Tristan’s POV
Cris had ordered Pizza, and now she was setting up the table. I was eagerly waiting for Elona to come by. I didn’t see her for the entire day. Eric entered the kitchen, and he pulled out a chair as Cris opened the pizza boxes. There was a knock on the door and I knew who that would be.
“I will get it,” Cris said and hurried to the front door as I grabbed a plate.
“How are you feeling?” I asked Eric as he reached for a plate too. I took a slice of pizza and placed it on my plate.
“I can’t complain. But grateful to be here,” he replied, also placing a slice of Pizza on his plate.
“Just let me know if you need anything,” I gave him a small smile.
“Hey,” there was that sweet voice that I had been longing to hear. Elona rounded the table and sat on one end at the table, and she gave me the most gorgeous smile as she adjusted the chair.
“How was your day? Anything interesting happen at school today?” I asked her, she moved her hair behind her ear with a blush on her cheeks.
“It was okay, the same old.” she looked at Eric and her brows furrowed. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he forced a smile, but she could clearly see how he looked. Her gaze moved to the pizza box instead, and she reached out for one slice and placed it on her plate.
“Here are your fluids,” Cris stated as she placed a glass of juice beside my plate, and she did the same for Elona, Eric, and herself.
“Any word about Dakota Agency?” I asked Elona. She paused her chewing. She nodded as Cris took a seat at the other end. The girls were basically sitting on either side of me and Eric as he sat across from me.
“Yeah, I have to go for another photo shoot in a few days’ time.” she took a bite of the slice of Pizza.
“I will see if I can accompany you on that day. My work schedule might just clash with it, but I’m sure that Cris will take good care of you when you are there, right Cris?” I asked as I looked at my daughter.
“I will be there every step of the way. I just don’t like him… what’s his name? Luca?” she looked at Elona.
“Yeah,” I heard Elona’s soft reply.
“He is a creeper and I will make sure that he doesn’t touch you the way that he did again. It must be very uncomfortable, but it is your dream career, and we won’t always be around to protect you unless you have bodyguards,” Cris took a bite of her pizza. Now, that wasn’t a bad idea. Why didn’t I think about that?
“How about you, Eric?” I asked as I looked at him. He swallowed what he chewed.
“I will pursue photography. I did send my portfolio to Dakota Agency but the waiting period is a bit long and I sent my portfolio to another agency. I will be looking at more.” he responded.
“I will see what I can do. I want all three of you to achieve your dreams, whether it is something that I like or not. I can’t stop you from going after your dreams, especially if it is something that you are passionate about. I would hate it if you were doing something that you hate and then being miserable at your job for your entire life. But I am also looking out for all of you,” I said as I made eye contact with all of them. Elona is the one who caught my eye, as my gaze lingered on her the most.
“That means a lot to us, Dad,” I looked at my daughter who was smiling, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes. Eric was quiet and this must have been a bad idea.
We all finished our meal and then Cris and Eric did the dishes. “I better get home,” Elona stood up and I did too.
“I will walk you home,” I said.
“No, it’s okay. Just walk me out?”
“Okay,” I responded as I pushed the chair back in. “I will walk Elona out,” I said to Cris.
They all said their goodbyes and Elona followed after me as I opened the front door. We stepped outside, the cool breeze hit my skin, the stars were twinkling, and someday I hope to lie in the open air with Elona and enjoy the view of the night sky. Perhaps in the camp that is coming up we can do that.
“Beautiful night, isn’t it?” she said as she stood beside me.
“Yeah, you are more beautiful,” I looked over at her, and then her gaze found mine. She was so gorgeous, my cock was straining against my pants. I reached out to her and moved her hair behind her ear, moving closer to her. I cupped her face as I studied her lips. They were parted, and I wanted to bite her bottom lip. “Gosh, you’re so fucking beautiful.” I leaned in and crashed my lips against hers. Her hands were holding onto my arms.
It was only me and Elona in this moment, no one else, and just like that, she pulled away. “We can’t do this here,” she whispered. “We need to be safe if we want to be together. I will text you,” she smiled, and then she hurried down the driveway. I watched as she disappeared from view.
I needed to control myself around her, but it just got difficult each time I tried to, the front door was still wide open when I entered. Eric and Cris were in the kitchen as I heard them talk, and I closed the door behind me. I walked down the hallway to my bedroom, and then I took a shower, washing away the troubles of the day.
After the shower, I got into bed, leaving Eric and Cris to do whatever they wanted, but I wanted to be in this safe haven of my bedroom where I once sobbed the ugliest of cries when my wife had passed away. A lump formed in my throat, I had only my boxer briefs on and as I lay on my back staring at the ceiling, the tears started to run down my face and I closed my eyes.
Rain poured all over me, drenching me as I ran to the car where my wife was trapped. The paramedics were on their way and I went to her side, but she was losing consciousness. I reached out to her, grabbing her hand as I panicked within, but still tried to keep myself strong for her. The blood was endless, and I knew that it was the baby that we were losing.
My heart was breaking in that moment “Trist… the… the… baby… S-save it,” she said softly.
“No, both of you will be okay. You will both make it,” I tried to reassure us both.
“Please… take care… of… of Cris,” she said as she lost complete consciousness.
“Estelle? Please… stay with me! Estelle!” tears mixed with rain blurred my vision as I tried to wake her up, arms wrapped around my waist from behind, and then I was being pulled away. “No! Let me stay with them! Let me go! Save them! Please.”
I found myself in a fetal position, sobbing enough for Cris and Eric not to hear me. I felt as if the walls I had built up had shattered all around me because the situation with Eric had made me think about that accident. I wanted to scream but I couldn’t. It felt like I wanted to rip out all these emotions of the pain that I felt in this moment, but there was nothing to rip out. It felt like I was reliving that moment right as I sobbed the way I used to after that horrible night.