Page 51 of Absinthe Dreams
Things with Wyatt are still a little awkward. I can't say I'll blame him if he never recovers from walking in to find my dick down his sister's throat. Some shit, no brother should ever have to see. But he didn't break my jaw or refuse to give his blessing, so we're in that weird fucking place where shit is awkward, but it isn't broken.
Frankly, it's more than I expected. More than I could have hoped to get.
Now, it's time to face the parents. Chloe wanted to put it off for as long as possible, but we're not doing that. We've already done everything backwards, upside down, and every fucking way but right. We need to get this part over with. I don't think she'll truly relax until we do.
Some part of her still wants to hide, not because she thinks we have to do it, but because she's afraid that everyone knowing will change things. I need her to know that's not going to happen. No matter what, the relationship between our parents isn't going to fall apart. Jax and Jade aren't going to hate us. Wyatt isn't going to hate me. The two of us won't go back to the way we were before. Everything will be fine.
I wish like hell I had this clarity a long goddamn time ago. It could have saved us a lot of time and heartache. But a motherfucker is seeing shit clearly for once. I can't afford to see it any other way, not if I want to keep the girl clinging to my hand like I'm her lifeline.
Telling Wyatt how I felt about her before I told her was fucked up. I should have said it days ago. Hell, I should have admitted ityears ago. Instead, I hesitated, afraid she wasn't ready to hear it. Afraid it wasn't the right time to say it. Afraid of a bunch of shit that doesn't matter because it doesn't change a goddamn thing.
I love her. I've always loved her. Iwillalways love her. Everything else is just white noise, something that has no real bearing on our relationship or what comes next for us. The only opinions that really matter here are ours, and so long as she's willing to risk it all, I won't ever tell her no.
She draws to a stop right outside the door, peeking over at me with anxiety in her gaze.
"It's going to be okay, princess," I remind her, tugging her into my arms to brush my lips across her forehead. "They already know, remember? Your dad already gave me permission to put that ring on your finger. My parents already called to congratulate us. All we're doing now is having dinner."
"I know. I'm just nervous."
"Why?" I tip her head back, searching her face.
"You've always been my secret," she whispers. "Even if you didn't know it, I felt like I had a piece of you that I didn't have to share with anyone else. I got to keep it all to myself. I guess I just need to get used to being allowed to love you out loud."
"Jesus." I brush my lips across hers in a hard kiss. "You'll always have pieces of me no one else has, Coco. It doesn't matter who knows about us; they'll never be able to touch those places because they're yours."
They've been hers all along. Nothing will change that now. There isn't a force in heaven or hell strong enough to do that.
"I know." She smiles up at me. "But I'm selfish when it comes to you, Trystan. I don't want to share any part of you."
"You aren't the only one. I'd keep you locked in the bedroom all fucking day long if it were allowed, baby." I smooth strands of hair away from her face. "I like having you all to myself."
Her teeth sink into her bottom lip. "Maybe you can have me all to yourself after dinner."
I groan softly, resting my forehead against hers as my dick immediately stiffens in my pants. "Little minx, you aren't playing fair."
"I didn't even do anything," she lies.
"Oh, really? Is that why I'll be sitting across from our parents with a raging hardon all night?"
Her soft laugh hits me right in the heart. She may be nervous, but she'll be fine. We both will. We're not running a gauntlet here. We did that shit a long goddamn time ago. Now, we're crossing the finish line to meet the people who were cheering us on the whole way, even when we didn't hear them.
I kiss her again and then lift my hand, rapping on the door.
Judging by how fast Aunt Cadence throws it open, she's been waiting on the other side. But if she heard anything we said, she doesn't mention it. She just takes a look at the two of us wrapped up in each other, and a bright smile stretches across her face.
"I'm so happy for you!" she cries, flinging her arms around both of us in a fierce hug.
Before she even pulls back, I see my Ma crowding into the doorway behind her, flanked by my dad and Uncle Colton. Ma and Pops are smiling. Colton looks…okay. He isn't glaring at me like he wants to stab me in the throat, anyway.
He meets my gaze, his somber. But he doesn't get a chance to say anything before Aunt Cadence shifts over and Ma pulls us into a hug, whispering something in Chloe's ear.
"I'm so proud of you, son," she says to me, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "You're going to be an amazing husband to this sweet girl."
"Ma," I whisper, my throat tight as I squeeze the shit out of her.
"Alright, alright, let them breathe, baby doll," Pops orders, his voice light as he gently detangles Ma from around us, tugging her back inside the house. His eyes come to me, his expression a mix of pride and amusement. "Good to see you finally got your head out of your ass."
"Eli!" Ma swats him across the stomach. "Leave my son alone."
