Chapter Eighteen

Stephen

Trinity was clearly rattled after the detective's unexpected visit.

I, on the other hand, wasn't fazed at all.

I was familiar with the mind games the police liked to play. If they had any solid leads, they would’ve hauled us in for questioning.

The fact that they hadn’t just confirmed my suspicion that they were on a wild goose chase.

“Trin, darling! Look at us,” Clint says.

She still seemed lost in her thoughts, so I gently touched her hip. Mia came over and took her hand.

“Baby?” I asked.

She seemed to snap out of her daze. “Huh?”

“You don’t need to worry, okay?” Clint tried to reassure her.

I watched as Clint leaned in and whispered something in her ear. She nodded, understanding his words. A smile spread across her face as Clint pulled away and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

I was grateful to have a friend like Clint who not only had my back but also cared for my wife.

“You okay, baby?”

“Yeah, darling, I’m fine. Can’t wait to get away on our honeymoon.”

I smiled. “Me too.”

We shared a quick kiss as we finished moving our stuff inside.

Once we were settled, we made some coffee. Clint and I rolled a joint while the girls were busy. We all walked down to the backyard and took a break, sitting on the benches.

“I told her to watch what she says. They might bug the place,” Clint says.

“Thanks, mate.”

“I also told her that this is just how cops play. If they had anything, they wouldn’t be here asking questions. They’d be hauling one or all of us down to the station.”

“It’s a game to them,” he added. “They don’t have any leads, so they’re just trying to eliminate suspects; divide and conquer.”

“You guys sound like you’ve been through this before,” Trinity chimed in.

“More than I’d like to admit, babe. But that’s what they do. They bait and bait until they get a bite.”

“It’s true, honey,” Mia added. “They used to try it with me all the time when Clint and I first started dating. Until they realized I wasn’t falling for their crap.”

“Thanks, guys,” Trinity said, her shoulders relaxing a bit.

I pulled her onto my lap and we sat there with our friends for a while, reminiscing about the past. It was nice to have another couple we could relate to and share this journey with.

We decided to pack everything into the car for our trip and go out for dinner with Mia and Clint before they dropped us off at the airport.

We chose Capulet, our own place, knowing it wouldn’t be hard to get a table without a reservation.

We got settled into our booth and ordered drinks and food. We spent a few hours there, relaxing before Mia and Clint dropped us off at the airport.

I thanked them both and we all hugged before heading into the airport.

Wanting to keep our destination a surprise until we boarded, I asked Trinity to wait in the lounge while I checked us in and sorted our luggage.

I got us all checked in, except for our carry-ons, and headed back to my girl.

She was waiting as I’d asked, and I could see that the worry from earlier had finally left her. She looked relaxed and at ease again.

“You ready to do this, my love?” I asked.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going yet?”

“Nope,” I replied with a cheeky grin.

“Then no, I'm not ready,” she retorted, sticking her tongue out at me.

I leaned over her in the seat and got dangerously close to her face. “Do that again.”

She leaned up closer to me and stuck her tongue out. I gently caught it with my teeth and pulled it into my mouth.

Kissing her was like nothing else in this world. I could lose myself in her mouth for hours.

“Mm, you always taste so good, baby,” I said.

“I love kissing you,” she whispered. “Especially now that I can call you my husband.”

“My ~wife~.” I kissed her again then took her hand, pulling her up.

I pulled away from her, not entirely ready to but knowing we still had to get through customs. Best not to get distracted right now.

We walked hand in hand through the terminal until we reached the escalators down to customs. I went on first and she wrapped her arms around my waist, snuggling into my back.

“I really do love you, baby, so much,” she said softly.

“Hey? Where's that coming from, babe?”

“Nowhere, I just wanted to remind you.”

I reached down and took her left hand, kissing her rings again. “I love you too.”

We reached the bottom and the line was chaotic, so we waited to be called through. As we were waiting, I heard someone on my right call my name, “Stephen?”

I looked over and saw Hannah, one of Mia's old college acquaintances.

“Hey, Hannah, how have you been?” I asked.

“Oh my God, I thought that was you!”

She moved towards me with her arms open for a hug, so I quickly put my arm around my wife and extended my hand to shake Hannah's.

She looked confused for a moment but shook it anyway.

“I haven't seen you in a few years,” I said.

“Oh you know,” she shrugged. “I've been around.”

~I bet she has.~

I noticed her glancing between Trinity and me. I introduced my wife, though I would’ve preferred not to.

“Hannah, this is my wife Trinity. Trinity, this is Hannah, one of Mia's old college friends.”

“Just a friend of Mia’s, huh? Stephen, you’re breaking my heart,” she says, her lips forming a pout.

~Is she for real?~

“And you’re married? Wow, I never saw that coming. I bet a lot of hearts are shattered, mine included.”

I catch Trinity’s raised eyebrow from the corner of my eye, but I’ve got this. “Well, not mine. My heart’s never been more complete.”

Trinity, my wife, looks up at me with love in her eyes and gently strokes my chest.

“So, where are you two headed?”

“We’re off to our honeymoon. But I can’t spill the beans, it’s a surprise for my lady here.”

“Okay, well, have a blast. Don’t forget to call me!” She bounces away.

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” I mutter under my breath.

Trinity grins at me. “You’re terrible.”

“And she’s nothing more than a junkie looking for her next fix,” I tell Trinity about her as we wait in line. Finally, it’s our turn.

We get through without any hitches, except for the fact that I was itching to punch the customs officer for the way he was ogling my wife.

“Do you know how close I was to punching that guy?” I grumble.

“Honey, you’re being silly,” she says, laughing.

“What? He was totally hitting on you!”

“He wasn’t. He would’ve seen my rings and known we’re together.”

“Yeah, that didn’t seem to deter him. And don’t think I didn’t notice him checking out your ass as we walked away.”

Trinity rolls her eyes. “You’re making that up.”

“He totally did,” I wink at her and she shakes her head at me.

“What’s your obsession with asses?”

“No, darling, not all asses. Just yours,” I say, grabbing a handful of her beautiful behind.

She blushes a deep red and tries to dodge my hand, but not before I manage to give it a good pinch. I chuckle.

“You’re a pervert.”

“You’re a sexy momma,” I retort.

We finally reach our gate. I place my hands on her hips and turn her to face the sign above our boarding gate.

I watch as her jaw drops and her eyes light up like a child on Christmas morning.

“Thailand?!”