juliet inside to make good on her words. “If you want my yard to resemble anything like what Monica has in mind, we’d better get down the driveway before I…” Trent’s words ground to a halt as Juliet licked her lips suggestively.

“Before you what?”

Trent leaned in closer to whisper in Juliet’s ear. “Before I run my tongue around more than just your finger.” Juliet’s breath caught in her chest.

“Don’t make me have reason to hate flowers,” Juliet said, stepping back with effort and shoving her hands into her jeans pockets. “We have to go to the nursery. We have to finish your yard. God, but I want to finish what you’ve just begun!”

“What
I
began? You were the one who kissed me first, if I recall.” She alarmed her house and locked the door behind her. She enjoyed the swing of Juliet’s hips as she walked down the driveway ahead of her. “You have such a sexy walk for a banker.”

Juliet paused and reached out a hand for Trent to hold. “You have to stop saying things like that. Monica is only going to need one look at my face to know how close to the edge I am.”

Trent tugged at Juliet’s hand and pulled her back until their chests pressed together. “How close?” she asked softly, watching the pulse in Juliet’s neck flutter.

“Close enough that I wouldn’t get as far as your gaming chair this time before I’d be writhing in your lap.”

Trent bit her lip so hard she was certain she’d split the skin. “Like me picking flowers isn’t going to be hard enough without that picture planted firmly in my brain now.”
Like it ever left
, Trent silently admitted.

Juliet just laughed and pulled Trent after her down the driveway to the car.

“And here was I thinking I needed to get out of the car and come hose you two down.” Monica sat in the backseat, her arm resting out the rolled-down window, eyes hidden by oversized sunglasses. “It’s too early in the morning for you two to be so damn frisky.”

Trent slid into the front passenger seat and greeted Monica. “Are you ready to show me the fascinating world of all things leafy?”

Monica huffed. “I’m just astounded you actually stepped foot out of the house. I got stood up last night with the excuse of ‘I have to learn the ins and outs of this new game before we kick ass on Friday night.’” She gestured to herself grandly. “If
he
could turn this down for some
game
, then I’m even more surprised you’ve stepped away from your console.”

“Believe me, I covered most of the terrain with Zoe until the wee hours of this morning. She has never heard the concept of ‘just one last tour of duty.’” Trent shifted in her seat, angling herself so she could see Juliet. “I have the incentive of being out of the house in the company of two delightful ladies. I think I can manage to put my game on hold for that.”

“Elton would faint on the spot if he heard you utter those words,” Monica said.

“Yeah, I’m amazed to hear them too, but contrary to what everyone thinks, I’m looking forward to today. I want to know what it is about gardening that makes you two want to be up to your elbows in dirt.”

“If you get too bored, just tell us, okay?” Juliet said.

“I’ve never been bored in your company yet,” Trent replied. “Besides, this is your chance to show me why you’re considering packing in a bigwig corporate job for something more”—she searched for the right words, then tried to keep a straight face as the thought struck her—“down to earth, as it were.”

Monica groaned. “Something tells me we should have left her with her console.”

“I can shoot the enemy online at any time. I’m here for you to enlighten me. So enlighten away.” She settled back in her seat, eyes on the road ahead. “Think of this as a ‘take your girlfriend to work’ kind of day.” She cut a sly look at Juliet and warmed at the delight on her face.

Monica chuckled darkly. “I so should have dragged Elton along for this too.”

“When you do his yard you can afford him the same treatment,” Trent said, “but today is
my
day out with the girls. Start the engine, Jule. We have plants to buy.”

*

Juliet unfolded the printed sheet that she and Monica had decided over the previous night. She caught Trent’s expression as she looked from their high vantage point on the steps down to the nursery gardens. Juliet leaned into her gently, enjoying just being near her. Her body absorbed Trent’s natural heat and it made her own temperature rise. “What is going through that head of yours?” she asked. Trent was taking in the seemingly endless rows of trees and shrubs.

“I’m thinking that’s a whole heap of green.”

Monica joined then, pushing a low riding cart in front of her. “You’re going to need some foliage. I thought small conifers to put along your fencing to give you privacy but not cut out the sunlight again. If you keep them tended you can manage their height.”

Trent frowned at her. “But you could do that, right? I could pay you to keep the yard looking its best?”

“Geez, you aren’t ever going to have a green thumb, are you?”

“I’d rather get the right people for the job than make an ass of myself and mess up your hard work. After all, I wouldn’t expect you to be able to sell the right console to someone without knowing what you were selling. Each to their own talents, I always say.”

“Something tells me we’ll have a steady job where your yard is concerned.” Monica tossed a look at Juliet. “Think we can manage?”

Juliet caught Trent’s eye. “I think I can manage just fine.”

Monica clapped her hands together briskly. “Okay, enough with the talking and the undercurrent of blatant flirting. Let’s go see what they have that we can use to transform Trent’s yard from the Wilds of Borneo to the Garden of Eden.”

Trent’s eyebrows rose. “Just what am I letting myself in for? A simple yard will suffice, thank you.”

Monica’s answering chuckle was dark. “Oh, Trent, hasn’t Elton told you that I
never
do anything simple?”

Juliet’s fingers curled around Trent’s hand to hold on to it tightly. “Don’t fret,” she said. “I’m here to keep her in line and within budget.” She felt Trent relax and return the squeeze with her own hand.