“Generations of anthropological scholars will ask themselves that very question.” After pressing another little kiss to his throat, she pulled back. “Gonna brush my teeth. You?”

Trev smirked. “I endorse oral hygiene as well.”

Probably better if he didn’t admit how long it had been since he’d been to the dentist or how there had been days when he couldn’t bring himself to shower or brush his teeth because everything seemed so fucking pointless. Hell, he didn’t even know how to bridge a subject like that or tell her that LBL (Life Before Leanne) had been one endless dark night with no promise of light, each day the same as the last. And he knew simply meeting someone new couldn’t fix everything that was wrong in his head, but fear made it difficult to consider confiding in her, and he couldn’t have afforded therapy before either.

Maybe I can soon.

His old man didn’t believe in it, and he’d have mocked Trev for even considering it. Real men didn’t admit to having emotions, let alone get dragged around by them. Tanner seemed to be the exact same way. It was only Trev who didn’t fit the mold, weak and sensitive and—

“Your turn,” Leanne said, saving him from that dreadful loop without even realizing it.

“Thanks. I’ll be there in a sec.”

He spent some time in the bathroom, just breathing as he brushed his teeth, trying to understand what she saw in him. In Trev’s mind, he might as well have the loser L tattooed on his forehead. Cut it out. You’ve got potential. Damn, but he loathed that word. Eventually, the breathing exercises calmed his brain enough for him to act like he was okay when he wandered out of the bathroom five minutes later.

Leanne was already under the covers, and the lights were off. “Come to bed,” she mumbled. “I’ll only grope you a little, I swear.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

He slipped under the covers, and she immediately rolled over, curving her soft body against his side. She seemed to be wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Aw, she’s trying to honor my request for us to have an actual wedding night. It moved him that she cared to that extent. How long had it been since anyone heeded his requests or cared about how he felt?

Hell if I know. What an unsatisfying answer.

“We’re getting married tomorrow,” she whispered into his shoulder. “You nervous?”

It took him a while to answer, trying to decide if the truth would upset her. He swallowed hard and finally answered, “So much.”

But she was already asleep and didn’t hear his honest response. Hopefully, he could keep his shit together long enough to roll around in this delightful fantasy.

Because when they got back to St. Claire, Trev suspected the magic wouldn’t last long.

Chapter 13