"We haven't done this in a while," Elizabeth said, swirling the wine in her glass as she leaned back in the plush velvet seat. The restaurant around them was high-class, quiet enough to hear the cutlery tap, but luxurious enough for no one to care.
"I can say the same," Tesmee replied, stretching her arms lazily before settling back in.
"How've you been?" Elizabeth asked, eyeing her.
"Great," Tesmee said with a soft shrug. "You? Marriage and all... I can see a lot's been going on with you. How'd you two even meet?"
Elizabeth chuckled. "Well, long story. One I'd rather tell during a movie night in pajamas than in some gold-plated, overpriced place like this."
They both laughed. Tesmee raised her glass. "Fair enough."
"He's not bad, is he?" Tesmee asked after a pause, watching Elizabeth's expression.
Elizabeth smiled lightly, but it faltered at the edges. "He's a good man. He has his days can be fucking cruel, I won't lie. But I get it. His upbringing shaped him that way. And being a mafia leader? It makes sense. He's extra... protective."
Tesmee smirked. "Oh, that's just a familiar trait with mafias. Control, paranoia, obsession, it's practically in the damn blood."
Elizabeth sighed but nodded. "You'd think I'd be used to it by now."
"You don't ever get used to it," Tesmee said, locking eyes with her. "You just survive through it."
"I'd love it if you two could get along," Elizabeth said, her voice softer now. "I sensed some kind of tension between you both that day."
Tesmee leaned back, arms crossed. "I guess he's just new in your life… and it's just me, being me, not trusting him."
Elizabeth gave her a pointed look. "You're more alike than you think."
Tesmee raised a brow.
"You're both crazily overprotective," Elizabeth added with a smirk.
Tesmee scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Guess that makes two of us dangerously loyal psychos."
Anyway, are you going to that gala next week?" Elizabeth asked, sipping her drink.
Tesmee shrugged. "I can make time for it."
Elizabeth leaned in with a teasing smile. "There'll be hot men ,rich men. You need someone, at least once."
Tesmee let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah… that ain't happening."
"Oh, come on, Tes. Having someone isn't the end of the world."
"Maybe not for you. But for me? I still enjoy the little freedom I have left." Tesmee's tone dropped, not bitter just honest.
"Well, if you say so… maybe just sex, then?" Elizabeth smirked.
They both laughed.
"That could happen if I ever get drunk enough to forget or not care," Tesmee said, raising a brow.
"You're getting old, Tesmee. Be realistic. Getting fucked isn't that big of a deal."
Tesmee leaned back in her seat, gaze distant. "That's a downgrade," she muttered.
Elizabeth laughed again. "Girl, only if you make it one."
"A one-night stand with a hot guy?" Elizabeth teased. "C'mon, Tes… with that body of yours? Girl, you could land yourself one hell of a bang."
Tesmee scoffed with a smirk. "That's the worst downgrade I've ever heard."
Elizabeth laughed. "Maybe, but you can't tell me the idea doesn't tempt you, even just a little."
Tesmee leaned in, voice low and playful. "A hot guy, just once? Might not be the worst idea."
She sat back and added, "I ain't promising anything, though."
Day had slipped into night.
"Had a great day?" Tyric asked, watching as Elizabeth set a few shopping bags on the bed.
"A very great one, actually. We picked out a few dresses for next week," she said, her voice light.
Tyric took a slow sip of his whiskey, then stepped closer and kissed her. "Enjoy as much as you want, baby."
She hesitated before speaking again, her voice softer. "Can I ask you something? I only phrased it lightly to her earlier... I didn't want to make things uncomfortable, but I'm kinda used to you. I notice things."
"Anything, love," he said, eyes on her.
"The tension between you and Tesmee... is there something I don't know about?" she asked carefully.
Tyric's jaw tightened slightly, the glass still in his hand. "No... just instincts. She looked familiar, like someone who took Lana from our family," he said, voice low and steady.
Elizabeth reached out and gently touched his face. "Baby, I promise you ,Tesmee's just a normal woman. Cold, distant, sure. Confident, self-contained. Not really into things or men. She's self-built , the kind of arrogance that comes with that."
She smirked a little. "I barely think she knows how to kill an ant."
Tyric chuckled, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. "That's absurd. If you say so."
"How long have you known her?" Tyric asked, swirling the whiskey in his glass.
Elizabeth raised a brow. "About five years."
"How old is she?"
"Twenty-eight."
He nodded slowly.
"You're asking a lot of questions," she said, watching him carefully.
Tyric shrugged, his voice easy but eyes a little too sharp. "Just surprised, that's all. You talk like you two go way back, but you've only really been close for what three of those five years?"
Elizabeth let out a soft laugh. "Well, yeah. Tesmee's not exactly an open book. Took a while to get through to her."
Tyric hummed, walking to the bed and setting his glass on the nightstand. "Still. That kind of bond in a short time... says something."
Elizabeth watched him for a second longer. "You don't trust her, do you?"
He didn't answer right away. Just looked down at the glass like it held more than whiskey.