Chapter 39
Tyson
The only thing I can think about while my father’s CFO stands up there flicking through his presentation is how much I want this meeting to be over with.
Today will be the last day my father gets to push me into playing his stupid games.
I hadn’t told anyone of my plans until Rohan recently, not even Max.
But I had been saving the money I’ve been winning from Seeker to pay off the rest of Max’s tuition for his last year in university, and I plan to give him the rest to live off of.
I’ll finally be free.
My dad’s eyes slide over to me as the meeting wraps up and everyone stands to shake hands and speak shortly about whatever the fuck they just went over.
Not that I was listening at all. Because it won’t matter after today.
I’m not even sure why I entertained it this long.
Maybe I wanted to fuck with my dad like he’s been fucking with me.
Everyone waits, allowing my father and me to leave the meeting first. I follow him silently back to his office, the door clicking softly behind us.
I don’t feel as nervous as I thought I might as I watch him take his usual seat.
I walk over to his desk and throw the invoices from Max’s university down in front of him. His brow arches.
“What’s this?”
“I’m not going to take over our family business. I’ve paid the rest of Max’s tuition and transferred enough money into his account for him to be okay until he graduates.”
My father is quiet, the only sound being the clock on the wall and our soft breathing. He leans back in the chair, a smirk forming across his face slowly.
“I expect nothing less from my son.”
“I’m glad this pleases you, but I’m serious.”
“I know you are,” he chuckles.
“Stubborn, just like your mother,” he says, the mention of her feeling like a slap.
“Nice of you to acknowledge her.”
“I don’t know why you assume I don’t think of her, Tyson.”
“Do you?”
The pause between us stings.
“I do.”
I swallow and try to bite back the tears I haven’t allowed to fall since her funeral. Holding my father’s gaze, I wish I could see that he was sincere, but his exterior is so cold, so stoic. I want to believe he hasn’t forgotten her, forgotten how we used to be a family.
“You’re going to do well in business, Tyson.”
“Thanks,” I mutter. “I’m going now.”
I head toward the door, my shaking hand hovers over the knob. “Have a good night, Dad.”
“You too, Tyson.”
The weight of the last almost ten years falls away from my body, hearing him just before the door closes behind me.
* * *
“How’d it go?” Rohan says, his brows pinched.
He’s been worrying over the meeting with my dad more than I have.
I found him snacking on three bags of chips, something he does when he’s anxious.
I’m sure he was in the lobby pacing the entire time before that.
Rohan wraps his arms around my waist, his curls tickling my chin.
He’s so adorable.
“As good as it’ll go with my dad,” I chuckle.
“I guess that’s good then. You don’t have to work for the company?” he asks, looking up at me.
“I guess not. He didn’t really have much pushback.” I shrug. “He probably was impressed I had the balls to do that.”
“You’ve got a really crazy family, you know that?” Rohan chuckles.
“Oh, I know.”
“Speaking of family, let’s get to your parents. The fruit’s in the car, right?”
“Yes, yes, you literally carried it with you this morning.”
We make it back to my car, and I double-check that the box of fruit is really there, though I know it is.
This meeting with Rohan’s family has me more nervous than telling my dad to fuck off.
I’ve only met one of my ex’s parents, and does that really count when you’re teenagers?
This feels like it actually means something.
“Hey, Ty, I’m really proud of you,” Rohan says when I get in the driver’s seat, wrapping the seatbelt around my body and clicking into place.
“For what?”
“Standing up for yourself, and going after what you want. You could’ve easily lived comfortably … you know, with your dad.”
“Thanks, kitten,” I smile. “I always go after what I want, that’s how I got you.”
“I don’t think that’s what happened, but sure.”
“So, what happened?”
“You lied about not knowing who I was on a game like a weirdo stalker.”
“You’re still on that theory?”
“What do you mean? You admitted it yourself!”
“Rohan, I said I didn’t know until we were talking over voice chat.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t believe you.”
“It doesn’t matter, cause look where you are now.”
He huffs and turns his body fully away from me to stare out the window in silence.
He’ll be pissy for a little while before needing to be literally on top of me again.
Rohan tries to hide it, but he loves physical contact, and I find it endearing.
He’s quiet for a short duration of the drive before I feel his hand land on my thigh, his palm open toward me.
I answer by threading our fingers, a smile spreading across his face as the wind softly tousles his golden hair.
* * *
“You must be, Tyson!” Rohan’s sister is standing on their porch waving at me as I pull the fruit from the backseat.
“Ah, yes, hello.” I swallow. I can’t believe my stomach is flipping like this over meeting my boyfriend’s family.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Daisy!” she says, trying to grab the box from me. “No, it’s fine, it’s kind of heavy,” I chuckle.
“Oh, such a gentleman.”
“Daisy, get the fuck out of the way.”
“Yeah, unlike this one. What the hell do you see in him?” She rolls her eyes, stepping aside to let us both in.
“He’s sweet sometimes, believe it or not.”
“I don’t believe it,” she laughs.
Rohan takes the box away, placing it on the dining room table. His mother comes out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. And they really do look so much alike. She’s beautiful, her hair just as golden as Rohan’s but longer.
“You must be Tyson. How are you? Sit. It’s almost time to eat.” She smiles brightly, “You’re tall.”
I laugh because that’s something my mom would’ve said.
“I’m great, thank you for having me, Mrs. Chandra.”
“Of course. Rohan’s dad is still working, so I don’t know if he’ll be back in time, but make yourself at home.”
“Thank you.”
Rohan and his mom huddle together. They think I can’t hear them, but they’re still close enough to clearly make out. “He’s really handsome, Rohan. Don’t be too mean to this one.”
He doesn’t reply, just rolls his eyes. The whole thing is so warm that it makes me laugh.
Later I meet his older sister Nalina, she doesn’t talk as much as Daisy, who spent the entire dinner telling us about her semester and how much she hates school.
I’ve never felt so at peace anywhere, though.
Seeing Rohan fight with both of them over the last piece of bread his mother apparently makes from scratch.
Which Rohan’s mom ends up giving to me in the end.
“I suppose the guest should have it,” Nalina laughs.
“Thank you, it’s really good.”
“Glad you like it!” Mrs. Chandra smiles.
By the end of the night, we’ve migrated to the living room and started up some movies. Halfway through the second one, I’m yawning. Rohan rubs my thigh, looking up at me from where he’s practically curled up in my lap.
“Do you wanna just stay over? We can sleep in my room,” he whispers.
“Yeah, it’s been a long day.”
“Okay.”
“Mom, we’re gonna head to bed.”
“Okay, good night you two. Let me know if you need anything, okay?”
“Yep,” Rohan says, stepping over Daisy who fell asleep on the rug. I follow him up the stairs and down the hall to his room.
It smells just like him in here, every bit of his essence covers the entire space. Trophies lined in a glass case, purple paint on the walls again here, and of course, a nice PC setup.
“I have one here too, in case I need to play, not as good as the one at my apartment though.”
“I’m sure.”
We strip and get into his tiny twin bed where I take up most of the space, not that he probably minds since it’s just another excuse for him to be on top of me.
“Now, it’s my turn to be nervous.”
“Why?”
“My first day, stupid.”
“Oh, you’ll be fine, kitten. Trust me. You’ll fit right in.”
“If you say so. I just don’t want to mess this up.”
“You won’t,” I reassure him, pressing a kiss to his lips softly. “And besides, I’ll be right there when you need me.”
“When? I won’t need your help,” he snorts.
“Ah, just like old times,” I laugh, giving him more kisses on his neck until he’s squirming and giggling.
I’ll never get sick of the sound of it.
The sound of him being happy.