Page 50 of Absinthe Dreams
"Because I'm an idiot."
I spin around to see Trystan standing behind us with his hands shoved into his pockets, a regretful look stretched across his face.
"I should have told you a long damn time ago that I'm in love with you," he says, strolling toward me like he isn't in the process of rearranging my world. "I should have told you every fucking day, Chloe. Wyatt never should have found out like this because he should have already known that you were mine, princess."
"Trystan," I whisper.
"I love you," he says, stopping in front of Ms. Lena's fence, a few steps away. "I've loved you every day since I met you. Back then, I didn't understand it. But I realized a long time ago that what I felt for you was different. It was special. I should have told you."
"I should have told you too," I whisper, my throat raw.
He pulls me into his arms, resting his forehead against mine. "Tell me now, Coco."
"I love you."
His eyes drift closed, a look of pure bliss on his face. "Christ," he breathes, claiming my lips in a scorching kiss. It lights me up like fireworks, filling every raw space with sight and sound and life.
"That's enough," Wyatt grumbles behind us when I can't breathe.
Trystan reluctantly breaks the kiss, his lips sweeping across my forehead. "You should have heard it a long time ago, princess. I'm sorry I waited so fucking long." He inhales a breath, stepping back slightly. "I should have done this a long time ago, too."
I watch in shock as he drops to his knees right in front of Ms. Lena's fence, reaching into his pocket. "Trystan, what are you…?"
"I called your dad a few minutes ago," he says. "Asked his permission."
My heart is in my throat as I stare at him, shocked completely silent.
"I told him that you're the only one I've ever loved, and the only one I will ever love. I promised to take care of you and protect you." He holds a ring out in the palm of his hand. "I promised to be a man worthy of you."
"Trystan," I whisper.
"I want to slip it on your finger without giving you a choice," he mutters ruefully. "Then you can't say no. But…I'm going to ask you anyway, Coco. Because I want it to be your choice. Because I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get you to agree to be mine."
"I'm already yours."
"Then say you'll marry me," he rasps. "Your Dad already gave his blessing." He swallows, his gaze drifting to Wyatt. "So did your brother."
I glance over at my brother, surprised. But he just shrugs. "I'd rather him put a ring on your finger before he plants a kid in your belly, Clo."
"Yes." They both look at me like they aren't sure they heard me correctly, so I say it again. "Yes."
"Jesus," Trystan whispers, his voice shaking as he reaches for my hand. Before he can slip the ring on my finger, I throw myself into his arms, knocking him onto his ass. He catches me, hauling me up against his chest.
I taste tears on his lips when I kiss him, and I'm not sure if they're his or mine. But they're perfect. He's perfect. Everything is perfect.
At least for about two seconds. And then Tom decides Trystan is trying to kill me instead of kiss me. He comes flying back outside, all rage and aggression, screaming like a banshee.
Thanos immediately tries to hide behind Wyatt, practically dragging me off Trystan's lap in the process. It's chaos.
But all I can do is laugh because it's our chaos, and I wouldn't trade it for a single second.
Chapter Eleven
Trystan
"Are you nervous?" Chloeasks, glancing over at me as we walk up the steps to her parents' door the next evening, her fingers laced with mine. She looks beautiful with her hair pulled back from her face and her mossy eyes shining with happiness. Her simple white dress swishes around her thighs in stark contrast to her golden skin.
"Not even a little bit," I say. It doesn't matter that her parents and mine are both waiting inside for us. It doesn't even really matter if Colton follows through on his threat to stick his boot up my ass if I get her pregnant before I marry her. All that matters is that she's mine, she's here with me, and despite everything, nothing has fallen apart.
