“Pretty easy to see how she and Qiang are friends,” I point out, definitely seeing it and really hoping to see how the two of them act around each other in less unhappy situations.
Tristan’s phone buzzes, and he briefly types something before heading into the kitchen. Hoping that was Qi updating him, I follow him and watch as he pulls out a bunch of sandwich fix-ins.
“Qi just messaged and said that they’re okay, just shaken up, and Qi is staying with them tonight,” he says.
Even though both Tristan and Natasha said that they were okay, having that text confirmation from Qi is really what my chest needed to ease up a bit. There’s also a tease that jumps to the tip of my tongue because this means Tristan is sleeping alone for the first time in I don’t know how long, but my chest hasn’t lightened up quite enough to actually make the joke.
“I have a feeling Qi isn’t coming down anytime soon, and since we had dinner plans, which are obviously not happening now, they haven’t eaten,” he says while making a tray of sandwiches.
I nod my head and reach for the bread to make myself one, but Tristan brushes my hand aside to stop me.
“What’s your next step, Marcus?” he looks at me pointedly, and I know he’s not talking about sandwiches right now.
“Kingston can’t stay. Not if he’s going to go after Qiang.”
Tristan nods like I said exactly what he expected me to say. “What do you propose?”
I chew on my lip for a moment. “What do you know about Cade Murphy?”
Tristan’s hazel eyes lock onto mine with a knowing gaze. “I know he has a shady as fuck reputation. But I also know that both Holt and Gio think the world of him, and I can’t for the life of me imagine they would if the guy’s moral compass fell to the wrong side.”
I nod at that, lost in thought, because I’ve gotten the same impression. It was a bit surprising to learn that the president of the frat house that Gio and Holt live in has such a dark reputation.
The guy gives off that ‘next in line to a crime ring empire’ type of vibe, and if the rumors are true, then the vibe isn’t that far off the mark. But there has to be more to him than that; otherwise, Gio and Holt wouldn’t live there or be as chummy with him as they are. If he’s on the right side of the fence, his reputation for being able to learn just about anything about anybody could definitely come in handy under the circumstances.
“That’s kind of what I was thinking too.”
Tristan cuts the sandwiches up into little two-bite portions. “Do you want to reach out?”
“Doyouthink we should?” I ask him, knowing he’s the more morally upstanding one out of the two of us.
Not that I’m not morally upstanding as well; it’s just Tristan is pretty much a goody-two-shoes hidden behind a resting bitch face, and I tend to believe that justice isn’t always found by following the law. I guess Tristan doesn’t always either, but he’d still try to find a moral way to break the law before crashing straight through it. Unless you really piss him off, and then you’ll find yourself on the wrong end of his fists, but that’s neither here nor there.
Tristan shrugs before heading towards the pantry and grabbing some bags of chips and little cakes to add to the sandwich platter. “I mean, he may not even talk to us.”
I snort at that. “Your last name is Donovan, dude. He’ll talk to us,” I remind him.
Tristan and his parents are the type of people who open doors with just their last name. While I’ve seen so many families withsimilar status use that to their advantage, Tristan and his family don’t. They know it happens, but because of it, they go even further out of their way to make sure they deserve the doors they walk through. It’s like knowing the reality of what most people are like, and then knowing how someone like Tristan is, and having your faith in humanity restored. Not completely, of course, but enough to be reminded that notallpeople are shit.
“Fair enough,” he says simply, knowing he can’t argue it, but also knowing it’s not something he finds to be his greatest flex.
“You think we should tell them we’re leaving?” I ask, changing the subject.
“I’ll let Qi know we’re going out when I take the sandwiches and snacks upstairs.”
I look at the little tray he’s made that includes a bit of everything. It’s a bit beyond a simple ‘sate their appetite’ sandwich tray and more of something you’d serve at a picnic or large gathering, but there’s no universe in which Tristan wouldn’t actively put every ounce of effort into doing something for Qi, even if it’s as simple as making sure Qi and his sibling eat.
“You’re such a good little husband,” I tease him lightly, my chest easing now that we have a bit of a plan.
Tristan’s mouth crooks up in a cocky half-smile. “You’re just jealous you didn’t think of it first.”
I let out a shocked breath of air and clasp my hand to my chest dramatically. “No need to call a brother out like that.”
He laughs at that while I let out a bit of a sigh. “But this time, I think I’ll say it’s probably best that I didn’t think of it first. As much as I’d love to rush up there and fix everything, I think that’s the last thing Qiang needs right now.”
Tristan nods. “I wouldn’t say the last thing, but Qi is Qiang’s most important person. He is now, just as he was when all of this happened the first time around. Qiang needs Qi more than anyone, but I’m hoping someday you’ll be that person for them, too.”
I chuckle a bit at that and roll my eyes at him. “One night without Qi in your bed, and you’re already finding ways to make sure itdoesn’t happen again,” I let the tease from earlier fall from my lips, now that I’ve had a bit of time to calm down and know that Qiang is alright.
