Tiffany's POV:
I walk into the kitchen and find it empty. It feels odd, normally someone is in here cooking, mainly Tyler.
Kyle was still sleeping when I woke up, so I left him to sleep for a while longer.
I open the fridge looking for something to eat, finding nothing satisfying. I could've made pancakes or an omelette but I'm literally too tired for that. Instead I grab the carton of orange juice, close the fridge and turn around. I jump in fright when I see someone leaning over the counter.
I pause with a hand over my chest, breathing heavily.
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!" I exclaim, putting the juice carton on the bench.
She looks at me with a raised brow, her long brown naturally wavy hair hangs down her back.
"I didn't know that leaning on a kitchen bench would scare the hell out of you." She says almost sheepishly.
I shake my head with a small smile. "You know you could've just said something, instead of just saying nothing at all and scaring the hell out of me."
Cece smiles and rolls her eyes, "Well, anyways. What's for brekkie?"
I look to the juice and back to her. "Just some orange juice. Want some?"
She smiles and nods.
As I grab two glasses and pour the drinks I ask. "So what's going on with you and Tyler?"
Cece looks at me, a slight blush on her cheeks. "Ha, w-what makes you think anything is going on with him?" She asks me, almost stuttering.
I let out a light laugh. "It's mostly obvious... but it's the fact that you guys went to school together, right?"
"Right. A long time ago."
"And you guys dated once?" I ask her, passing her a glass of juice. She nods slowly. "Did you love him? And I know I'm asking too many questions, but I'm really just curious. Back home you guys seemed happy together even if you weren't together."
"I did, yes." She tells me, her eyes now seem a little glossy, she blinks a few times and I notice now that she's tearing up. "But we can't be like that now. I have a boyfriend back home, Tyler knows that."
If I'm being honest, it seems like she still loves Tyler.
"Does your boyfriend know you're here?"
She gives a tight smile, "I told him I was visiting an old friend since he was heading out of town and I'd be on my own in our apartment. I didn't mention who though, although I'm not betraying him, I love Marc, I wouldn't hurt him."
I give her a tight smile and nod. "So... what's the plan for today? It looks like it's going to be a sunny day."
It's then that I start to hear my name being called, I look to Cece and see that she also heard.
"Yah! I'm in the kitchen!" I call out.
Tyler walks in with a bright smile on his lips as he looks at both me and Cece.
"Kyle's looking for you."
I smile and start to walk out of the kitchen.
"Don't do anything naughty while we're still here!" I hear Tyler call out, laughter lingering in his tone.
I pause, feeling my face heat up in embarrassment.
"Tyl- you-" I stumble trying to just say something, just anything. "Stop being annoying Tyler!"
I hear laughter behind me as I continue my walk to my room, where me and Kyle stayed last night... nothing happened but sleep though.
I lightly knock on the door to my room and peek into the room only to find it empty.
"Kyle?" I call out.
No reply.
"Hey Conaway?"
I walk further into the room looking around. I walk towards the bathroom and knock on the door. I start hearing the sound of music coming from inside the bathroom, along with the sound of someone singing... really badly, by the way.
I turn the knob on the door and find it surprisingly open. I peek inside cautiously, I don't want to walk in on him... definitely no.
My eyes widen slightly. I press my lips together tightly trying not to burst out laughing.
There in front of me was Kyle standing in front of the mirror with the song Nobody by Faydee was playing loudly... but that's not the funny part. The funny part is that Kyle was holding his toothbrush up as a mic and was standing in a towel and only a towel with his abs on full display while swaying his hips side to side all while mimicking and singing the lyrics, with toothpaste dripping down his lips.
Kyle freezes when turns his head in my direction.
Soon enough realisation hit me... Tyler.
A small playful side smirk appears on his lips.
"Morning beautiful." Kyle winks, his voice was a mumble as his mouth was full with toothpaste.
I move my hand up to my mouth to hide my near laughter.
"Hey, whatcha up to?" I ask him, trying to stay calm. And so far, I have succeeded. I lean myself against the doorframe with a small smile on my lips. "Ty said you were looking for me."
Kyle nods. "I was-" He spits into the sink before continuing. "I was looking for you. I told him not to worry about it after he said you were downstairs with Cece."
I smile.
"But, looks like he thought it'd be funny for you to catch me like this."
Looking away from me, he washes his face and rinses his mouth out with water.
I press my lips together, "Well... it is funny." I let out a small giggle. "Anyway, I'm going to go wait in the bedroom." I say with a playful smile.
I keep my eyes on his face, making sure they don't drop down any lower than they're supposed to. I can already feel my face heating up from being in here... with Kyle standing there like that.
I turn around about to walk away when I feel a hand on my shoulder pausing me in my steps.
"You know, this is yours." Kyles says quietly.
Unsure of what he meant: either he was talking about himself or something I owned, I had no idea. I slowly turn around looking up at him.
"What is?" I ask him, with a raised brow deciding to play dumb.
He grins, he points to himself before pulling me closer by my hips. "Me. I'm all yours Tiff." He whispers, before pressing his mouth on mine.
His lips felt warm on mine. I kissed him gently, my lips moving with his in rhythm. Slowly my hands reach up behind his neck, my fingers tangling in his hair. He tastes minty from the toothpaste, but I didn't mind. His hands still resting on my hips.
Kyle always kisses me with passion, like he's trying to prove his love to me.
Slowly I pull back from him, needing some air. I feel my cheeks heat up a little when I open my eyes and find Kyle already looking at me with a soft smile on his lips. He pecks my lips once more before pulling back and giving me a hug.
"I love you." Kyle lightly presses his lips to the top of my head. "I love you so much."
I smile, I maybe have even let out a giggle.
"I love you Kyle." I whisper against his chest, hugging him back.
"What are your plans for today?" I ask him, once he unwraps his arms from around me.
He grins, "Spending time with my girl of course... if you let me get changed first."
I let out a light laugh. "Right, I guess I'll leave."
I kiss his lips lightly and slowly walk away with a smile on my lips.
__________________________________________________________
Four Years Later...
It was my birthday. I wanted to sleep in.
Key word wanted. But no, my brilliant housemates decide to slam the door open making me jump up in shock.
Kyle was lying down next to me with his arm resting over my stomach.
"What the h-"
"Happy Birthday!!"
Party horns and loud clapping made me just want to crawl back under the sheets and just sleep through this loud noise, but that's not how it works in this house.
"Tiffany, you have to get up!" Skye says with a grin.
I groan in annoyance, "Skye, I just want to sleep."
I hear her and Tyler laugh, "Alright then, I guess we'll just wait for you downstairs."
Footsteps start to move but then they stop.
"Guys, please don't do anything you shouldn't be doing up here."
I peak out of the blanket and glare at Tyler. That was his joke, every time he left our room.
Over the years' things have changed... a lot of things have changed. Like for an example, The Elementaret has completely disappeared. It disappeared the day I got stabbed. I no longer control fire, water, air and earth, which is something I truly miss.
It was fun while it lasted. It was a part of me for a very short time, a short time that felt like a dream I would have as a little girl.
Kyle wraps his arm around me tighter.
"Tiff?" He mumbles. I hum in response. "I have a surprise for you today, but we're going to have to go for a drive."
I smile, moving closer to him.
"Are you going to tell me what the surprise is?" I ask him, hoping he will tell. Although I won't mind if he keeps it to himself.
Kyle lightly kisses my forehead. "Nope."
I shrug tiredly, "Okay Conaway. I guess I'll just get up now, to get ready."
Kyle's head now resting in the crook of my neck, he lightly presses his lips to my skin. I smile, the way I do when he kisses me.
"Happy Birthday Tiff." Another kiss. "I love you."
I turn around in bed and press my lips to his. "I love you Kyle."
Looking into his eyes, is like looking into the ocean. Soo beautiful.
I smile at him and slowly get up out of bed, grabbing my already prepared outfit from the chair and heading to the bathroom.
I put on a black checkered skirt, a black halter neck top, a light denim jacket. I paired my outfit with a cute pair of heeled boots, and my favorite pair of black sunnies.
I get changed pretty fast, really excited for my surprise from Kyle. He said we had to take a drive, so I'm hoping it has to do with a short three-day trip somewhere nice, a beach house perhaps.
Quickly brushing my day-old hair out and applying dry shampooing my roots giving my hair some texture and as I had braided it the night before it was a little wavy just how I like it. I rush out of the bathroom with a bright smile on my lips.
Kyle was sitting on the bed with a grin of his own, he stands up and walks over to me looking me over.
"You look beautiful as always." He kisses my lips before pulling back and putting his hand in mine.
"Thanks Conaway, you don't look too bad yourself." I wink at him with a grin. "Are you going to tell me where we're going?" I ask curiously with a slight smirk.
"Haha no. No Tiff, you're going to have to wait."
I just shake my head with a giant smile on my lips.
A few hours later we were pulling up into a drive way.
All that surrounded us was tall trees and greenery.
"Kyle, are you sure this is not where you kill me and dump my body deep into the woods?" I ask jokingly.
He smirks at me and wriggles his eyebrows.
"Possibly."
I laugh. He puts the car is park and hops out, opening the backdoor and pulling out a bag I had no idea was there.
I jump out of the car and look around. We were standing on dirt and gravel, there was a steep hill present so if we were going down I guess I better be careful.
"Daydreaming like usual." Kyle says coming up beside me.
I look over at him and shake my head.
"No, I was just thinking."
He nods, putting his hand in mine.
We head down the steep hill, my shoes slipped... once, making me fall down on my butt. This makes Kyle laugh, but like the gentleman he is he helps me up and down the hill.
I put my free hand over my mouth in surprise at what I see.
A cute little wooden cabin.
I've always wanted to stay in a cabin in the woods but I never have time to spend a weekend away. With soccer as my main focus for the last few years, I've always be traveling around on weekends for matches against other teams.
And when I do get time off, I've always got my head in a book studying for upcoming exams or I'll spend my time with Kyle.
I look over to Kyle.
"Kyle... This is like the best gift ever. I've always wanted to spend a weekend in a cabin."
"I know, but this is only part of your gift."
My eyes widen. "There's more?"
He just nods, not giving anything away.
He opens the door and lets us in.
Just looking around makes me love this place more, it feels warm and inviting inside. The walls were mainly wooden timber panels apart from one wall which covered with stone wall panels.
It was beautiful, especially since the wooden furniture all matched.
The kitchen and dining room was to the left of the front door, the living room was to the right and there was a hallway full of doors down the center of cabin.
"Hey Tiff, I'm just going to take our bags to the bedroom?" Kyle tells me, starting to walk down the hallway, he has most likely been here before as I think he knew where the bedroom was straight away.
Kyle seems slightly nervous all of a sudden. He didn't seem nervous on the drive here or before we left Hollowstern.
Maybe it's nothing, maybe I'm imagining things. Wouldn't be the first time.
I shake my head and walk into the kitchen and open the fridge, hoping to find something to snack on or to drink.
Only thing I found was a small carton of milk and a small chocolate bar with a note:
Welcome to our wooden cabin. We hope you enjoy your stay.
I shake my head, closing the fridge. The chocolate bar will have to do for now.
When I look up Kyle is standing by the kitchen island watching me with a small smile on his lips.
"It seems like a nice day for a hike, and I know the perfect place to go." Kyle smiles holding up a picnic basket.
I nod and pop the piece of chocolate into my mouth still managing to smile.
I take his hand in mine and he leads us out into the wilderness... or the woods, and he starts to head up a pathway leading us to something that's most likely going to be amazing.
After a not so long walk Kyle stops. And not long after I figure out why.
It was around midafternoon and we were near an edge of a cliff. But the view was amazing, we could see the greenery below and straight in the middle of the view was an amazing water view of a lake and in the very far distance was a waterfall and it was beautiful.
"Kyle, this view!"
Kyle smirks and shrugs. "Oh thanks. I know I look great, I've been working out."
My eyes instantly shift from the view to him. I laugh and shrug.
"Well too bad I wasn't talking about you."
He just shakes his head with a slight smirk and takes out a blanket from the basket and lays it out on the floor away from the edge.
"I tried." He whispers, although I think he did. "So for lunch we have some brilliant homemade sandwiches and for desert we have some delicious chocolate fudge cake."
I press my lips together, hmming to myself.
"So, I'm guessing the sandwiches was made by Tyler." It wasn't a question.
"I helped." Kyle says with a cute grin on his lips. "The chocolate cake though, that was made by me and Sky."
I nod impressed. "Thank you Conaway. I really do appreciate everything you've done. And this beautiful spot and the cabin, I would love to come back here again with you."
The rest of the time spent was filled with eating lunch and desert, he also put a candle on the cake and asked me to make a wish. We also share new things we don't really feel the need to talk about at home.
I mean we've been together for four years now, not much has changed apart from our age and how mature we've become. We live together and we practically tell each other everything. We have fought a few times, over silly little things of course. But we make it work.
We're practically living the married lifestyle without the label. Apart from the fact we're still living in the Conaway residence with Tyler and Skyler, and occasionally friends and family that come to visit.
A little while after desert we decide to share a few memories from the past, good memories of course.
"Remember that time you took me to that secluded area at the beach the very first time we went to the beach with Sky, Cal and Tyler. That was a fun a day."
Kyle looks up from his cup that he was just drinking out of, I can tell that maybe that was a wrong memory to bring up.
"I can think of something else that went on that day. I can tell you though you looked hot." He smirks but takes my hand and rubbing small circles with his thumb over my knuckles. "What I do know is that I don't want to feel like I did on that day ever again."
I look at Kyle confused. "Like what?"
Kyle nervously smiles. "Jealous." He pauses. "I love you so much Tiffany, and I know, boy I know that you feel the same way. Although I still feel jealous sometimes, especially when I see other guys checking you out-"
"Ky- "
"Tiffany, I know you already promised that you'll be faithful to me, and that I promised to be faithful to you. We've been together for four years, and I had this all planned out for quite a while but I don't think it's going to plan anymore."
I look at Kyle strangely. "What? What are yo-"
"Tiffany, please just listen." I nod silently quietly wondering. Kyle takes my both my hands into his. "Since the day I met you, I annoyed you to hell and back and you still stuck around. You could've stuck around until you could leave, but you didn't. You fell for me, just as I did for you. I think we belong together, until death do us apart."
Now I feel like I'm on an emotional roller-coaster, it's beautiful and I have no idea what to say, either way he won't even let me get a word in.
"Happy birthday Tiffany." He lets go of my hand and reaches into his pocket pulling out a small box, moving from sitting down to kneeling onto one knee in front of me. My right hand instantly going over my mouth in surprise, although I had the feeling this was coming. "Will you do the honors of marrying me and becoming my wife?"
My head nods automatically, I'm speechless. And all that's going through my head is yes, yes, yes!
"Yes. Kyle, yes I'll marry you."
Kyle takes my left hand and on my fourth finger he slowly slides on his engagement ring to me. It fit perfectly.
It was a beautiful simple white gold diamond ring with small white gold diamonds going around the ring, it was a thin band and it was flat just how I imagined my ring would look like, especially since I'm not really big on wearing rings to begin with and it's not something every girl would want for an engagement ring, but for me it was perfect.
I leaned into Kyle and gave him a romantic kiss on the lips.
Soon enough we pack up our picnic and head back to our cabin.
Our night continued off from there. A nice simple romantic dinner that Kyle made us; some nice pasta, a decent conversation about what we could do for our wedding and a romantic night under the sheets.
This is most definitely the best birthday present I have ever received and it won't be forgotten anytime soon.
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A/N:
I hope you guys have enjoyed the ride and journey this book has taken. Those of you that has stuck with me since the very beginning I very much appreciate it, and those of you that are new I appreciate it as well, for all the votes and encouraging comments.
I haven't been the best at updating on time but we got there. I rewrote this book and I'm proud, I'm proud that we ended up here. A better version of My Sexy Protector.
I can say that this is the final chapter and that there will be an epilogue to come soon but I don't exactly know how soon.
I wanted to make this chapter perfect before I posted it and hopefully I did a good job.
I wish you all a happy new year and hopefully there shall be a epilogue for everyone to read very soon.
Thanks again! Love you guys! <3 xoxo