His Queen

Finding Common Ground

“SO... wait, what?” Cleo shook her head, “Married? Me and you, get married? Baby, we barely know each other, I can be a psycho and try to kill you with a butter knife.” Tyrone c****d an eyebrow and she shrugged, “Or you can be some crazy-ass mofo trying to kill me I don’t know!”  

Forcing his laughter down Tyrone gently reached out and slowly stroked her cheek, “I’d never hurt you in ANY WAY.”  

Cleo wanted to believe that, but she didn’t know if she should be listening to a stranger. One she just started to really get to know at least.  

“Ty-.” Putting a hand over hers, Tyrone held the small hand in his large ones as he confessed, “Okay so I didn’t come up with this idea on my own. And it’s for tons of reasons, but mostly? To keep you safe and give you the life you deserve.”  

Cleo shook her head bewildered, “So you want to marry me in exchange for...?” That was just it, “Nothing.” Tyrone muttered sitting back. Breathing out he told her honestly, “Your grandfather asked me to marry you, to get you out from under Peyton. I didn’t agree at first, not until I saw the predicament Peyton was in...and I saw a picture of you.”  

Blushing a little as he seemed to run his eyes over every part of her, Tyrone gushed, “I couldn’t help myself. Crushing a little I guess, I started gathering dirt on Peyton, tried to find a witness. But she was good and keeping herself just clean enough I couldn’t move. So I may have put a few things in her way to help her trip.”  

He waited for her to get angry at him for helping cause Peyton’s downward spiral. But all he got was an eye roll as she bitterly muttered, “Nothing you did wasn’t anything she hadn’t done to herself. She was already standing on her own laces, heading face first.”  

Nodding, Tyrone leaned forward, “I want to eradicate her from your life. I can admit, coming into this, I really didn’t care how this went down. But getting to spend time with you, getting to know you, I know your future is so bright without them. They dim your shine because their insecure and want to bring you down to their level. They never could, you’re too amazing.”  

Feeling hot in the face, Cleo whispered shyly, "Stop it.” Tyrone didn’t want to stop though, he wanted to keep watching her bite the full bottom lip. He wanted Cleo to keep looking at him like how she was right now. The hot bed room eyes on her making his d**k granite in seconds.  

“Cleo I’m really starting to like you. And marrying you? Means you wouldn’t have to stay in that house with them. It would mean I could help you through college, and be there for you.” Cleo was about to protest but Tyrone seriously told her, “Even if it’s just as a friend if that’s what you want.”  

Meeting his eyes incredulous, Cleo muttered, “Is that what YOU want?” He should have lied, but he couldn’t. Not to her.  

So, the answer came out brutally honest, “f**k no. I wanted to make you mine from the moment we locked eyes.” Cleo felt hot in her clothes and took a sip of coke before taking a deep breathe, “And Peyton? What are you going to do with her if I marry you?”  

Chuckling again since she seemed to be hanging on to some ideal of him, Tyrone assured, “I won’t break her knee caps or having her working in a sweat shop. But I will kick her out, take what she owes me.”  

Looking at Cleo as she twirled her ice around with her straw, Tyrone asked, “But that’s not what you meant is it?”  

Cleo met his eye, “She won’t agree to this. If I tell her I’m marrying you, I’m sure she’d lock me in the basement. For the rest of my life.” Tyrone’s mix matched eyes met Cleo’s, “I’m protecting you now. And I can give you whatever it is you want or need.”  

Breathing out, Cleo muttered, “So I marry you...you take care of me? And kick my stepfamily out of my parents' house...what happens then?”  

Tyrone knew the answer, “College for you after you graduate.  And if you’re willing, maybe we can try to be married?” Cleo looked at him unsure as she wondered, “But if it doesn’t work out-.” Trust me, Tyrone thought amused, I’m going to make it work out.  

“But if it doesn’t work out, you’ll still have your parents' home. Still, be able to go home to it, but hopefully, I’m not that bad to be married to.” He hoped anyway.  

Locking their fingers together, Tyrone asked, “Do you have a-?” Cleo was shaking her head still feeling hot in the face, “No. I um...I had an ex but we didn’t work out. Especially after I found out he was screwing around with Hailey behind my back.”  

Confused, Tyrone asked, “Who?” Fighting giggles, Cleo shook her head. A little embarrassed since he realized THAT was her step-sister’s name, Tyrone was humbled. But then Cleo stopped smiling as she wondered, “Ty...do you really be married to me? You barely know me.”  

Tyrone shrugged, “Doesn’t have to be tomorrow baby. It can be whenever you’re ready...I just know what I want. A couple more dates with you would always be fun.”  

Sitting back smirking, Cleo teased, “Oh so now this is a date?” Tyrone chuckled feeling his face heat up a little. It’d been a while since a woman made him feel shy and giddy all in the same breathe. But low and behold... 

“I think that’s pretty clear gorgeous.” He teased back. Cleo raised eyebrow, “Oh yeah? How so?” Tyrone held up their locked hands, “We’ve made it to the cutesy hand holding faze. It’s only a matter of time now before we’re running in a field of flowers.”  

Laughing just imagining it, Cleo couldn’t stop her laughter when Tyrone pretended to be offended, “Don’t laugh at my fantasy!” Cleo shook her head with a little smile, “If that’s your idea of romance Tyrone Royal we might just be able to work something out after all.”  

Feeling the smile stretch his face, was weird. It felt to big, or maybe too happy to be on his face. But it was there and it felt good.  

After the waitress dropped the check, Cleo tried to reach into her pocket. But he looked at her incredulous before dropping his black card. Cleo looked uncomfortable at that, which was a first for him.  

He was used to women expecting things from him. Or just downright demanding them. But the shy way Cleo met his eyes and thanked him showed an appreciation he’d never gotten. Tyrone didn’t know if he ever had wanted to be married before now.  

But now he had met Cleo, and everything changed. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”  

Walking out with goodbyes to Andre, Tyrone led her out like he led her in.