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Then Skyler James swept back through like a wildfire, and suddenly he’s less lonely, but less safe as well. Suddenly, he could get hurt again.

Because that’s the only way this thing with them ends, right? They stay just friends until he can’t take it anymore and tries to make it something more. And then either Skyler doesn’t want that, and it ruins everything, or Skyler does want it, they get back together, and everything’s great until it isn’t. Until something—Skyler’s career, the media, the pressure, Trevor’s fucked up brain—wedges its way between them.

Either way it ends with Trevorbeing alone again.

And now with the threat of losing the house bringing up memories of losing his mom… it’s too much.

He can’t pretend this is a vacation, no matter how determined Skyler is to take his mind off what’s happening in L.A. As Mike pulls the rental car up to the front of a brick apartment building in Tribeca, Skyler’s rambling on about all the best places they can get food from.

“Ooh and the bagel place has rainbow bagels with Funfetti frosting,” he says, punctuating his excitement with a slap against Trevor’s knee.

“You know I would never eat that,” Trevor tells him. “But you’re making me hungry, cut it out.”

“Let’s get our stuff inside and then we can get food.”

It’s too hot for a sweatshirt, but Trevor pulls his on and flips the hood up. He wouldn’t worry about getting recognized typically. But since he’s with Skyler it would cause a whole lot of chaos he’s not ready for. He’s barely gotten Courtney off his back about doing an interview. He doesn’t need all that to start up again.

Skyler must understand this, because he says, “We’ll sneak in quickly with Stella, and Mike can bring up all our stuff.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to make him do that.”

“Yes, it’s fine, I promise.”

Skyler hops out of the car and rushes to the other side to meet Trevor as he steps out. Mike passes Stella’s leash to Trevor, and Trevor and Skyler both keep their heads down as they walk up to the entrance. But when the doorman holds open the door for them, Skyler greets the man with a smile and a friendly, “Hey, Winston, good to see you!”

“You too, Mr. James,” the man replies with a nod of his head. “Welcome home.”

“How’s your daughter?”

“She’s doing well.”

“Glad to hear it,” Skyler says. “So Mike’s got a lot of stuff to bring in. Might be a couple trips.”

“No problem.”

Skyler leads Trevor through the building’s elegant lobby and into the elevator. Once the elevator doors slide closed, Trevor shakes his head in amusement at the exchange he witnessed.

“What?” Skyler asks him.

“Do you spend a lot of time here?”

“Not really.”

Stella paces the small space, probably confused since she’s never been inside an elevator before.

“But you’re friends with your doorman?”

Skyler shrugs. “I wouldn’t say we’re friends. I just make it a point to try to get to know people. Especially people who have to wait on me.”

Trevor can’t help the fond smile that spreads across his face. That’s such a Skyler thing. Skyler will never be one of those haughty, rude celebrities, ordering people around. He treats everybody with the same kindness he shows his family and friends.

Skyler pulls a tiny key out of his pocket and inserts it into a hole at the top of the elevator panel labeledpenthouse.

“Fancy,” Trevor teases.

“Shut up.”

He does exactly that as the elevator doors open and he takes in the gorgeous open concept apartment with a floor-to-ceiling window. He lets Stella off her leash, and she immediately darts around sniffing everything while Skyler gives him a quick tour. When Skyler points out the guest room for him, sounding suspiciously like he doesn’t expect Trevor to end up staying in there, Trevor avoids eye contact. He can’t think about the recent development in their sleeping arrangements right now.