Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter! Love ya'll for real! They motivate me to keep going.
Tris makes her way upstairs after running away from Tobias. What the hell did she just do? She had only been kissed by one other boy in her whole entire life. She goes on a date with the most gorgeous man she had ever seen and what does she do? First, she slaps him out of panic, and then she panics again and kisses him. She leans her head on the door laughing at her craziness before she enters the door where she finds Andrew is sitting on the couch.
"Back so soon?" he asks as he looks up from the book he's reading.
"Oh my God, you people are unbelievable! It was just a first date" Tris exclaims throwing her hands up in the air causing Andrew to chuckle.
"Good Night Bumblebee" He yells as she heads to her room.
"Good Night Daddy" she yells back as she closes her bedroom door causing another chuckle to erupt from Andrew.
Tris pulls off Tobias's coat and her dress. She goes into her bathroom and wraps her hair so she can take a shower. She lets the hot water run over her as she sings to herself Long Walk by Jill Scott. Singing her feelings had become one of the best ways that she could decompress as well as reflect on her feelings about a situation.
You're here, I'm pleased
I really dig your company
Your style, your smile, your peace mentality
Lord, have mercy on me
I was blind, now I can see
What a king's supposed to be
Baby I feel free, come on and go with me
Let's take a long walk around the park after dark
Find a spot for us to spark
Conversation, verbal elation, stimulation
Share our situations, temptations, education, relaxations
Elevations, maybe we can talk about Surah 31:18
She smiles as she sings and washes her body thinking about the feel of her hand in his when their fingers were linked together. She shuts off the water and dries herself off wrapping her towel around her. She smiles as she stares in the mirror touching her fingers to her lips. His lips had been soft and she could faintly taste the ice cream they had in the park. She wished she hadn't run away because she wanted to feel his arms around her at the same time. She could only imagine how it would feel to be pressed up against him. Pulling herself out of her daydream she puts on her lotion while still humming Long Walk.
Comfortable in her pajamas she crawls into bed. She turns on her Smart TV, starts Love Jones, and sighs. Tonight has been perfect until she made a complete fool of herself. Why was it so hard for her to tell him about her transplant. She still wasn't sure if he would want to see her again. Even if he didn't want to she would still have tonight. She closed her eyes replaying the smile he gave her, the sexy sound of his deep voice, the sway of his walk, how he rubbed the back of his neck when he seemed nervous or unsure of what he was about to say. He had a manly rugged sense of sexiness that was mixed with vulnerability.
She figured she would tell Shauna, Chris, and Rose about her debacle tomorrow. She probably had 50 text messages from them asking how the date had gone. She had forgotten her phone was still on silent when she sees her notification light flash. To her surprise, there is a message from Tobias and her heart skips a beat. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before opening the message.
Tobias: I think that was the most interesting end to a date that I have ever had. Maybe I need to take you to a fancy restaurant and wine and dine you a bit more so I don't get slapped the next time we go out.
Tris: You really want to see me again?
Tobias: Yes I do Tris, I had a really good time tonight, and I thought you did too...
Tris: I did have a great time. I promise not to slap you again. I'm still really sorry BTW.
Tobias: So can I see you again next weekend?
Tris: Are you free again on Sunday? We usually aren't as busy.
Tobias: That sounds perfect, when are you singing again?
Tris: Friday night.
Tobias: Am I invited?
Tris: Sure
Tris fell back on her pillow, was he serious? After making a fool of herself tonight, he really wanted to see her again and twice in the same week. She had to pinch herself to see if she was awake and not dreaming.
Tobias: Do I get to make a song request?
Tris: I'll see what I can do, lol. What is your request, sir?
Tobias: Just something special for me that you pick out.
Tris: Okay...I'll think of something good as we work on our set list.
Tobias: Good night Tris, I hope you have another sex dream about me ;P
Tris: Oh My God, Stop That! I told you I did not have a sex dream about you!
Tobias: Sure you didn't...
Tris: You are silly, No I'm not having a sex dream about tonight, Good Night Tobias.
She throws her phone down even though it continues to ping with messages from Shauna, Christina, and Rose. She curls up with her pillow still chuckling at her exchange with Tobias. She breathes a sigh of relief as she watches Nia Long and Larenz Tate on the screen. She couldn't wait to see him again.
On Monday morning, Amar decides to test the waters and see what had Tobias in such as good mood. Everyone in the office was excited that his mood had lasted an entire week and were hopeful now that had extended to a second week.
"So are you going to clue me into where this new mood that has given us happy Tobias is coming from?" Amar asks over lunch on Monday afternoon.
"Well I met someone," Tobias says with a shrug of his shoulder as he tries to conceal his smile and play it off. Whenever he thought about Tris, he couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face. He had wondered when Amar was going to prod him for questions, outside of Will and Marlene, Amar was the person who knew him best.
"Was this the product of one of Will's blind dates?"
"You knew about those?"
"Marlene had enlisted George and I to help since Will was striking out with his choices."
Tobias shakes his head as he chuckles as he wipes his face. His sister was anything if determined. He really did owe her so much for helping to get him out of his grief.
"Well I'm happy to inform you that your services are no longer needed"
"Good to know" Amar chuckles in response.
"Amar, Thank you, for not giving up on me. I know I put you through hell while I was dealing with Lauren's death."
"No thanks, needed, I would hope that you would do the same for me. I'm just glad to see you smiling and laughing again"
Amar smiles as Tobias nods and they continue thier lunch speaking about two deals they had in the works that they hope to close on in the coming weeks. His heart was glad that Tobias was finally working through his grief. It had pained him to see Tobias as he spiraled through his depression and grief. Amar loved Tobias like a younger brother, they were family. He knew he needed time to grieve but he was happy his partner seemed more like his old self.
On Tuesday evening, Tris has dinner with Shauna, Zeke, Uriah, and Christina. The girls head upstairs to go through Shauna's closet while Uriah and Zeke are out on the patio manning the grill while Jalen and Justin run in their small backyard.
"Tris I can't believe you slapped him!" Christina laughs out doubled over in laughter as Tris recounts her date with Tobias.
"I didn't mean to, I panicked, I thought he was going to see my scar. I am shocked he actually wants to see me again." She groans and walks over to pick Jada up from where Christina is still laughing.
"So when are you going to tell him?" Shauna asks holding up a purple dress that Tris scrunches up her nose at.
"I don't know"
Tris sits on the bed with Jada in her lap while Shauna goes through her closet to see if there is something Tris could wear for her dinner date with Tobias the following weekend.
"This is just an indication that we need to go shopping" Shauna yells from her closet.
"I agree" Christina chimes in from where she's sitting no seemingly having her laughing fit under control but still wiping tears from her eyes from laughing so hard.
"You two know how much I despise shopping" Tris complains but in a baby cooing voice with a smile that makes Jada giggle as she balances on Tris's thighs and bouncing her legs. Tris holds her by her little hands as she jiggles her legs causing Jada to giggle even more.
"Yeah we know, we just don't care" Christina laughs.
"I thought you two would have calmed down now that this little princess is here," Tris says as she kisses Jada's cheeks causing her to squeal with laughter. Jada was a baby fashionista. Shauna and Christina always had her in the cutest outfits usually with a color-coordinated bow.
"Eh but you need our services" Shauna teases as she brings out two shopping bags and drops them next to Tris on the bed.
"What's this?" Tris asks curiously as she sets Jada in the middle of the bed to play with a toy. She pulls out a swimsuit from each bag and sighs. Shauna and Chris were hell-bent on her going to the beach with them even though she hated swimsuits because they exposed her transplant scar. Last summer she had still been recovering and didn't really get to spend much time at the beach with everyone until the end of summer.
"Don't get all huffy, go try it on first" Shauna says with an eye roll. Tris grabs them and goes into the bathroom. A few minutes later she comes out with a big grin.
"See, you need our services," Shauna says with a laugh. Tris loves the fit of the suit, it was burnt orange and tied at the neck with small frills along the side of the neckline and the neckline came all the way up to so it covered her scar perfectly. She goes back to try on the black suit that was high cut on the thigh with a high neckline that had a modern simple sexy design.
"Your ass looks great in that" Christina points out.
"Yeah, I guess you are right," Tris replies admiring how confident she felt as she looked in the mirror. She wasn't fully comfortable showing off so much skin as she never had because she was so sick most of her teenage years and early 20s. She preferred to be in her sweats but she was getting more and more confident. And Christina was right, her ass did look great in this suit. Everything that she had to navigate was new. She wasn't sure how to navigate this with Tobias but she was willing to try. Just maybe this summer was going to be more fun than she had anticipated.
On Wednesday, Tris sits in the back of her Lyft ride on the way to practice with the band for their Friday night performance. She smiles as she and Tobias continue their back and forth text conversation about the movies they preferred. He was very easy to talk to. For the past three nights, they had stayed up until Midnight talking about any and everything. Tris looks out the window at the houses in the neighborhood wondering what Tobias's house was like if it was warm like his personality.
Harrison and Max had been teaching Tris how to drive but she was still very shaky behind the wheel. She didn't think much of it, she liked taking the "L" or the bus. She could look out and watch so much of the world that she had missed while she was sick. Now that rideshare was popular she hadn't been in a rush to get her license even though it was on her bucket list. Her father and uncles had gotten her a bike for Christmas that she usually rode in the neighborhood around the restaurant. All her family lived within a few miles of each other so it was convenient when the weather was warm.
She grabs her bag and says a quick thanks the Lyft driver as she hops out at Ravi's house where the Sounds of Candor practiced. Ravi and his brother converted the basement into a place where the band could practice and store thier equipment.
Bobby and Tris had decided to add several new songs to the set for Friday night which Tris was eager to try out. They spend the next two hours rehearsing, only stopping for a quick pizza break. She and Bobby were doing a few duets this set. Tris smiled through the entire song she picked for Tobias.
"Tris you sound amazing, Friday is going to be nuts" Ravi comments as they straighten up after rehearsal.
"Yeah, when are you going to do a set with your guitar?" Mike asks. Mike was an exceptional guitar player. Tris could never get over how the guys complemented her on her acoustic guitar and singing skills.
"I swear ya'll are going to give me the biggest head gassing me up like this. All of you happen to be very talented as well" Tris chuckles as she grabs her jacket. She wasn't lying. Bobby had an amazing voice, he had great range. He had learned to play the piano by ear and he a great ability to blend their songs.
"We aren't gassing you up Tris, real talk" Bobby adds. Tris smiles and shakes her head as she pulls out her phone to schedule a ride home.
"Let me give you a ride home Tris, don't waste money on an Uber," Bobby says as they walk out the door.
"Are you sure it's not out of the way for you?"
"Not at all, I don't mind"
Tris hops into the passenger seat of Bobby's car and they chit chat about songs that they want to work on. They had just found out that they were going to be playing a few festivals over the summer and wanted to vary up the songs. Bobby pulls up to The Pit and shuts off the car as Tris grabs her bag. She wasn't expecting him to walk her to the door but it appeared that is what he had planned.
"You don't have to walk me, I'm good" she reassures him.
"Well I kind of wanted to ask you something else," he says hesitantly. "I was hoping that you would go out on a date with me"
Just great, all this time and now he asks me Tris thinks to herself. She takes a deep breath. Things were new with Tobias, they had only one date but she really liked him and wanted to see where things went with him. They were no were near anything serious but at the same time, she didn't feel right being in a situation where she was trying to juggle two men. She knew she didn't have any kind of spark with Bobby outside of them singing together. He was a nice guy but at this point, she just had to be honest with Bobby.
"I wish you would have asked me a few months ago. You've been a good friend Bobby, and I like you but I just started seeing someone. It's kind of new"
"Oh," he says quietly lowering his eyes "I guess I should have asked you sooner"
"I'm sorry, I really am, I hope this won't make things weird between us."
"No, we're good, this will be a lesson for me not to drag my feet around a beautiful girl again. But if things don't work out with this guy will you consider it then?"
Tris bites her lip and smiles. "For sure. Thanks for the ride, I'll see you Friday"
Bobby watches her walk through the door of the restaurant giving a final wave before entering. He sighs, his shoulders slumping as he cranks up the car. He hoped whoever this guy was he realized how lucky he was to have Tris's attention.
On Friday Tobias eagerly dresses to head to the Pit to listen to Sounds of Candor play. He and Tris had been texting constantly and a few phone calls throughout the week. She was thoughtful, texting him good morning each day and wishing him the best day. He really liked that he could joke with her, it made him ease his jitter about dating again. That even though he was still navigating getting back out there, she was the one he was supposed to take this journey with, wherever it ended for both of them. He found himself looking at the clock every hour on Friday afternoon as he worked on sketches for a new project. He couldn't wait to see Tris again, hear her beautiful voice again. He runs home to take Pharoah out, shower and change. He threw on a pair of jeans, a black polo, and his Jordan Retro 11s trying not to overthink his outfit. He makes his way to The Pit and greeted by Andrew as soon as he walks in.
"Tobias my boy, good to see you again" the older man greets him with a handshake.
"Great to see you too"
"Tris is out on the patio with the band, let me get Harrison to make you a drink"
Tobias waves to Harrison who is behind the bar filling a beer mug. He yells a warm greeting to Tobias who smiles as he makes his way out on the patio where he grabs a small table close to the stage. As soon as Tris sees him she stops messing with the equipment and makes her way over to him. He pulls her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her waist. Her hair was up in a curly bun but he could still smell the coconut oil that he was coming to associate with her distinct scent.
"I'm glad you came" she whispers in his ear.
"Me too" he could tell her face was flushed as he pulled back from their hug and his hands lingered on her waist.
Tris clears her throat trying to focus, she felt like she could get lost in his eyes. "So, my cousins are coming tonight. They are very curious about meeting you especially since my Daddy, uncles, and Auntie Hana met you a few weeks ago in the restaurant. My cousins are now all jealous. I will warn you that Zeke and Uriah are really overprotective. I have begged them not to embarrass me but I can't make any promises that they won't try to give you the whole big brother talk"
Tobias chuckles, Tris had kept him entertained during their phone conversations over the past week with stories about her family. He could tell how close they all were. He and Marlene had always been close but they had both wished for the large family gathering and closeness they witnessed from other families. He reached across the table taking her hand in his.
"I would expect nothing less. Your dad and your uncles were pretty hilarious the night I met them, so I sure everyone else will be great"
"I'm hoping it's not too much too soon," she says with her eyebrows furrowed.
He grabs her hand gently and pulls it to his lips placing a soft kiss on it. Tobias didn't know what was making him so bold but he couldn't he wanted to touch Tris, he loved the way he could see her chest heave and her cheeks flush when he did.
"Hey, I wanted to see you tonight, this is your family's place, they should be here, I don't mind really"
Tris lets out a sigh of relief but also trying to quell the warmness moving through her as Tobias touches her. She couldn't deny the literal connection she felt when he touched her. She smiles as Hana comes out with the drink Tobias ordered.
"Take care of him for me Auntie Hana" Tris calls as she heads back over to the band.
"Don't you worry sweetie" Hana yells back. "Alright what are you having for dinner Tobias?"
"Whatever you bring me, everything smells so good"
"Smart boy" Hana chides as she heads off to another table.
Hana ends up bring him an order of oxtails, fried plantains, and rice and peas. Tobias thought he was going to lick the plate clean the food was so good.
As the band starts to play Tobias can't take his eyes off of Tris. She looked so sexy and he loved that it was effortless. She had on a loose black tank top with a high neckline that stopped just above her belly button and a long flowing black skirt. She had an earthy vibe that he dug.
He is pulled out of his thoughts when he hears several voices near him.
"Hi, You must be Tobias, I'm Christina. Tris was right you are handsome"
"Chris, really. Don't mind her, she has no filter, I'm Shauna"
"Nice to me you both" Tobias says shaking both their hands. He can see what Tris means about her family being overwhelming. It was as though none of them had ever met a stranger.
"We have a table, our husbands, Zeke and Uriah are sitting over there, we don't want you sitting all alone," Shauna offers.
Not wanting to be rude, Tobias agrees and follows the two ladies to the larger table where he's introduced to Zeke and Uriah. Tobias hits it off with them immediately. Hana brings them another round of drinks.
"So you're the cat trying to push up on my cousin?" Uriah comments as he takes a swig of his beer.
"Stop it," Christina says swatting her arm across Uriah's.
"Owww, that hurt"
"No it's cool, I expect you to be protective of her, She told me you two are more her brothers than cousins. I get it, I'm the same way with my younger sister. I just want to get to know Tris, she's a cool chick" Tobias replies honestly.
"Ha, I like him already," Zeke says with a grin and hold his bottle up for him and Tobias to clink beer bottles and Tobias laughs heartily as they clink bottles.
Tris smiles when she looks over and sees Tobias laughing with Zeke and Uriah. It made her less anxious to see that he was getting along with her family.
"I had a request for a song this week so I hope this lives up to what this person wanted to hear," Tris says with a coy smile into the microphone. It didn't take her long to figure out what song she wanted to sing for Tobias. It was a vibe that made her feel butterflies in her stomach and smile just like she did when she was with him. Tobias takes out his phone to start recording and she shakes her head as she starts to sing Tell Me by Groove Theory.
Oh ooh ooh, yeah
I've been doing my own thing
Love has always had a way of having bad timing
But to my great surprise
Ever since I looked in your eyes
I had one question for you
Tell me if you want me to
Give you all my time
I want to make it good for you
'Cause you blow my mind
I promise boy that I'll be true
You're the perfect find
So tell me if you want me to
Yeah
If you thought I'd sleep on this
Boy, you're wrong 'cause all I dream about is
Our first kiss
And you're the first one to make me feel like this
And this is one opportunity that I can't resist, no no
Boy you want to know the deal
You are wondering if the words I'm saying are for real
'Cause you got more appeal
Than any man in this whole world
And baby I got to know how you feel
Tobias feels like he was a teenager again with the way Tris makes him feel. Her voice, the song she chose for him. It all just makes him feel like he was supposed to fit together with her. He had spent a lot of time since their date thinking about why that unnerved him at first. He didn't doubt that he loved Lauren and what they had was real, but things just felt so intense with Tris. He cheers loudly when she finishes, saving the recording on his phone.
By the end of the night, Uriah, Zeke, and Tobias make plans to hang out together at the shooting range with Zeke and the trio wanted to check out a Bulls game together in the Fall. He really liked Christina and Shauna too. Tobias hangs around with everyone else waiting for Tris and the band to pack up.
"What is everyone doing still hanging around?" Tris asks "Where are my niece and nephews?"
"We are kid-free tonight baby!" Uriah exclaims with a hand clap and a whoop as Christina rolls her eyes and laughs.
"Justin and Jalen had a sleepover with some friends from school and Rose offered to keep Jada for the night"
"So no excuses Tris we are all going out! " Uriah says almost bouncing in his seat.
"Is that cool with you?" Tris asks looking at Tobias who nods in response.
They end up at a lounge with couches and pool tables. Uriah, Zeke, and Tobias start up a game of pool while Shauna, Tris, and Christina talk over drinks.
"Damn Tris, that man is umm mmm Ummm" Shauna teases taking a sip of her drink as they watch the guys play pool.
"I know right, l feel like I have to stop myself from staring" Tris admits.
"He seems sweet" Shauna contends
"And he's completely into you, I could tell by the way he was looking at you all night, he could barely keep his eyes off you" Christina adds.
"Yeah the sex is going to be good too, I can tell" Shauna comments.
"Oh my God, I'm not doing this with you two. It's only been a week." Tris groans in embarrassment.
"It doesn't have to be tomorrow Tris, but you can't tell me you haven't thought about it" Shauna prods as Christina laughs.
"It's perfectly normal to think about Tris" Christina throws in hoping to ease her discomfort.
"Yeah, I know" Tris mumbles. She had thought about it, more than she would even admit that week. Her lack of experience was giving her anxiety though.
"Just take it slow, communicate about what you want but enjoy every piece of it," Christina says nudging her shoulder as though she already knew what she was thinking.
A few hours later Tobias drops Tris back off at The Pit. He walks her to the gate just like the week before.
"I had a great time again," he says quietly.
"I did too, thanks for putting up with my crazy family"
"They are amazing. Just like you" he adds. Tris bites her lip as she looks up at him. She didn't want to do anything to embarrass herself again so she was trying to remain as calm as possible.
"Can I kiss you good night?"
Tris nods in response and she melts into his embrace as he gently wraps his arms around her waist to pull her against him. This kiss is soft and slow. Tris lets out a little moan as their lips move together. Tris feels like she is in a complete daze when he finally pulls away.
"Wow" she whispers
"Wow is right" he replies moving his hands to her face. His thumb brushed across her lips and Tobias leans in to give her another kiss. Tris almost groans when he pulls away much quicker this time.
"See you Sunday?" he asks.
"Yes, Sunday" she replies and smiles again before heading in for the night.
When Tobias gets home after he takes Pharaoh out he flops on his bed and watches the video of Tris singing that evening again. Remembering the feel of her lips on his he watched the clip, he smiled. Tris Prior made him excited to face the day again.
Let me know what you think of this chapter! Check out my Pinterest Board: rdixon417 for inspiration pictures.
Fun Fact: I based Bobby off of Rotimi Akinosho. He actually had a small speaking role as one of the Dauntless in the war games scene before the Ferris wheel scene.
