Chapter 4 Earn It
Spencer had taken her words to heart. Every morning he waited outside of her building with coffee and breakfast. Even when she ignored him, he showed up for lunch. When it was time for dinner he would send takeout for her and her flatmates even when she didn't invite him in. Sasha answered the door on one of his deliveries.
"You don't give up easily." He smiled at her.
"It isn't in my DNA." She leaned in the doorway.
"She has been ignoring you, but she is enjoying your tokens and now, because you paid so handsomely for information this is free advice. Step your uh…how do you say. Step it up. Get some time with her and show her that she can't deny how she feels. Starting with joining us for dinner, right now." Spencer put his hands up.
"I'd love to but me and my temper still have work to do and Beret, might get punched in the face if he continues to test me." He shrugged and she chuckled at his name for her fellow flatmate.
"He's a walking cliché." Spencer groused.
"Dres can be an arse, but something tells me you are a bigger one. So, get in there and fight for your girl. A measuring contest isn't the way so remember that." Spencer considered it.
Spencer walked into the flat with Sasha, Trina, and Andres were deep in conversation. As soon as he stepped into the room, she turned in his direction and her smile faded. It hurt him to his core, he almost dropped the box that he was holding.
"I will just set this up and get out of the way." Andres rolled his eyes.
"What is to be set up, we take the packages out of ze box and we –"
"I don't believe I asked you a question or for your assistance.." Spencer said through his teeth.
"I will help you out," Sasha said. "So tell me about this." Well, it is Trina's grandfather's gumbo, and cornbread and we have some mussels and crawfish for appetizers and beignets for dessert. I had it flown in so that it would be fresh. I put it in a crockpot to heat it up. I figured a taste of home may help with homesickness." Spencer explained and she just stared at him as she approached.
"That was very thoughtful of you, Spencer. Thank you. This is a lot of food; you may as well stay and enjoy it with us." She offered and he smiled.
"I appreciate the invite, but I don't want to intrude on your space. I want a genuine invitation and I will get there. Do enjoy." Sasha shot him a wtf look but he walked out but then came back.
"So, we are clear, I am going back to my hotel to try to play this video game that Cam likes. He should be logging in soon." He winked at her and then left. She stood looking after him while shaking her head.
Part of Trina's Internship at The Louvre was assisting with guided tours. The tours generally ran for an hour and a half. It was a sunny Wednesday, and their afternoon was booked, all tours sold out.
Trina and Andres were shocked to find Spencer and two other people on the tour.
"This tour is sold out. Spencer, tell me you didn't?" He bit his lip as he thought carefully about how to respond.
"Tell you that I haven't shamelessly used our shared love of art to spend the afternoon with you? I can't do that. I purchased all the tickets but these two wouldn't budge so…" Spencer cut his eyes at the older couple.
"I also wasn't aware that he would be here." Trina sighed. She had to remain professional.
Surprisingly, Spencer was quiet during the tour. He answered questions when asked but he mostly just watched her. He loved seeing her in her element. He loved the way her eyes lit up as she enthusiastically talked about an exhibit. He had missed the light. They were at the last tour of the afternoon and no one else had shown up.
"I think I got all the tickets for this one. I have a proposal." She glared at him, her hands on her hips but there was a glint in her eye that wasn't anger but a slight amusement that propelled him forward.
"Take my tour, with me." She sighed; he had her there. She was curious to see exhibits through his eyes. She chewed on her lip.
"Fine. It could help me become a better student and guide." She had packed her schedule with her classes at the Sorbonne and her internship. She had intended to keep busy and there he was grinning at her. Spencer took her agreement as progress, but he knew that convincing her to stay wouldn't be easy.
"There's a catch. My version can take days. We can start today but to go in depth, then we need time." She nodded; he could see the excitement in her eyes.
"Let's get on with it." She smiled.
"We will start with my favorites in the Denon Wing." Spencer led the way. Andres rolled his eyes, the guy had brass, but he knew that he couldn't compete from the way Trina looked at the young man. The beautiful ones were always taken in heart.
"Psyche revived by Cupid." Spencer introduced the exhibit.
"This story as with many confuses me. The lover taking her in darkness while his identity is not revealed is a bit creepy." Spencer chuckles.
"I tend to prefer the retellings. Like the one in Lore Olympus." He should have known that she would be versed. That is how it went throughout the tour; he would introduce the exhibit and she would give versed opinions and insight. It only made him crazier about her.
They ended day one at Café Marley with its beautiful view. "So, what did you think of my personal trail?" Spencer smiled.
"It is always nice to see things from another's point of view. It allows us to get insight that we may not have thought of or seen. But Spencer, it has been days. Should you be away this long? Ace is a baby and consistency is important to babies."
"I Facetime with Ace and right now you are my priority. You will always be my top priority." She rolled her eyes.
"Nice save." He took her hand in his.
"It was but it was also the truth." He kissed the knuckles. Andres approached their table.
"Trina are we still on for the show tonight?" He asked. Spencer growled low in his throat and Trina looked at him as though she could not have heard it.
"Oh, there is a show tonight. What a coincidence, I happen to love shows. Is it live?" Spencer smiled at Andres.
"My friend is in a band, and they are performing. Tickets are sold out." Spencer leaned back in his chair.
"What is the name of the band and where are they playing?" Trina looked at him knowing what he was about to do. He cleared his throat.
"Never mind, it is likely a hole in the wall. Besides, I trust my girlfriend to have friends outside of our friend group." He ran his thumb gently over the back of her hand. She let out a sigh of relief, but she didn't know that it took everything in him to not intrude on their plans.
"If you are still going, we should head out." Trina smiled.
"Yeah, if we are going to get the good seats then we need to go. I will see you later, Spencer." He smiled at her.
"Count on it. Call or text me when you get in, please." She nodded. He held on to her hand as she walked away then slowly, he let go of it.
Spencer stared at his phone. No missed calls. Trina had left at 6 PM, it was midnight and he had yet to receive a call or a text. He didn't text her because he wanted to show that he trusted her decisions, and respected her decisions, but he was restless. He wondered about Andres and if they had danced together, closely. If they did, would he let his hands travel the curve of her back down to her round ass? It was what he had done countless times.
Spencer had half a mind to go looking for her, but he didn't. He had to be honest with himself. He had no right to do so. There was a soft knock on the door. He had almost missed it. He jumped up and ran to the door. When he opened the door, Trina, who had been leaning against it stumbled in. He caught her and balanced her so that she stood upright. She walked in. She turned and double-pointed at him with a wink.
"You are a lucky man!" She giggled. She swayed toward him. "I thought about you all night and I don't usually do that unless it is you so…consider yourself very lucky because tonight!" She pointed at his chest. "I forgive you and we…" She hiccupped. "We are going to have makeup sex." She grinned and he wrapped an arm around her.
"How much have you had to drink? " He had never seen her tips let alone drunk. She put her finger to her lip and then began counting on her fingers.
"I did shots! I never did shots before. I decided to live a little." She swayed happily.
Yeah, I know you have never had them and plying you with them was no accident.
Trina shrugged and pointed firmly in the air. "I can hang! See, I am fine. Just light like a butterfly. I am ready for my sexy prince to show me to bed." She shimmied. "Whoa. Why is the room spinning?"
"You need water and bread." He carried her to the couch and planted her there. When he returned she was passed out. He woke her to get her to drink as much water as she could before passing out again.
"Oh baby, that is going to hurt in the morning." He tucked her in after taking off her shoes. He stayed up watching her to make sure that she was ok.
