His Queen

Quality Time

Tyrone didn’t take her to school. She’d told him she was so caught up it was ridiculous and she didn’t have tests or anything important.  

So, she told him to take her anywhere, so they ended up in the park. Eating ice cream as they fed squirrels peanuts, Tyrone asked, “How’s everything at home? Are they being mean to you?” Cleo chuckled a little, “We’re all mean to each other, that I can handle. It’s this newness that seems to be rocking the house though.”  

Throwing more nuts out of his hand, Tyrone watched the squirrels and friends come and grub. As he dusted his hands he wondered, “Newness?”  

Shrugging, Cleo licked her chocolate cone before admitting, “Before it was them, the two light brights in the house running over me. Even before my dad died, it was like they got everything and I got the bare minimum. And they loved it, they loved it because it made them feel better than me.”  

Shaking her head, Cleo confessed, “But now, since you came things are not better, but they're honest. It’s like you peeled the cover back and now we see each other for the truth.”  

Which worried him, so Tyrone asked, “And the truth is?”  

Cleo laughed a little, “That those two are no better or worse than me. Peyton’s a f*****g addict losing her s**t as she goes through withdrawal. And Hailey...well I think she’s jealous. Or better yet I know she is.”  

Tyrone rolled his eyes, “Of course she is, considering she came in flirting. She’s only jealous of the price tags though, she’s not thinking about me as a person.”  

Cleo agreed to that, she knew Hailey probably didn’t even care Tyrone was a person. All she wanted was a way to get under Cleo’s skin. “That, and I think this is the first time a guy has preferred me to her.”  

Looking at her so hard he got whiplash, Tyrone grunted, “You're joking right?” Cleo shook her head, “Nope, she is currently sleeping with my ex-boyfriend. She likes to go for things that are mine mostly. And they let her.”  

Tyrone instantly wanted to find any dumb ass preferring Hailey to Cleo. That way he could either kick their ass or thank them. Because now she was single, and he had her all to himself. And while Tyrone liked a good brawl, he was more interested in making Cleo happy.  

“Well they’re idiots who didn’t see what they had. Did you have a few boyfriends?” Cleo chuckled shaking her head, “Nah, it was more like...I had crushes and a boyfriend. Just one and when she saw who I liked or what I had on the hook, she’d snatch it.”  

Shrugging, Cleo admitted, “I mean I never really cared. I didn’t like them to the point of anything and I never loved Jordan. I was more annoyed than anything, because she kind of ruined Middle and High school for me.”  

Listening intently, Jordan wondered, “How?”  

The list went on for a while, “Rumors, bullying, having other people bullying me, turning friends against me, becoming besties with said friends. Excluding me on purpose even though we lived in the same house. She ruined prom last year, by stealing my date, in the middle of the dance because she got bored with hers.”  

Looking down sadly at the memory of her Junior year’s prom ending in tears, Cleo muttered, “I ended up having to walk home because they ended up using the limo as a hotel.”  

Tyrone hated it, he hated she didn’t have good memories because of people who were supposed to be family. It made him furious and he swore to himself he’d give her so many good memories her head would explode.  

Kissing her head gently, Cleo giggled a little at him being sweet to her. “It’s fine now Ty. I mean I kind of had given up on guys in high school anyway. It wasn’t that night, but after I saw a pattern? I couldn’t stomach it anymore.”  

Stomach swooping uncomfortable, Tyrone asked, “Pattern?” Cleo hummed as she finished her cone and wiped her lips with a napkin, “Yeah it was the weirdest thing! It was like guys who I’d like or hell even my prom date, they’d go to her for s*x or whatever. And then come and ask me out, like NO! Why would I want to see you again after that?”  

Shaking her head, Cleo couldn’t believe the audacity of some guys. But Tyrone knew what those punks had been up to.  

Wanting to use Hailey for s****l favors and boost their egos, they then thought they could date Cleo.  f*****g dumb asses. Despite belief, you can’t have your cake and get a scoop of ice cream too.  

“But what about you?” Cleo said wanting to know more about him now, “Me what?” Tyrone chuckled amused. “Come on I gave you my sad and short tales of romance. What about yours?” Tyrone met her amused brown eyes and shook his head.  

Cleo scoffed not wanting the ole shucks look he was giving her, “Oh don’t be modest now! With those eyes and that body, you’re telling me you’re some choir boy with no bodies? Please.”  

Laughing, Tyrone couldn’t help but to grab Cleo and pull her closer. Tickling her sides, he watched her laugh against him.  

And to anyone who glanced up and saw, it was a cute moment for the couple. Cleo stopped giggling as Tyrone pushed her little springy coils out of her face. Sighing, he kissed her forehead before admitting, “Dating was...hard for me growing up. I knew girls would go out with me purely because I was rich. I did spend money on them sometimes, but it never felt right. Felt like I was buying them to care about me.”  

Cleo frowned and Tyrone realized how it looked. So, he mushed on quickly, “BUT I knew the difference between someone who expected me to do diamond necklaces on the first date. Compared to someone who just seems happy to hear me talk? It’s important to see the difference.”  

Shrugging, Tyrone confessed, “I was a little skittish dating, I won’t pretend to be a blushing groom though. I had a few girlfriends, some greater than the others. But I mostly hooked up and kept my heart to myself, it just didn’t seem like anyone was going to take care of it.”  

Cleo didn’t know how she felt about that. “So you’ve never been in love? Ever?” Tyrone didn’t think so, “No, not really, I don’t think so. If so, love is settling for someone because they are in the same tax bracket and feel safe. But love? Real love, where we like spending time together, holding hands, and movie dates? No. Never.”  

Cleo wanted to ask how that was possible since he was older. But then she realized that love didn’t have an age, it was a special connection needed. Smiling a little, Cleo teased, “Great so we’re both spurned and unknowing in love, I feel semi better. I thought I was the only tragic one.”  

Grinning, Tyrone gently asked, “And that means we can learn together, be everything to each other our disappointments haven’t been.” Cleo liked the sound of that, and smiled at Tyrone gently, “Um, can I ask for a favor?”  

Tyrone slowly nodded expecting something big and flashy. Not that he’d care, but Cleo asked shyly, “Can you take me to see my grandpa?”