Love Always Wins

Chapter 9: The Party

I sat there in shock. Where did these photos come from? Who sent them? Maybe I should tell Tristan.

"Bailey, what's wrong? Are you OK?" Amber asked a little confused.

She walked over to the bed and sat down next to me, looked at what was in my hands and said "What the fuck! Who sent these to you? Where did they come from? You need to tell Tristan, maybe he can help you get some perspective on it."

"OK, I will" I said sighing. "I need to finish getting ready for the party and I'll meet you downstairs when I'm done."

I finally finished getting ready 20 minutes later. Amber, Sam, and Emily were all downstairs waiting for me. They look beautiful. I'm glad that they are my friends. I'm glad they're here with me. Now scared and confused, maybe Tristan can help clear all this up.

"OK, everybody ready?" Sam said eager to get out the door and to the party.

"OK, eager beaver we're going, we're going." I said hustling everybody at the door laughing at the same time.

"She's just excited to get to see Bryan. You know her can't seem to be out of his arms too long." Emily said giggling, running out the door past Sam before she could smack her.

"Yeah I do wanna see Bryan. Your point? I haven't seen him in three days." Sam said pouting, "no bullshit about FaceTime I haven't held him for three days. But at least I'm not like Amber. Little Miss I live at the dream house when I should be down here at our house." Sam said.

"Ok no fair! Y'all don't need to hear what we do." Amber said with that sly smile I know all to well.

We walk down the street to the boys house. Greeted by Mel at the front door. We all break off. I go searching for Tristan, letter and photos clutched in my hand to show him exactly what I got. Amber and Sam go off to find Chris and Bryan. Emily heads off looking for the birthday boy, because yeah she gotta wish her man happy birthday.

I found Tristan downstairs in his room.

"Tristan, baby you OK?" He didn't answer. "Tristan." I say a little bit louder. He still didn't answer. His back is to the door, he's looking down at his hands. I walk over to him.

"Tristan baby are you OK?"

Looking in his hands I see a letter and photos similar to mine. Only his letter says leave her or I end her. A tap his shoulder. "Tristan, babe?" He jumps a little. I think I scared him.

"Oh thank God, I thought you were her."

"Thought I was who, Tristan?"

"Lani."

"Why would you think I was Lani?"

"Because she just sent me this letter telling me if I don't leave you she's gonna hurt you and that terrifies me because I can't lose you."

"Are you sure it's her?"

"What do you mean I'm sure it's her? She is  the only one it could be."

"The only reason I ask is because this came in the mail for me today."

I hand them the envelope.

"All right, that's it. This ends now. Do not worry about her. She is not going to touch you. I will not let her."

"Tristan how are you gonna prevent her from hurting me."

"I have my ways but like I said don't worry about it. I got this. Let's get up to the party. We need to wish Tyler happy birthday, plus I wanna be there when they tell him what his birthday present is."