It was comfort.
It was finding colors in a world of grey.
“Chess.”
Her back straightened. “I was better on the inside. Now, we don’t have anyone.”
“Chess,” I repeated.
I stepped closer, so I was inches away. Her breathing was harsh and ragged as she stared up at me. She was trying so hard to be the tough one, just like she’d been at the farm. Always looking out for the younger kids, taking the blame for shit that went wrong. “No more, Francesca.” I used her full name because I was making it clear, she didn’t need to do this anymore.
“Damn it, Tristan, what about the farm? Kai doesn’t know anything yet and he killed Mother and the board will—”
“No!”
She stiffened and I raised my brows, daring her to continue with that line of thought. “You’re not being the sacrificial lamb, Chess. Not anymore. Now I have something to say about it.”
“But—”
I stepped in to her and cupped her chin. “No.” She shut her mouth. “We’ll find them. But not with you at risk. That’s done.”
“If the kids are killed because of this—”
“If they killed you because of this, how do you think that would’ve gone down with me? For once, stop thinking about the farm and think about yourself.”
“I can’t,” she whispered.
Fuck. “I know, baby.” She couldn’t because she was afraid if she did, she’d fall apart.
A tear slipped down her cheek and contradicted her tense posture. “Fuck, Chess.” I went to pull her in to me when she tried to slip away. I caught her forearm then gently pushed her against the side of Kai’s car.
She looked at me, strands of hair lying across her face, her eyes blazing with determination. I closed my eyes as the wave of relief hit me full force.
“Chess,” I whispered. “God, Chess. I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again.”
We’d been connected by circumstance, me brought into Vault when I was eight, torn away from my family, scared and alone. And Chess… she’d taught me how to survive the farm. She’d been seven years old and I’d been a terrified eight-year-old screaming and crying for his mom, dad and sister.
“It’s time to end this.”
She looked at her feet and said quietly, “How can we end it, Tristan? How can it ever end?”
I slid my palms over her shoulders, down her arms, gently unfolded them then entwined our fingers. Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath. “Because I need it to. Because I need you back and I’ll do anything to have you.”
Her breath hitched just before my mouth came down on hers. I’d never kissed her before, yet it was like finding home. It was never a place; home was a feeling. It was someone you held in your arms.
And for me, it was Chess.
Her quivering lips were cold, but within seconds, they were heated by my own as I kissed her. I felt the moment she gave in to me when her mouth opened and allowed me entrance as I tasted the sweetness of her. It was hard and unyielding then soft and gentle. It was discovery and a yearning for more.
I’d always loved her, but the physical hadn’t been there for either of us. Maybe we’d been too young. Maybe because of the situation we’d been in.
But when the fish truck pulled away and my eyes locked on her, I knew. She’d been my best friend for seven years and it was like we hadn’t been separated at all.
I pulled back and cupped her now flushed cheek, my thumb stroking back and forth over the smooth skin. “You smell like fish, baby.”
She made a half-huff and leaned in to me again and it was the best feeling ever. Chess giving in to me. “I missed you,” she whispered into my shirt.
Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out the necklace I’d made for her when I was twelve. It took me months to find the right stones and I stole fishing wire from the storage room. The hard part was finding a cut stone sharp enough to carve with.
She laid it in the palm of her hand and I glanced down at it. I’d carved one stone into a chess piece, a rook, because Chess was so protective of everyone. The other was a heart. I’d told her no matter what happened to us, my heart would always be inside her beating.
“You were with me, Tristan. It’s what kept me strong.”
I ran my finger over it. She kept it. Somehow she managed to keep it all these years.
Kai’s voice was abrupt and cold as he said, “We miss this flight, London is dead. You decide what I’ll do if that happens.” He folded in the driver’s seat and slammed the door.
I knew exactly what he’d do because I’d do the same thing.
“Who is London?” she asked.
I curled her hand around the necklace. “Kai’s girl.”
“My brother has a girl?” The corner of her lip turned up and her eyes sparked. “Is she willingly his girl? Because I can’t see her being with my brother any other way.”
I kissed her forehead. “Fuck, I love you, Chess.”
Toronto