Page 21 of Their Little House Tristan
I was happy for them. I thought there might be a bit of jealousy but instead, there was nothing of the sort. Inside, I warmed with happiness for them.
Even more, I was excited for my own date with James. We had gotten to know each other with Tristan and I together but not one on one.
I’d been excited from the moment my eyes fluttered open that morning, and now that it was time to get dressed, I vibrated with it.
“Are you okay?” Tristan asked, sticking his head into the door opening after he knocked.
I stood there with a towel wrapped around my waist. One of my suits just wouldn’t do. Those were for the office, and this was no legal meeting. “Come in. I’m trying to decide what to wear.”
“Do you know where he’s taking you?” Tristan asked, already taking the liberty of pushing hangers aside, scanning my clothes.
“A restaurant. He said it was less casual but nothing formal. While that sounds nice, I have no idea what that means in terms of what I should wear.”
Eventually, we decided a button-down shirt and some casual pants would work. No tucking in the shirt. Sleeves rolled up at the elbow. A pair of Converses I hadn’t even taken out of the box yet. He stayed with me while I sat on the couch and waited for James to arrive. One thing about the daddy, he was always on time, early even. So five minutes before seven, when the doorbell rang, both Tristan and I stood up.
“He’s here. I’m going to go back to my room. Have so much fun.”
“No. Come to the door with me. We’re in this together.” I took Tristan’s hand in mine, and we walked to the door to greet James. When we opened it, the smile that creased his face was onesie-melting. He was dressed similar to me but ten times more handsome.
“I was wondering if I’d get to see both of you. Tristan, I hope you’re well.”
“I am. Thank you. You two have a good time.”
James placed a kiss on Tristan’s cheek and then reached for my hand. It felt weird leaving Tristan behind but, if this was all going to work, then each of us had to have time with James. We would be stronger together that way, better roots. “Shall we?”
I waved to Tristan, and James showed me to his car where he opened the passenger door for me. We drove to a place that I’d never seen before. The restaurant was tucked into a gathering of trees whose branches and leaves gave it an umbrella of concealment.
“Thank you for coming out with me tonight. I was eager to have you all to myself, I have to admit.” James was a romantic, and it showed.
“I’m excited about it too. This place looks cozy and private.”
He nodded. He’d turned off the car, and we sat there with a few streetlights the only glow lighting up his face. “Before we go in, I was hoping…”
“Hoping what?” I asked, eager to hear what he had to say. James didn’t mince words, so it was strange to hear him fumble to finish his sentence. The world around us became eerily quiet, or maybe it was just me tuning out everything but the sexy man in the driver’s seat.
“I was hoping to kiss you before we went in. I’ve missed you.”
Heat flooded my veins. He missed me. This perfect, handsome man missed me. “I’ve missed you too. And, of course. You can kiss me anytime you want to.”
“Oh, good. Come here.” We leaned over and I gasped as his lips met mine. They were soft and full. He placed his hand on the side of my neck and urged me closer to him. The kiss deepened and, before long, I wanted to leave the restaurant, and food was the last thing on my mind.
However, my stomach soon rumbled, interrupting that plan.
“Ah, I’m keeping you from eating. Let’s get you inside and fed.”
“Oh.” Still reeling from the kiss, I took the few moments to calm myself while he came to open my door from me. We shared another sweet kiss before walking hand in hand into the restaurant.
The place was as comforting as it looked from the outside. Wood tables were accented with soft amber lighting on each one. The leather chairs were comfortable and felt more like one you would sit in at home than a place to eat.
“Tell me about yourself, Bellamy.”
I shrugged. I didn’t like to talk about myself or my job. I’d once been told I was boastful about all of it, but that wasn’t true. I was simply telling the truth. “What do you want to know?”
James beamed. “Everything. Let’s start with how you’re a lawyer at such a young age.”
My cheeks instantly warmed. “I graduated high school at sixteen with some college credits already on record and completed my law degree in what they would call record time. The law firm I worked for offered me summer internships when I was in school and, before I graduated, I was offered a position. I’ve been with them ever since.”
James leaned back, arms crossed over his chest. “That’s impressive. That’s incredible. Your work days must be very stressful.”
