by Carol Lynne
Chapter Six
Tapping a pencil on his desk blotter, Cole once again glanced at the newspaper beside him. The announcement by the prosecutors’ office of William James Overton’s arrest had created a media frenzy.
It turned out that Overton was the son of wealthy business owner, Paul Overton, a man with money and political connections in the Bay Area. It was because of Paul Overton’s clout that the prosecutor had been able to get the trial moved up to the second week in October.
Overton stunned the media when he sided with the victims instead of his own son, saying in a press release that William had always been a confused and rebellious young man.
The trial wasn’t expected to last more than two weeks, but it was two weeks Trey had made Cole promise not to try and see him. Cole couldn’t believe he’d agreed to such a thing, but Trey had been so damn adamant about protecting Cole and his position that he’d eventually agreed.
Now, well into the third day of the trial, Cole had already chewed his fingernails to the quick. Trey’s friends had taken turns sitting in on the hearings as their schedules allowed. Cole felt like the lowest fucker in the world for not being there for the man he was growing to deeply love.
Trey’s friends seemed to understand and tried to keep Cole updated by telephone call and text message every time the court went into recess. He glanced at the clock, knowing the judge should be calling for lunch soon. Trey had told him over the phone the previous night that he could be on the witness stand any time the following day.
Cole closed his eyes and rested his back on the chair. Sleep had been almost nonexistent lately. He’d become accustomed to Trey’s sweet little body curled against his as they slept.
In the days and nights leading up to the trial, Cole spent long hours on the phone with Trey. His lover had decided to move back in with Bobby and Jules within the safety of the gated community.
Although a video of Trey had been taken by a television news helicopter hovering over the house, at least the multitude of photographers had been kept outside the gate.
Cole’s phone rang and he immediately seized the receiver. “Yes?”
“It’s Bobby. They just broke for lunch.”
“Has he been called yet?” Cole asked.
Bobby sighed into the phone. “Yeah, but he’s not done. He started to lose it a little, and the prosecutor asked for a recess.”
Cole could barely swallow around the lump in his throat. “Do you think I could talk to him?”
“Sorry. The prosecutor has him holed up in a room here. I have an idea though.”
“Yeah?”
“If you can get to my boat before court is adjourned for the day, I’ll bring Trey by this evening and take the two of you as far out on the water as I can.”
Cole wanted nothing more, but he knew Trey would protest. “Trey won’t do it. He still feels the need to protect me.”
“Believe me, after the morning he’s had, he won’t be in the right frame of mind to protest anything. Why don’t you grab some food on the way over. Slip 36B, My Second Chance.”
“I’ll be there. Will you be able to speak to Trey before he goes back on the stand?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, if you do, can you tell him my flowers are starting to die without his singing?”
“I take it that’s code for you miss the shit out of him?” Bobby chuckled.
“Yeah. Something like that.”
“You know, if the two of you were as caught up in each other as you are in your careers, none of this back and forth would be necessary. You’d have your ass parked in the seat beside me so he could look into your eyes as he poured his shame out for the world to hear.”
“It’s what Trey wanted,” Cole reminded Bobby.
“Yeah, maybe so, but that doesn’t make it right. The two of you have practically lived in each other’s pockets at night and on weekends for the past three and a half months. When’re you gonna admit you love him?”
“Three and a half months compared to twenty-five years building a career…”
“Fuck that. Do me a favour, will ya? Ask yourself something. Which have you enjoyed more, your career or spending time with Trey? That’s all I’m gonna say on the matter. I should have Trey at My Second Chance by six.”
Bobby hung up without another word. Cole slammed the phone back into its cradle, not happy about having been scolded by the younger man.
“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Cole said to the phone.
Cole had been in the room when Trey had spoken with the ten men and women who made up the school board. On Cole’s whispered advice, Trey had invited a representative from the teachers’ union to accompany him. Although very careful of what he said to Trey, the board president, James Porter, was very firm on the position that Trey’s personal matters would not be allowed to affect the students or his fellow faculty members in any way. When Trey tried to question James further, the president called an end to the impromptu meeting.
Cole had returned home while Trey had coffee with the union representative, Monica Burns. Ms. Burns told Cole the board would not be able to fire him for his sexual preference as long as he didn’t make it an issue within the school. She told him to think of it as the school boards’ version of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’.
As the weeks went on, Trey decided to submit a letter of resignation to the school board. Although Trey didn’t plan to make his sexual preference an issue, he knew the trial would do it for him. Rather than allow his teaching record to endure the backlash, he resigned in good standing.
Cole knew Trey wouldn’t have trouble finding another position the following school year, but he worried what his lover would do in the meantime. Trey tried to assure Cole he’d be fine financially until he found another job, but Cole was more worried about Trey’s emotional state.
Trey started attending a support group two nights a week, but with the trial looming closer, he’d begun to see a psychiatrist as well two days a week.
Cole could see the changes in Trey’s behaviour as his counselling progressed. His usually shy lover was quickly coming out of his shell. Although they hadn’t spoken again about making love, Cole knew the time was quickly approaching when he’d have to make a decision.
Bobby had been right about one thing, he had fallen in love with Trey. But after Trey’s meeting with the school board, Cole was more concerned than ever about losing his job. Would he be able to eventually live with Trey without anyone at the school finding out? Hell, Zac lived with Eric. Cole knew for a fact that not only did several of the teachers know, but some of the football players as well.
For Christ’s sake, there was a reason he’d moved to the San Francisco area in the first place. When had he decided to let the bigots around him dictate what kind of life he was supposed to live?
He was reaching for the phone to call the union representative, when it started ringing. “Hello?”
“Someone shot Trey in the back of the head with a red paintball on his way up to resume the witness stand,” Angelo informed him.
“What!” Cole yelled, standing so fast his chair was knocked against the wall.
“Yeah. The cops took the guy into custody, but he was shoutin’ all kinds of fucking die fag-type shit. The guy used a sling-shot, can you imagine? I already called Moody and told him to get his ass down here.”
“He’s a detective, what the hell is he supposed to do?”
“Whatever he has to. He promised me Trey would be safe. It’s time for him to put up or shut up.”
Despite his concern for Trey, Cole had to give Angelo credit once again. The man definitely didn’t seem to be afraid of Torrance one bit. In fact, Angelo seemed to try and rile the heavily muscled cop at every turn.
“So what’s happening now?” Cole asked.
“The judge threatened to clear the courtroom for the rest of the trial, and issued a recess for the rest of the day.”
“Can he do that?�
�� Cole asked, astonished.
“Of course he can do that, he’s the judge. Anyway, Bobby wanted me to call and tell you to get your ass over to the marina.”
“Yeah. Okay. I’ll leave now. Thanks.”
“Man, that was some scary shit. Everyone, including Trey, thought the guy’d shot him for real,” Angelo said.
By the time Cole hung up the phone, his hands were shaking. What if some crazy bastard had managed to get a gun into the courtroom? Hell, for that matter, someone could get Trey before he entered the courthouse.
Cole closed down his computer and grabbed his suit jacket off the coat rack. He stepped into the outer office and addressed his secretary, Jill. “Something’s come up, and I need to leave for the day. Tell Marion she’s in charge.”
“I’m on it.” Jill reached for the phone. “Is everything okay?”
No. “Yeah, just some personal business I need to see to. I’ll be back in the morning.”
Cole climbed into his pickup and laid rubber getting out of the parking lot. He knew he couldn’t continue riding the fence where his relationship with Trey was concerned.
* * * *
Trey was bent over in the backseat as Jules inspected the back of his head where the paintball had hit him. Jules had washed away some of the red paint with a wad of wet paper towels, but Trey couldn’t wait to take a shower.
“I think you’ll be okay. You have the beginnings of a bruise, but it could’ve been much worse had the asshole used a gun instead of a slingshot.”
Trey sat up and looked around. “Where’re we going?” he asked Bobby.
“Thought I’d take us out on the boat for the evening. Get away from the photographers for a change.”
Trey liked that idea. He was sick to death of having cameras shoved in his face. Maybe once he was on the boat, he could deal with what had happened earlier. His psychiatrist had told him to deal with things as they came along and not hold them in. Trey was trying, but breaking down into a sobbing mess wasn’t something he’d felt like doing at the courthouse.
“Have you ever seen Angelo so fired up?” Bobby chuckled.
“Yeah. That day he met Detective Torrance for the first time. It was a side of him that I’d never seen.” Trey realised he didn’t know that much about Angelo. He’d been playing poker with the guy for several years, but other than his job, and penchant for small athletic shoes on guys, Trey didn’t know much else.
That realisation shamed him. How could he call himself a friend to Angelo when he’d never really taken the time to get to know him? Trey promised himself to rectify that as soon as the trial was over. He mentally added it to the growing list of things to do once he got his life back.
Bobby drove by a familiar truck before parking at the opposite end of the lot. Trey’s heart began to beat faster. “Is Cole here?”
Jules grinned. “Bobby thought it would do both of you some good to see each other.”
Trey barely heard Jules as he jumped out of the car and raced down towards the water. He was sure he resembled a running back as he wove between the obstacles in his path. He reached Bobby’s boat and scrambled down the steps to the salon.
“Cole!” he shouted as he launched himself into his lover’s arms.
Cole greeted him with a troubled smile and a deep tonsil tickling kiss. Trey closed his eyes and let Cole take the lead. He’d had enough of being strong. All he wanted was to spend a night with Cole taking care of him. Trey didn’t care if that made him sound weak. He knew it was what he needed.
Cole broke the kiss and stared at Trey. “I’ve missed you so goddamn much.”
Trey’s eyes began to burn as the long-held tears threatened to fall. “I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m so glad you are.”
“Angelo called.”
Trey reached behind his head. “So you know what happened.”
Cole nodded. “I know I promised you I’d stay away, but I just couldn’t after what happened.”
Trey shut Cole up with another kiss. He could hear Bobby and Jules above them walking around on deck.
“Come with me,” he said as he led Cole towards one of the two cabins.
Cole gasped, and Trey knew his lover was looking at the red paint still in his hair. “Yeah. I need a shower.”
“Is there one on this boat?” Cole asked.
Trey nodded and led the way into the captain’s cabin. Without a word, Cole began removing Trey’s clothes. Although the two of them had seen each other naked many times, Trey suddenly felt self-conscious. He knew it was that morning’s testimony that had him feeling vulnerable.
Cole must have read his mind, because his lover shook his head. “There’s no need to hide what you’re feeling with me.”
Trey swallowed. “I don’t know if I can shower with you.”
“I wasn’t planning on it. I’m here for you, not for sex,” Cole explained.
Trey broke eye contact. “Why do you continue to put up with me? I have to frustrate the dickens out of you.”
Cole chuckled, surprising Trey. He looked up at the bigger man. “What?”
“I just think it’s cute as hell that you refuse to cuss.”
Trey shrugged. “Don’t see the need.”
Cole pulled Trey into his arms. “I know you don’t, which is one of the many reasons why I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Trey’s knees threatened to buckle. Though he’d secretly hoped Cole would someday come to love him, Trey never really held out much hope. “You love me?”
Cole nodded, an odd expression crossing his face. “More than anything.”
Cole seemed to study Trey for several moments. “Why don’t you take your shower, while I go set the table? I bought some fried chicken for us to have for dinner.”
Trey stretched and gave Cole a tender kiss. “Thank you.”
Cole watched Trey disappear into the head and shut the door. He sunk down onto the bed and buried his face in his hands. He hadn’t lied when he’d admitted to Trey that he loved him more than anything, but what did that mean to his future?
The length of time they’d been together kept playing through Cole’s mind, three and a half months. How had he managed to fall so deeply in love with a man he’d only been dating such a short time?
He heard the water turn on and the shower door close. Cole stood and wiped the moisture from his eyes. He hadn’t been crying, but it was the closest he’d come since he was a boy. Damn.
It was then he noticed the boat was moving. He’d been so engrossed in his conversation with Trey, he hadn’t even realised they’d left the marina. He opened the door and strode towards the small galley.
He started to get plates out of the locker but wasn’t sure how many to get. He closed the door and went up on deck to find Bobby and Jules.
“Hey,” he called out.
“Up here,” Bobby yelled.
Cole looked up and shielded his eyes from the sun. “I thought I’d go ahead and feed Trey. It doesn’t look like he’s eaten much in a couple of days.”
Jules nodded. “You’d be right. It doesn’t seem to matter what I fix, he keeps saying he’s not hungry.”
“Well, I’ve got plenty of fried chicken and side dishes to feed all of us if you’re interested.”
“Let me get a little further down the coast, and I’ll drop anchor and come down.”
Cole nodded and went back below deck. He quickly set the table and went to check on Trey.
“How’s it coming?” he asked, opening the door.
Trey stood wrapped in a towel with his black suit jacket in his hands. He was picking at the dried red paint splatters on the collar and shaking his head. “It’s probably ruined.”
Cole walked into the cabin and took the jacket from Trey. “We’ll just have to ask a dry cleaner. No sense worrying about it.”
He tilted Trey’s chin up and could see obvious signs his man had been crying. Cole wished he knew what to do. “Dinner’s in a few minutes. Would you like to si
t with me for a while?”
Trey nodded and waited for Cole to sit on the bed. Cole wanted to pull Trey into his lap and wrap him up in his arms, but he didn’t know if it would be welcome. It was so damn hard to understand what Trey must be feeling.
He smiled when Trey made the first move and put one knee beside Cole’s hip on the mattress. “May I?” Trey asked.
Cole held out his arms, open for anything Trey needed. It didn’t take long before Trey’s towel-covered ass was sitting in his lap. Cole closed his arms around Trey’s lean body and buried his face against his lover’s neck, inhaling the clean smell of soap.
“I love you so much it scares me,” Trey whispered.
Cole pulled back and stared into Trey’s beautiful eyes. He knew in that moment he’d do anything to have Trey in his life. “Don’t be scared. Bobby said something to me earlier that’s really had me thinking.”
“What did he say? Do I need to apologise for him?” Trey said with a slight grin.
“He asked me which had brought more meaning to my life, my career or you.” Cole stopped and swallowed around the newly formed lump in his throat. “I realised something. I can always find another job, but I’ll never find another you.”
Trey’s head tilted to the side. “What’re you saying?”
“That I’ll do whatever it takes to spend the rest of my life with you. So when you go back into that courtroom, I’m going to be sitting beside the rest of your friends.”
Trey shook his head. “That’s not necessary. The trial won’t go on forever. Maybe if we play it cool until it’s over, the school board will leave you alone. I’ll probably only be on the stand for another day.”
“What kind of partner would I be to let you go through that alone?”
“I won’t be alone. I’ll have my friends with me and you in my heart.”
Cole couldn’t shake the feeling that Trey really didn’t want him in the courtroom. “Is there something you’re not telling me? What’s the real reason you don’t want me there?”