AN: Spoilers: after the wedding in FNL S3 finale. These characters are not mine.
Lyla? Hey. Can you hear me now? Oh you were… Just need a sec… just need to… Garrity? Yep...
Tim pulled the phone away from his ear and frowned, closing it.
Shit. He was all ready to tell Lyla everything. He felt bad he'd let it drag on so long already. It was gnawing at him and he'd gotten butterflies for nothing.
What'd she say? Ashley asked. She was holding Emma, who was squalling a little.
Tim took the baby, who calmed down right away. She chewed his knuckle.
She was busy with some psych study group starting. He leaned against the counter and sighed. May as well use those butterflies for somethin', he thought.
Ash… I need to talk to you.
She braced herself, expecting the worst. This was, after all, Tyra's famous football stud, deadbeat, alcoholic—and seriously hot—ex-boyfriend.
Her own epic one night stand. Man ho who played the field in all respects. Greek god with no conscience.
Go ahead, she said, somberly.
Big sigh. I'm gonna… Tim shook his head.
She'd crossed her arms, biting her lip, and looked up to the ceiling—anywhere but at Tim.
I wanna marry you. Move in together. Be a family. There, I said it.
She shook her head, slowly, then more violently.
Fine. Whatever. I, we, don't need you, she said resolutely.
Tim stared at her. Did you even hear me? He asked.
Huh? Course. You're leaving for good. S'what I expected… she trailed off.
Ash… He shook her gently, kissing her hands, which surprised her.
I… I want you. You and Emma. His gorgeous hazel eyes glowed particularly emerald at that moment.
Tim's phone rang. Garrity, he said, steeling himself. Gimme a minute, Ash. He went onto the porch.
Hey, Garrity. Listen.
He wished he was with Lyla to tell her, but Vanderbilt was a hell of a long way from Planetree and Dillon, for that matter. And it couldn't wait any longer.
He swallowed.
There's someone else. And it's getting' kinda serious, so I thought before it went any further…
Lyla? Why're you laughin? Say somethin'.
He listened for a few moments, then said uh huh several times.
He snapped his phone shut.
She's seeing somebody else. We were both screwing around on each other.
It depressed and cheered him that Lyla was being the same kind of asshole he was. Relieved, and yet jealous at the same time.
But it seemed only fair from a relationship that began with the combined deceit of their best friend.
Most importantly, he was free to be with his new family.
-/-/-/-/-
That night, after Emma was in bed, Tim took a deep breath, got down on one knee, made a tight "okay sign" in one hand, and slid it around Ashley's ring finger dramatically.
Ain't got a ring yet so this'll have to do, he said, giving her a look that would melt a glacier.
She said nothing, just gave him an incredibly sexy look and kissed him softly, but with all her heart.
-/-/-/-
That evening, despite his happiness, he felt agitated. He texted Lyla. So who is he?
He felt bad that their relationship had devolved into snark-texting one another, but she said she didn't want to talk again soon.
'Sides, he wanted to know who had nabbed the heart of the girl who said she'd always love him, no matter what.
His phone blipped; Lyla had texted him back. He's...
TBC