Corbin House Chronicles: Brotherhood Unbound

Chapter 27: Trey and Reed In The Bathhouse

Trey had never felt so sure of something in his life—he was going to surprise Connor. After hearing about the bathhouse from a few of the guys in the frat, he decided that a spontaneous visit would be the perfect way to show Connor how much he meant to him. He had been thinking about it all day, imagining the surprised look on Connor's face when he showed up.

But as Trey entered the bathhouse, his excitement quickly turned into confusion, and then into something far less pleasant. As he made his way to the pool area, he spotted Connor, his body glistening under the soft lighting of the pool. But it wasn't just Connor. Kennedy was there too, standing close to him, their faces locked in a kiss that sent a wave of heat—and something darker—coursing through Trey's chest.

His heart sank. He had to blink a few times, trying to understand what he was seeing. But the image before him couldn't be mistaken. His mind raced with questions, hurt and frustration bubbling to the surface. Without thinking, Trey turned and made his way up to the second floor, trying to ignore the nagging feeling clawing at his gut.

He needed a moment to himself. He needed to think.

Once he reached the quiet, more private areas of the bathhouse, he found a corner away from the noise and bustling of the other guests. He leaned against the wall, pressing his palm to his forehead, trying to calm the storm inside him. Trey didn't know what to feel. Part of him wanted to march back down to the pool and confront Connor, demand an explanation. Another part of him just wanted to disappear, to leave and pretend he hadn't seen anything.

A tear slipped down his cheek, and Trey wiped it away quickly, angry at himself for being so emotional. He wasn't supposed to be like this—weak, vulnerable, exposed.

"Hey, you okay?"

The voice startled him, and Trey quickly looked up to see a guy standing nearby, leaning casually against the wall. Trey wiped his eyes, trying to hide the tear, but the guy was already walking over to him with a sympathetic look.

The man had a relaxed, confident air about him, and there was something about him that immediately caught Trey's attention. He had dark, tousled hair, and his body was athletic—like a street biker, someone who spent hours on the road. He was dressed in a tight shirt that showcased his muscular build, and the moment he smiled, Trey felt a weird shift in the air.

"Didn't mean to interrupt," the guy said, his voice calm and friendly. "But you look like you could use someone to talk to."

Trey was still too emotional to say much, but he managed to nod, his eyes still a little red from the moment before. "I'm just... it's nothing," he muttered, rubbing his face.

The man raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Doesn't look like nothing. You mind if I stick around for a minute?"

Trey shrugged, feeling a little embarrassed. "Yeah, whatever."

"Reed," the guy said, holding out his hand. "I'm Reed. I've been coming here a while now. Seen you around, actually."

Trey managed a weak smile, shaking Reed's hand. He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but it wasn't this. Reed had this easy-going vibe that made Trey feel strangely comfortable, like the weight of the moment had lifted just a little bit.

"I'm Trey," he said, trying to hold back the emotions still swirling inside him.

Reed nodded knowingly, his gaze soft but attentive. "Look, I'm not going to push, but you seem like you're dealing with something, and I've got a pretty good ear. I can tell when someone's got a lot on their plate."

Trey just sighed and leaned back against the wall. "It's... it's just been a rough day. I thought I was doing something nice for someone, but I guess it didn't turn out the way I thought."