Channing came around the corner and paused. “More coffee?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Be right back.” A minute later Channing plopped on the couch directly across from Chassie and adjusted her shirt over her pregnant belly. She propped her feet up on the coffee table with a big sigh. “Much better.”
Chassie had spent time around Channing at various family events over the last few years. Her cousin’s wife was sweet, thoughtful and almost too nice to be true. Colby worshipped her. So Chassie was struggling with how this woman would view the situation between her, Trevor and Edgard.
“Let’s get right to it. Tell me what happened after Edgard showed up.”
While Chassie talked, and talked some more, Channing refilled her coffee cup.
Twice. Chassie realized Channing’s up and down movement wasn’t because the subject matter bothered her; rather it was as close as she could get to pacing without actually pacing.
After Chassie finished speaking, Channing handed her a tissue. “Thanks. I didn’t mean to cry.”
“I’d think it was odd if you weren’t crying.”
Chassie looked up. “Why didn’t anyone warn me about Trevor’s past with Edgard?”
“Anyone meaning Colby or I?”
She nodded.
“Because, sweetie, and this may be hard to hear, but the details about that past relationship isn’t our right to share with you.”
“How did you find out?” Chassie demanded.
80
Lorelei James
Channing met her angry glare head on. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know on two conditions.”
“Which are?”
“You promise that what we discuss is never repeated outside this room. And you keep an open mind about what you hear and don’t pass judgment on anyone involved until you’ve had time to think about it. Thoroughly.”
Chassie figured that’d be the most difficult promise to keep. But she wanted to know so badly…no, she wanted to understand so badly that she agreed.
“You asked how I found out about Trevor and Edgard? I walked in on them having sex.” Channing appeared to wait for Chassie’s gasp of outrage, and when she didn’t hear it she continued. “Long story short: Four years ago this summer, I wanted a wild Western adventure with a real cowboy. Colby said I could travel the circuit with them for ten days if I agreed to be their personal buckle bunny for all three men. Sometimes at the same time.”
Chassie’s jaw dropped. “You…and…Trevor…did it?”
“Yep. And me and Trevor and Colby. And me and Trevor and Edgard. And me and Trevor alone. And me and Colby alone. Obviously I clicked with Colby from the start.”
She smiled. “No regrets because it was about experiencing all the sexual situations I’d fantasized about.”
Chassie reached for her coffee cup on the table and took a big drink to wet her dry mouth.
“Shocked?”
“Uh. Yeah.” The true jolt of it would probably sink in later. Or would it be absorbed by the first, more brutal shock she’d had earlier?
“You are aware of Trevor’s past sexcapades?”
“Yes. I honestly didn’t care about who he was with before me.” Chassie paused.
“I’m not upset Trevor was with you, Channing. But I am shocked he wasn’t only with women but also with men.”
81
Rough, Raw, and Ready
“Man,” Channing gently chided. “Trevor hasn’t been with any other man besides Edgard.”
“You’re sure?” Chassie gently chided right back. “Been damn near four years. How do you know Trevor hasn’t been with another guy?”
“I looked in his eyes when he told me about falling for Edgard and I’ve never seen such confusion and raw anguish. What he felt for Edgard went against everything he’d ever known. Trevor couldn’t give Edgard what Edgard needed, even when Edgard filled something in Trevor that Trevor needed. And Edgard couldn’t stomach not being enough for Trevor, so Edgard returned to Brazil. Trevor wandered for a year or so. Made some tough decisions that’d been weighing on him for years.”
“The situation with his family,” Chassie said.
“Yes. Then he met you.” Channing leaned forward but Chassie didn’t have the guts to look her in the eye. “Trevor loves you, Chassie, don’t doubt that.”
“How can’t I?” Chassie wiped her tears. “God. This is so fucked up.”
“Yeah, sweetie, it is.” Channing stood and returned to the kitchen.
Grateful that Channing had given her time to collect her thoughts, Chassie straightened her slumped shoulders, letting her head fall back onto the puffy couch cushion. She heard Channing return and settle across from her.