“Hello?”
“Ty wants to know why you haven’t come upstairs yet.”
“What?” Ty has had my location since we were drafted together. I didn’t have any family local except for Cassie and her family was still upstate. He claimed he wanted my location for safety reasons.
“We figured you wouldn’t stop to eat on the way home and it’s Friday, it’s Mexican night. Sadie is picking up the food right now and Ty is making what he calls his ‘famous Tyson Typhoon’ whatever that is.”
I’m dumbfounded at how all this came together without my knowledge at my apartment. My guess is that Ty let everyone in, but I don’t know if he’s behind the orchestration of the event or not. Words fail me as I hear Ellie’s footsteps echo in the hallway and the ding of the elevator.
“I’m starting to think this was a bad idea.” She continues “I should have figured you would want some silence to decompress but neither Ty or I wanted you alone tonight and Sadie suggested we bring our Friday night tradition to you.”
“How did you get in contact with Ty?” I interrupt.
“Oh, you know, I slid into his DMs, but I was much more eloquent with his message.” I hear the smile in her voice before I see the smile on her face as she approaches my truck. “I’m going to hang up now.”
Hanging up, I get out of my truck and sweep her into my arms. Taking a shaky breath, the act of just holding her grounds me. “Thank you.” I murmur as I kiss her temple. “I’m glad you’re all here, I’m emotionally exhausted but tacos and my favorite people sound amazing.” Ellie’s grip on me doesn’t lessen as we stand in the garage until I’m ready to go up.
We end up meeting Sadie in the entryway. She’s dropping off a meal to Phil as we enter. The three of us carry up enough Mexican food to feed a small army.
There are three overnight bags in my living room as well as a bed of blankets and cushions set up. Puzzled, I look at Ty. “Ellie and Sadie insisted we all ‘couch nest’ tonight. I learned very quickly you donot win against both of them.” He wraps me in a hug and pats my back. “How are you doin’? I know Frank was important to you.”
I answer him honestly. “I’ve made a lot of peace today.”
He smiles knowingly at that. “Go get changed, you can’t eat Mexican in a designer suit. I mean you can but it’s not the same.”
I come out to Sadie, Ellie and Ty all debating theories on one of the books they’ve all read. It’s one of their romantasy series where they’ve been waiting for years for the sixth one and they’re debating who is going to end up with who. “I feel incredibly left out.” I joke and grab a plate of food and join them in the couch nest.
Tyson turns to me, his eyes blazing. “I have been telling you for years that you need to read these books.”
I try really hard not to laugh because he is passionate about his romance novels. But the way he told me off just now reminded me so much of my niece and nephew when I say something wrong about their shows.
“We’ll start him off with some pirate romances.” Ellie winks. “That can be his gateway book.” I feel my ears burn at that, truth be told I started reading some of the pirate titles I found on her shelf. I just wasn’t ready to come clean about that yet.
Sadie stands up and nearly falls into Tyson, “Sorry! These cushions are softer than what I’m used to. I’m going to get more Tyson Typhoon, does anyone want any?”
All three of us hold up our glasses. Sadie decides to just bring the pitcher.
We spend the rest of the night like that. In the couch nest, eating Mexican food and drinking Tyson Typhoons while we watch various rom coms and comedies that the girls insist we watch.
Today might have been one of the worst I’ve experienced, but tonight? This night is one of the absolute best.
Chapter 17
Elle
Iwake up to several limbs tangled up with mine. We all fell asleep in the couch nest. Everything went according to plan. We got Archer fed and surrounded by love and support when he got home. What was unexpected however was how well Sadie and Tyson got along. I make a mental note to keep an eye out to see where that goes. Is it cliché I hope that they end up together? Like a perfectly happily ever after where the best friends marry best friends and they take family vacations every year, and have holidays together and raise their families together like in my books? Who the hell am I kidding, I want exactly that. Call me sappy, I don’t care. Sadie’s happiness is top priority, she’s my best friend and I want the world for her.
I survey the room and take in the scene around me. The dim morning light filters through the living room as I look over to see Tyson sprawled out his large frame engulfing half the nest. His braids are still perfect and his shirt riding up to expose his stomach muscles. It’s not fair to the rest of the human population how attractive he and Archer are. Sadie has her head on my pillow, her blonde hair a tangled halo around her and her feet are entangled with Ty’s. Archer’s heavy arm is across my midsection as he spoons me, and I decide this might be one of my favorite places in the world.
Archer and Ty have a bond that is equal to mine and Sadie’s. The love and loyalty the two of them have for each other was evident last night. The reporters often joke about their bromance but it’s real and it’s pure. I smile knowing that no matter what happens with Archer and I that he will always have Tyson. I close my eyes, settle back into the nest and will my mind to still so I can have a few extra hours of sleep.
Chapter 18
Elle
“That was a hard-fought game. The Spartans nearly had you, what do you attribute tonight’s victory to?” a reporter asks at the post-game conference. It was an away game, so the boys left fairly early on Saturday. Sadie and I cleaned up our mess from Friday before heading home. She’s now over at my apartment, snuggling my cat, watching the post-game press conference with me. We managed to find a site where we can stream it to the tv. Archer answers the question with poise and credits the whole team but puts emphasis on the defense for keeping the Spartans from scoring in the final half of the fourth.
A greasy looking man, with salt and pepper hair holds up his microphone to Archer and I don’t know if I’m imagining it or not, but Archer’s face seems to grow colder as he makes eye contact with this reporter. “Archer, you were seen with your ex-fiancée and her family this past Friday. Are you burying the hatchet? Are wedding bells back on the horizon?”
