BASH
Something is off.
After the party, everyone seems can't stop talking about the game. I guess they like Lizzy's idea, and what they like most is the grand prize Lizzy gave. A One thousand dollar gift certificate Luke found.
Trinity got only one pumpkin, and the prize is not bad, but she's been silent, and I don't think that's the reason why she's gloomy tonight.
"I can't believe Lizzy added a box of condoms as a prize," Pyke scoffs.
"You've got a month's supply, I guess," Dean teases.
"Right, man." He laughs, giving Dean a high-five.
"Lucky Luke," I announce. Luke grins and looks satisfied.
"I hate my best friend right now. She should've told me where she placed the lucky pumpkin." Saph pouts.
"That would be unfair, don't you think?" Xandry snorts that end up with Saph slapping her brother's thigh.
He jerks, scowling. "Whoa! Easy there, twinnie. You might hit the wrong area."
"I don't think I wouldn't miss the hit if I wanted to, dear twin. I know exactly where your crotch is, and it's between your thighs," she replies, rolling her eyes.
"Stop talking about crotches. What do you have, K?" Ryker asks, sitting between Luke's thighs.
"Huh?" she asks, looking jarred like she's not even here with us.
"I was asking, what do you have?" Ryker rephrases.
She looks up at me from where she's sitting down on the carpet in the living room. "Oh, this." She shows us a keychain in her hand.
"Oh, wow. It's beautiful. Can I have that?" Kyland asks. My brows furrow. There is a part of me that still wants to punch him.
"No way. I found it, and it's almost taken away from me." She pulls her hand away with a keychain of a fox head.
Fox? A shiver almost runs down my spine. A coincidence? I shake off that idea.
"A fox?" I ask her.
"Yup."
"Can I see it, Tri?"
She hands it to me immediately. It's a fox head with red eyes made of like metal or maybe silver and a little heavier than how it looks.
"Beautiful, baby."
She smiles timidly.
"Why do you want the fox, Kyland?" I ask sternly.
"Calm down, man. There is this legend about the fox," he starts, but it is cut short by Pyke's groan.
"You just got a tattoo of a fox. Now you want a keychain? It's just a keychain, and you can buy it even in the street vendor," Pyke says to his bartender.
"Enough of that fox talks," My sister joins us. "I didn't just buy that from the street vendor, idiot." She passes by Pyke hitting him in the head.
"Ouch. That's not funny," Pyke rubs the area where my sister hit him.
Everyone laughs and looks at Dean, but Dean just shrugs off.
"You just insulted my prize, you idiot." Trinity glares at him.
"I'd love to get a tattoo, Kyland. Can you do it for me?"
I freeze with what I just heard coming from Trinity.
"Sure, come to my shop," he announces merrily.
"Not a fucking chance," I retort. Pairs of eyes are on me.
"Why not?" Trinity asks, offended.
"You're not getting another tattoo, Trinity," I say a little harshly.
"And why not?" She glares at me.
"Because I said so, Kiara Trinity."
She looks shocked and hurt. I just called her by her full name, and I couldn't even remember when was the last time I called her that.
"It's her choice, man. That's her decisions and her body," Kyland speaks.
"Fuck off, Kyland. And I'm not done with you yet." I glare at him.
"What's with that? You said that to me before. What did I do to you? I can't remember I did something against you, Hughes."
Everyone goes silent.
"Bash found out that you kissed K three years ago, and he promised to make you pay for it," Saph answers flatly.
Kyland laughs-a belly laughs and stops when I stand up, and Trinity manages to hold my hand before I can do something stupid.
"You two stop. That was a long time ago. You're both so childish," Trinity chides us.
"Childish?" Kyland and I ask in unison. I slump my back to the couch.
"Yeah. Whatever happened in the past, it's in the past." Xandry rolls his eyes.
I shoot daggers at him. I can't believe he just said that. He's always been supporting me, but right now, he just turned his back on me. He raises his hands to surrender when I am about to say something.
"I think that's enough. Xandry is right, Bash. You have Kiara now, and what's the point of keeping grudges? That does not matter anymore. What matters is the present and the future," Lizzy says.
"I better go," Trinity stands up.
"Tri, where are you going?" I ask quickly, confused.
"Home, duh."
"Yeah. Let's call it a night. It's already morning, actually," Dean agrees.
I manage to convince Trinity to come with me tonight, and I'm dying to ask why she seems to be acting weird after the game. Something is bothering her, and I can't let this night go without knowing who kicked her dog.
"What's going on in that head of yours, Tri?"
She stiffens in my arms, giving me her back. "Nothing. I'm just tired, and I need some sleep,"
"Just right after the game, baby. Something is bothering you."
She blows a breath. "Can we talk about this in the morning?"
"Is it because of what Lizzy asked about in my office?" That's the only thing I can think of that can make her think twice about our relationship.
I'm just taking baby steps, but I'm dying to ask her to move in with me. I want her to be with me not just for months but for years, and hopefully, we can get married and build our family.
I love Trinity so much, and I will do everything to be with her. If she wants to get married early, it would be great. Although we haven't talked about it, of course, I'm already thinking about our future together.
"Baby, if-"
"I just said I want to get some sleep." She groans.
"I'm sorry."
She doesn't reply.
"I'm sorry for calling you earlier," I say, hugging her tighter.
"It's okay. That's my name anyway."
"You've been cold to me, Trinity."
"You're annoying."
"I know."
"Night, Bash." She giggles. Did she just do that?
"Night, Trinity." I close my eyes after kissing her head.
***
I wake up with an empty bed. Trinity woke up early, and that's another weird. I used to wake up earlier than her since she doesn't go to a gym or for a run.
I walk down to the kitchen, expecting to hear a greeting from Trinity, but she's not around. I feel sudden dismay.
"Trinity?" Nobody answers until I find a note on top of the kitchen island.
Bash,
I'll be right back. I love you.
Trinity
"Seriously, Tri. Can't you wait until I wake up?" I talk to myself. I'm childish sometimes, but it's boring without Trinity to annoy.
If she tries to escape talking with me about what we left last night, then she's wrong. I might let that go today but not later and tomorrow and after tomorrow.
My phone vibrates, and I know it's from Dad asking me to play tennis with him, and I suck at that game. That's why I'm not particularly eager to come along with him.
A message from an unknown number pops up on my phone screen. I feel a sudden twist in my belly, which doesn't look good.
Thanks, Hughes. I owe you my life.
Who the hell is this?
I dial Edmund. "Bash, what can I do for you, man?"
"Prepare the car. We're going somewhere."
"Sure. Anything else?"
"Did you happen to notice Trinity left the penthouse?" I ask with hesitation. He might think I'm a possessive asshole and that I won't allow Trinity to be with her friends.
"Yep. She left not less than two hours ago. Do you want me to follow her?"
"Nah. Thanks."
He doesn't have to because I already did. It doesn't mean that I don't trust Trinity. After what happened to me last week, I think it is better to be cautious than sorry.
I walk to my office quickly. My eyes widen when I notice my office door is unlocked. I never came here last night and never forgot to close the door. Ever.
Panic grows in the pit of my stomach. I push the door wider, which causes it to slam against the wall.
I scan my office, and it looks like nothing is moved except the frame of the sketch done by Trinity.
That's not how I left yesterday. I move closer and pull the frame away from where my safe is placed.
"Fuck." My blood boils.
My safe is open, but everything is in the right places except for the journal. It's gone. I slam the door stronger.
I can't fucking believe she knows about it. How? Is that what's been bothering her?
How could she betray my trust? What does she want from it?
I press the answer button when my phone vibrates.
"I want both of you. Now!"