AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ty wonders if he has been hamming it too hard with the terms of endearment. He’s not even pretending – he wants to call Rian baby, honey, darling, my love, sweetheart, and every fucking cutesy name under the sun one calls the love of their life. But all of this must be extremely stressful for Ri. Ty doesn’t want to confuse him or make him feel like he’s being taken advantage of.
“Thank you for doing this,” Rian mumbles, utterly tired and very obviously shaken from the events of the past day. Ty knows exactly how he feels, but he keeps his cool. Ty reminds himself that he must retain his focus. He must remain in control of their safety and be vigilant of their surroundings.
But being this close to Rian is freaking distracting. He tries to snap out of his musings on how gorgeous his siren is.
“Cyril would have wanted me to take care of you always,” Ty says it and cringes immediately after the words leave his mouth.
Yes, it’s fucking true, but that’s not what he means.
I, I want to take care of you.
Fuck, he’s terrible at this. Having hardly dated in his early twenties, with clearly disastrous results, he has no idea how to freaking communicate his feelings like an adult. He tries to remind himself that he doesn’t need to overthink this. Rian knows him for fuck’s sakes. Why is he so flustered all of a sudden?
Rian looks at him like Ty had splashed a bucket of cold water over his face. Tayida gives up for now. He is too tired to think, and the right words are never going to come until he knows they’re safe and have reached their destination.
They remain quiet until they land in Florida. They board the shuttle to the city and then use a rental car for part of the distance. From a smaller airport, they get on their last ride – a pre-booked bus service that will take them to the resort they are staying in.
It’s a quaint place, off the beaten path, family friendly with only a few touristy attractions. Summer is toward its end, which is why the area isn’t really buzzing with activity.
Ty gets their keys from the modest information building, and they walk to the small beach villa he has reserved for them online.
Sullivan had told him to go crazy, so here he was. He had chosen this place merely six hours ago, calling them on a whim to make a reservation, using bogus names. Ty purchased their last set of plane tickets with cash, using the fake identification documents his friend has supplied him with.
Ty has inspected Ri’s wallet and backpack, advising him to leave them behind. They purchased both items new from a souvenir shop. Ty had cut his credit cards in small strips. Rian chose to keep his license, passport, and Bran’s documents.
Ty had gone out of his way to find an extra-large backpack, not urging him to abandon the toy he had packed for Bran. Tayida gently checked it over making sure it was safe to take, after all.
Maybe once upon a time, Rian would have thought that excessive. Certainly not anymore. Especially after he quickly told Ty about the video of Rick and Lincoln fucking on the floor of Bran’s nursery. Ty couldn’t dismiss the possibility of hidden trackers or even cameras inside mundane items like plush toys, clothing, Ri’s wallet, or even his toiletries. Apparently, there was nothing sacred for Harris, so why would Bran’s belongings be off-limits?
Rian seemed to be worried about Rick, and understandably so. Rick has risked a lot by helping him. Ty decides to ask Sullivan to keep an eye on him ensuring his safety. He couldn’t imagine Sullivan declining an opportunity to be around Rick.
“I hope Rick is alright,” Rian mutters.
“I have a buddy who can look out for him. I’ll ask him to check on Rick, as soon as we settle,” Ty says, trying his best to reassure Rian.
They walk quietly for another moment, following the winding gravel path between small vacation homes of various sizes.
“I want us to talk. About everything,” Rian blurts out abruptly, his voice filled with determination.
Ty swallows thickly. Suddenly, the story seems impossible to tell.
Where was he going to fucking begin? How can any of this insanity they’ve lived through make sense?
It should be easy – he’s had years to think things through. What halts him from volunteering all the information is the fact he must start the story by confessing his feelings for Rian.
He slows down to look into Rian’s eyes. Ty bobs his head in agreement. “I’ll tell you everything. You can ask me anything.”
Rian smiles weakly. Perhaps he senses the story Tayida has to tell is not going to be pleasant at all.
They say nothing more to each other as they walk down the pebbled path to the small house that would be their sanctuary for the upcoming days. It’s not much, but the beach is right there.
Rian takes deep breaths, closing his eyes, facing the ocean. The breeze is tangling the strands of his hair. His skin is bathed in the colors of the dusk slowly dimming everything around them. This man, the love of his life, his siren, is mesmerizing.
Ty vows to give him a home by the ocean one day. A place to call their own where they could raise Bran and grow old together.
Rian’s eyelids flutter open and he turns to Ty. His lips form a soft smile, and he murmurs, “Maybe we can take Bran to the beach tomorrow. He loves the water.”
Ty can’t bring himself to say anything. Rian’s eyes are stunning. Perhaps Ri takes his silence for something else entirely as he hastily adds, “Only if you think it’s safe.” Ty bobs his head and looks away, fiddling with the keys. He is trying to unlock the door, hoping Rian won’t notice how much his hands are trembling.
