After breakfast Roman had gone home. He returned later that evening to a house full of party guests. He walked over to Elias and handed the birthday boy his present while scanning the room of guests.
"She's in the kitchen," Elias said.
"Thanks," Roman said.
Roman walked out in the kitchen and found Cheyenne sitting on the counter, sipping on an orange drink.
"That looks good. Would you make me one?" He asked.
"It's just orange juice," she shrugged.
"You don't drink?" He asked.
"Not tonight," she answered. "I rarely drink anymore, to be honest. But don't let me being a party pooper stop you. Get drunk and have fun."
He poured orange juice in a glass and went to sit next to her on the counter. There was just enough room for both of them.
"Cheers," he said.
He raised his glass and took a sip. He didn't need to get drunk. Talking with her was more important than anything else.
"I'm sorry about last night," he said.
"I'm not," she said.
"Gosh, sometimes you confuse the hell out of me," he said.
"Sorry about that," she said.
He smirked at her. She smiled back at him.
"I hate that I let you get away," he said.
"Me too," she said. "But let's be fair here. I didn't exactly make a move on you either."
"So we were both cowards," he said.
She chuckled at that. It felt nice hearing that. He took another sip of his juice and smiled at her.
"Did you come to an agreement with the band?" He asked.
"Yes, they're ecstatic. They're flying out next week to sign the deal and start recording. I feel like we got the next Five Finger Death Punch on our hands, although no one will ever be able to top them, of course. But we got the next big thing in that genre, and it's gonna be fucking awesome," she said.
"I love hearing you talk about your job. There's so much joy in your voice," he said.
"I love my job," she said.
He nodded and tried keeping the sigh down. Of course she still heard it.
"You don't seem too happy about that," she said.
"No, I'm happy for you. I truly am," he said. "But... Fuck it! I don't wanna lie to you. Elias told me about Braun and what he does to you, and I wanna kill the guy. Since I probably shouldn't go around killing people, the next best thing would be to make you move back here, but if you love your job in New York, there's zero chance of that happening, right?"
She stared at him without saying anything. Not that he let her get a word in. He took a quick breath and continued.
"So I thought plan C would be me moving to New York, but that doesn't really work either. My job is here. I'm willing to say fuck it all if it means being with you and keeping you safe, but will you be safe with me there? He lives there too, right? He's just gonna keep coming no matter if I'm there or not. And do you even want me there? Do you even want to be with me?" He asked.
He stopped rambling and stared at her.
"This is the part where you're supposed to say something," he almost whispered.
It felt like his heart was up in his throat. He wanted to throw up. He had no right throwing it all in her face like that but he hadn't been able to stop himself. She opened her mouth to speak but never got a chance.
"Cheyenne!" Braun yelled.
"Fuck!" Cheyenne hissed.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Elias asked.
"Where's Cheyenne?" Braun asked.
Cheyenne jumped down from the counter and hurried out of the kitchen. Roman followed right behind.
"I'm right here, Braun," Cheyenne said.
Braun turned around and looked at her. He eyed Roman behind her and then looked back at her.
"Let's go," Braun said.
"Where to?" Cheyenne asked.
"I got a hotel room," Braun said. "And we're driving back to New York tomorrow morning. Cancel your flight. You're riding with me."
"She's not going anywhere with you," Roman said.
"Who the hell are you?" Braun asked. "Oh wait, I remember you from last year. The little boy who didn't get his dick sucked because she's with me."
Braun smirked at Roman before grabbing Cheyenne's arm and started to drag her out of the house. Roman and Elias looked at each other for a split second before both of them ran after Braun and Cheyenne.
"Stop!" Elias raised his voice.
"Don't!" Cheyenne hissed at her cousin. "It's okay, Elias. Stay and celebrate your birthday. I'm gonna go with Braun. I'll stop by tomorrow to get my things."
"Cheyenne, this has to stop," Elias pleaded. "Please! Before he..."
"Before I what?" Braun growled. "Stay out of this, Elias. She made her choice."
"You're forcing her," Roman said.
"Again, who the hell are you?" Braun stared at Roman.
Roman didn't feel like explaining anything to Braun. Instead he grabbed Cheyenne and pushed her behind him before stepping up to Braun. Braun might be big but he didn't have that much height on Roman after all, and Roman sure as hell wasn't backing down.
"Elias, don't!" Cheyenne said.
Elias stepped up next to Roman a second later. Roman couldn't help but crack a little sideways smirk before going back to his angry face. Braun might be bigger, but there were two of them against him.
"You will never touch her again," Roman said.
"Who's gonna stop me? You two little boys?" Braun mocked. "Come on, Cheyenne. We're leaving."
"No!" Elias raised his voice. "She's not going with you."
"Cheyenne!" Braun raised his voice too. "Let's go! Now!"
"No," Cheyenne said.
Both Roman and Elias smirked by hearing her say that word. It might not have been loud like they were currently speaking but it was loud enough for them all to hear.
"What?" Braun asked.
"I believe she said no," Elias said.
"Get out of here or we'll make you," Roman said.
"You're a fucking dead man!" Braun snarled.
Braun took a swing at Roman. Roman ducked it and planted his fist into Braun's stomach. Elias jumped Braun too. The two men worked together in giving Braun the beating of his life. Braun fought back the best way he could. Neither of the men escaped the fight without cuts and bruises but by the end of it Roman and Elias came out victorious while Braun begged for them to stop.
"He had enough," Elias said.
Roman searched Braun's pockets and found the key card to the hotel.
"You will leave town right now," Roman said. "We'll make sure to check out for you. Get in your car and fucking drive back to New York right now. If I ever catch you in this town again, I will kill you. That's a fucking promise. Am I making myself clear?"
"Yes," Braun said lowly.
"Leave!" Roman barked.
Braun managed to get up from the ground and into his car. As soon as he started it and took off, Roman felt Cheyenne's hand in his. He looked at her and pulled her in for a hug. Behind her Elias nodded at Roman before making his way back into the house. Cheyenne tilted her head and looked up at Roman.
"That was crazy," she said. "I can't believe you did that."
"I would do a lot worse for you," he said. "Can I kiss you, Cheyenne? I wanna kiss you so bad right now."
She smirked at him, grabbed his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss. He tightened his arms around her and groaned in pain from the fight he had just been in.
"We need to get you cleaned up," she said.
"I'll live," he said.
"I know you will but let me take care of you tonight," she said.
"Saving me now, Supergirl?" He smirked.
"You saved me first," she smirked back.
He chuckled and leaned down to kiss her again. He didn't dare to think further than tonight though. In this moment everything was right. He was afraid to jeopardize it by asking what he really wanted to know. As if she read his mind, she broke the kiss and opened the conversation.
"I'm moving back here," she said.
"You are?" He asked.
"I already talked with my boss about it. It doesn't matter where I live. Technology these days, you know. I can work from anywhere as long as I fly back every once in a while when it's needed. I'm traveling a lot, and they send me all around to scout bands. It doesn't matter where I live. It made sense back in the days where I started working at the studio before I got this promotion. I just never thought about actually moving back, and Braun refused to let me even think about it," she said.
"Not anymore," he smiled. "You're moving back. That's awesome."
"Right into Elias' guest room at first until I find my own place but I get a feeling I'll be spending more time at your place than here," she said.
His smile turned into a full grin. He nodded and chuckled.
"I've waited years for you," he said. "I'm done waiting. You were so worth the wait though."
"He says without having fucked me yet," she giggled.
"Oh, I will," he groaned in pain again. "Maybe not tonight though. Fuck, he got a good punch in on my ribs."
She laughed, moved out of his arms and instead took his hand.
"Let's get you cleaned up, Rocky," she said.
"You too? Elias called me that too this morning," he said.
"Can't run from the family tree," she smirked. "Do you prefer Rambo?"
"Shut up," he chuckled. "You can call me whatever you like as long as you're mine."
They walked inside and found Elias in the bathroom cleaning blood from his eyebrow.
"That's gonna leave a scar," Elias said.
"Chicks will love it," Cheyenne said.
"Yeah?" Elias smirked. "I could use some love after tonight."
Elias' eyes traveled down to Roman and Cheyenne's hands and then back up to their faces.
"Something you wanna share?" Elias asked.
"I'm moving back," Cheyenne said.
"That's great," Elias said.
"I'm moving in here and you don't get to say no," Cheyenne said.
"Okay," Elias laughed. "I was gonna offer the guest room for a more permanent solution. Great minds think alike."
Elias looked over at Roman and winked at his friend.
"And you, Romeo?" Elias said.
"See," Roman smirked at Cheyenne. "It runs in the family with those stupid nicknames."
"I mean, what are your plans now?" Elias asked.
"I know what you meant," Roman said. "I'll stay where I am. She might be living here but I doubt you'll be seeing much of her."
Elias turned his eyes to Cheyenne.
"Why bother finding your own place?" Elias asked. "Stay here for as long as it takes. We all know it won't take that long before Roman asks you to move in with him anyway, and you'll accept."
"You can see the future now?" Cheyenne asked.
"I can," Elias grinned. "You two have been dancing around each other for so many years now. Sure, you'll start out slow but it'll go fast from there. One day he's taking you out for a date, and the next day I'm getting a wedding invitation."
Elias walked over to them and hugged Cheyenne.
"Stay as long as you like," Elias said.
"Thank you," Cheyenne said.
"You deserve to be happy," Elias looked from Cheyenne to Roman. "You both do. And you know just as well as I do that you will make each other happy, so go and be fucking happy, turtle doves."
"What? No Romeo and Juliet?" Roman asked teasingly.
"No, they died at the end," Elias smirked. "Keep up with the stories, Roman. You deserve a happy ending."