Chapter 16

Heyo! Epilogue should be up on Wednesday or Friday, but until then, I present to you the last chapter of Free Rein.

-London, England-

Tris graduated KCL on May 2nd, 2019. The only thing on her mind at the time was that she only had about two and a half months until she saw Tobias again.

Even when she dated Kian, she couldn't wait to see Tobias. She and Kian had dated her freshman and sophomore years, but she felt like it wasn't clicking like it was with Tobias.

However, Tris had just opened her photography shop on May 23rd and that was where she was just then. She was about to close shop up; she just needed to finish editing a couple's wedding pictures. She was doing extremely well business-wise. And, if she had to be honest, she couldn't be happier. She'd made some friends too. Zeke, Will, Shauna, Marlene, and, ironically enough, she ran into Uriah and they become real friends. And, of course, Christina and her were still close because Chris had made it into KCL too.

So Tris saved the pictures she was editing when she heard the bell ring signaling someone had entered shop. Since she was in the back in her office, she yelled, "I'll be with you in one second!"

And, strangely enough, after four years of living in London, she developed a true english accent. She didn't realize it until she talked to Tori, a former bodyguard, and she told her she had an accent.

Tris went to the front of her shop where customers usually waited. There was only one man with a very large grin on his face, making her stop in her tracks.

"You named it 'Winklepickers'?" he asked in that absolutely endearing accent of his, even though Tris was used to it after years of England.

She grinned, squealed, and ran into him, hugging him. He wasn't expecting it, but he wasn't complaining.

"I can't believe you're here!" she exclaimed.

Tobias pulled back, still grinning. "I'll admit, I lost all hope when I heard your voice. Your accent… it totally threw me off. And I can't believe you named this place Winklepickers," he said with a chuckle.

"Of course I named it Winklepickers," she said, crossing her arms with a silly grin.

"You still say it cute," he said shyly, looking down.

Tris observed him for a few seconds. He was wearing a leather jacket over a plain dark gray shirt with jeans, plus a ball cap.

"And somehow you managed to get even taller," she said with a chuckled.

"And somehow you managed to get even shorter," he retorted with a smirk.

She just smiled even more.

"So—," they both said at the same time.

"You first," Tobias said.

"So, I was, uh, just about to close up shop. Do you, maybe, um, want to grab a bite to eat?" she asked nervously.

He grinned. "This is, assuming I don't have a girlfriend."

"Oh. Oh god, I'm sorry. I—"

"But your assumption was correct. I am very, very single and I'm really, really hoping you are too."

She smiled. "Yes. I am, actually."

He took a step closer to her. "Um, I know we can't start exactly where we left off, but I'd really like if I could—"

Tris neared him, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him, cutting him off. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. She soon pulled back though.

"—kiss you," he finished with a chuckle.

She grinned and stepped away. "That's the only one for a while. We get to catch up a little tonight, talk about what happened four years ago, and then… we'll see what happens from there," she said with a smirk. "I just really couldn't resist when you were standing that close."

"I'll have to remember to stand that close more often," he said, a silly smirk planted on his face.

There was a pause, then she asked, "Shall we be going?"

They walked toward the door, Tobias holding it open for her.

"Where to?" she asked.

"The Bloody Bucket," he said. "It's a pub, but that's okay, right?"

"I love that place!" she said excitedly. "How've I not seen you there? I go there at least three times a week. Once with my friends, twice after work cause it's right around the corner."

"How've we not run into each other?" he asked, chuckling.

"I don't know, but I wish it was sooner," she said, smiling up at him.

When they arrived they got a table for two.

"Tris, my girl!" a waiter shouted.

"Uriah!" she yelled back. "Come serve us, peasant!" she said, laughing.

He grinned, then his eyes got wide, surprised that Tobias was the one Tris was sitting with. "Looks like we're getting the gang back together, eh?" he chuckled.

Tobias smiled up at him since he was sitting down. "Always nice to see the man who stole my wallet," he laughed.

"Hey, man, I ain't about that life anymore."

"I'm jokin', I'm jokin'," Tobias assured him.

Tris smiled at him. "The usual. Stout. Curly fries for an appetizer. Then fish and chips."

"I'll have a stout and fish and chips," Tobias said.

"Typical Brits," Uriah said. "I'll have those right out."

Tris and Tobias just smiled at each other for a minute.

"So. What're you doing with your life?" Tris asked Tobias.

"I own a photography business, believe it or not."

"Please tell me you didn't name it 'Aluminum,'" Tris said, chuckling.

He smirked. "Even better. It's called 'Free Rein.'"

Her eyes widened and she grinned. "Either that's one big coincidence or—"

"I named it after you. Your code name as the First Daughter: Free Rein."

She didn't say anything, just smiled. That's one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done.

"Too creepy?" he asked nervously.

She shook her head no quickly. "No, no, of course not. That's actually one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done…"

"I'm sensing a 'but' coming on," he said.

"No buts."

Tris felt a buzz in her pocket and reached for her phone. It was a text from Uriah.

"I ship you guys so hard," it read.

"Dammit, Uriah. Where are you?"

"What'd he say?"

She chuckled. "Nothing."

"We shouldn't start this relationship off with lies," Tobias teased.

"Who says there's going to be a relationship?"

"Me," Tobias said with a shrug.

"Oh, really?" she asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Mhm."

When Uriah brought their beers and curly fries out to them, they thanked him. Uriah walked away, winking at Tris.

"So," she began, "how'd you find out about Winklepickers?"

"A little birdy told me," he said, munching on a fry.

"My arse. You—"

"Oh, my god, you've even begun saying arse instead of ass."

"Stop trying to change the subject, Tobias."

"And you still say my name like an angel."

"Four."

"Aw," he said. "It's not the same."

"Will you answer the question?"

"My mom is getting married and she was looking for photographers since her scheduled one cancelled. I told her stories about you and our trip—including how I said winklepickers and how you thought it was absolutely charming—and she happened to notice that there was a photography studio by the name of Winklepickers."

"Your mom is so kind. At least she was when I stayed there back then. But why doesn't she hire you?"

"She wants me to be a part of the wedding and not focus just on taking photos. And she's right. I'd be totally distracted."

"Well I'd be happy to do it. Free of charge."

"Wait, are you sure? It's this Saturday."

"Of course. I have nothing going on. And your mother is so kind. Plus I'm sure she has enough expenses. I'm glad to help out in any way I can."

Tobias smiled. "You're too sweet."

She smiled at him. "I know."

Even though Tris did have plans that Saturday, she cancelled them. It was only with Chris to go shopping, so it wasn't that big of a deal.

She showed up about a half hour early before anyone was there. Obviously the people helping set up were there too.

She was wearing a black dress with teal and white flowers. It was a short-sleeved A-line and dipped down in the back. It came a few inches above her knees. Turns out those were the colors of the wedding, so it worked out well. She simply curled her hair and applied little makeup that morning and was making her way to where the wedding would take place. Then she had that big camera around her neck, practically ruining the entire outfit, in her opinion.

"You look nice," someone said.

Tris turned around to see Tobias in nice tuxedo and his hands tucked into his pants' pockets.

"I could say the same to you, Mr. Tux," she said with a smirk.

"Still not used to the accent," he said, taking a step closer.

"Well you better, 'cause there's no way I'm ever leaving London. This place is fantastic."

"Yep."

She smiled. She noticed he was hardly paying attention because he was pretty busy checking her out.

"I also really love killing people. Especially with my car because it's such a clean. And my pet dog is my sidekick."

"Yeah," he replied.

She rolled her eyes and smacked his shoulder.

"What?" he said, his head snapping in her direction.

"I know what you're doing."

He cleared his throat, his face getting bright red, and looked away. "Um… So… Okay, I'm getting this over with. Do you want to go on another date?" he said quickly.

She smirked. "Who says the Bloody Bucket was a date?"

He smiled at her. "Me. I do."

"Okay then. Yes, I will go on another date with you, Tobias," she told him mock-formally.

He smiled, winked at her, and then walked away, grinning.

Towards the end of the wedding, Tris took a group picture of the bridesmaids and the bride, and the groomsmen and groom.

After the pictures were all complete, the DJ announced that the last song of the night was about to be played.

Tris was leaning against a pole that held the tent/dance floor fiddling with her camera and pictures. She looked up to see Tobias holding out his hand.

"May I have this dance?"

She smiled. "You may." She grabbed his outstretched hand and they walked onto the dance floor.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You should know that I haven't been able to keep my eyes of you all day," he told her looking her dead in the eye.

She blushed and looked to the left. "I don't think…," she began. She turned back to him and their faces were just an inch apart. "I don't really think I look that great," she said softly.

"You look beautiful," he repeated in a whisper. "Don't you ever say anything otherwise."

"I honestly don't think I—"

And he cut her off with a kiss. She, of course, kissed back, but she was surprised when he did it.

When they pulled back, she said with a chuckle, "Well while we're at it, I think you're pretty handsome too."