Playboy's Secret Wife novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: Trent Begs

The night doorman stopped pretending to read his newspaper.

Two neighbors in evening clothes stopped at the mailboxes, and a woman with a small white dog stopped halfway to the door.

Trent got to his feet with the cardboard box in both arms.

His eyes were swollen, and his collar was wet.

"Chad fired me at four o'clock," he said.

"Security walked me out of the building like a thief."

"I'm sorry to hear that," I said.

"He said I was a liability."

"He said the Cabo thing cost him a board vote, and I'd made him look stupid at his own aunt's dinner."

"After everything I did for him."

"What did you do for him, Trent?"

He swallowed.

"I told him things."

"About you."

"About Lucas."

"Whatever he asked."

"That's useful," Lucas said, from beside me, very mildly.

Trent flinched.

"Mr. Hargrove, I never meant."

"You always mean," Lucas said.

"It's the best thing about you."

I held up a hand.

"Let me do this one."

Lucas stepped back with his hands in his pockets, and the doorman made a small, approving noise.

Trent turned to me.

"Cal, I made a mistake."

"I know that."

"A huge one."

"I think we can both agree it was about a year long."

"I miss you," he said, and his voice broke.

"I miss us."

"Dee's a mess, and it's all so complicated, and you were the only person who ever made me feel like I was a good man."

"Take me back."

"Just until I get on my feet."

I looked at him for a while.

He had the same brown hair, the same good shoulders, and the same wet, hopeful face he used to wear when he forgot my birthday.

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