Seeing them together like this is jarring. Added with knowledge of who they are, where they’ve been, and what they’ve accomplished together makes it all the more fascinating.
If the world knew their story, they wouldn’t believe it. I still have a hard time believing it.
“Don’t be nervous,” Tyler speaks up as I fidget. “Preston will love you. So will Molly. She’s good people. You look beautiful, Cee.”
“Well, I was about to say the same to you. You look incredible. Are you seeing anyone?”
Ignoring the flaming jealous glare my compliment and my question earns me, I keep my eyes on Tyler. He shakes his head slightly, his eyes dulling with a flash of pain. “No time right now.”
He’s not ready. Even after all this time. It’s been years since Delphine died, and he wants no part of trying to move on yet. Sadly, I understand it, because I felt the same. He lost the only woman he considered his true love and not by choice, not due to selfishness, fear, or any other idiotic reason that keeps people apart. A long silence ensues. I share a look with Tobias, and I know we’re thinking the same thing.
“You two finally realizing what idiots you’ve been?” Tyler chimes in. “Because I seriously fucking begrudge you both for it.”
“We are,” Tobias says, keeping his eyes on me.
“As long as we know who the bigger idiot is,” I point out.
“Glad to see you two so happy,” Tyler interjects. “You deserve it.” He gives me a pointed look. “I was charged with checking in on you every so often. I was pissed you didn’t come back raising hell a lot sooner.”
“Should have told me I had a good reason to come back.”
“Couldn’t. I had a psycho for a boss.”
“Eh? What are you going to do?” I shrug, and we share a sad smile, “But we aren’t the only ones that deserve to be happy.”
He winks in response, but I can feel the plea in his eyes not to press the conversation any further. I don’t want a loveless life for his future, that much I do know. I hate the thought of it.
After a few minutes of chit chat, Tyler rolls up the partition and checks the clock. “We have about eighty minutes until we pull up.”
“Speak freely,” Tobias says, and Tyler nods.
“I can tell you pretty much everything, but I’d rather Preston explain it, so you don’t have to hear it twice.”
“Please don’t make me wait,” I ask between them, noting the fact that Tyler calls the President by his first name. The reality is, I’m on my way to meet the leader of the free world. The President that my gorgeous soulmate and lover helped put into office with a scheme they cooked up when they were teenagers. And I’m afraid I won’t be paying close enough attention to details once I get there. I don’t let my nerves get the best of me often, but this is a big fucking deal. Eyes roving from Tobias to Tyler and back, I can see the hesitation.
“I’m going to legitimize us,” Tobias says simply.
“What?” It’s the last thing I expected him to say.
“To an extent,” Tyler adds.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning no more hiding from ‘Big Brother’ and we’ll no longer be at risk for doing felony or any other type of time.”
I dart my eyes between them. “You’re serious?”
They both nod.
Tobias leans forward and takes my hand in his as I speak up. “This is your plan B, your window?”
“It has to happen, Trésor.”