“Glad I ain’t the only one was thinking that.” TYLER chimed in, smiling in RUBI’s direction after the fact. “The ceremony was nice though, its always nice to see people forreal getting to the finish line.” He looked over the options for food and for once felt completely torn on what he wanted. “I ain’t sure what to get, I see oxtails and I wanna jump but risotto with crab meat? Is it bad to get both?” 

“I swear I hate yo’ ass sometimes.” He remarked as his deep laugh left his mouth. He surely missed these type of moments from being on the show and it made coming back all the more worth it. “Talkin’ bout the rest of my life, wait till I find or remember something to get on you about. Better be on yo p’s and q’s forreal cause it ain’t safe my man.” He laughed some more as he playfully nudged his shoulder into the other mans. “Nah I know how they, why you think I was tryna put you on. They hit when you stressed, they hit when you relaxed. They don’t miss.” TYLER shrugged his shoulders after that sentiment now that the other male knew exactly what he was talking about. “Yeen gon’ use it right no way, might as well come up off it and let me enjoy it forreal. But nah, I’m fucking with you, I got next round though. Gotta hit up that overseas plug and see what’s really good.” TYLER was nothing short of proud and happy for his friend and all of his endeavors. He knew better than most what they went through as actors in the business but it was nice to watch his friend in all the glory by the end. “You on ya way, you on ya damn way. From Creed to BP to this? Ain’t nothing you can’t do. But you already know, the support is always gon’ be real from me. You my dawg even if you out here placing bets. Got me half way ready to leave just to fuck you over now. When I win you some money, I want my percentage too nigga.” 

“I like that response.” TYLER smirked lowly before raising his hand towards his head, tipping his hat off to her reply. But somehow he wasn’t surprised by it. Something about the energy she was giving just implied she would be. “Definitely. I think growth is important in relationships though especially because as you get closer, and the longer you stay together, things change and you need to be able to adapt to that.” So far, so good. The male was feeling the exchange between them which was good considering how positive he was coming into it though her next statement did astound him slightly. “Aw, you a baby still. A fresh 21 or 21 turning 22?” He asked letting out a chuckle. “Thank you for telling me. Uh, I’m 34 so its a gap for sure. But mindsets are important too. I know people my age that act 16. We’ll just have to see how that goes.” 

“You might be, its up to you if it plays out I believe. But I’m just optimistic like that.” TYLER moved his hat from back facing to front facing so the bill was centered on his head. He made sure to listen to her answer as it would play an important part in the movement of the relationship. “A little of the same, with a little twist. I want honesty, fun, but I want some growth too cause I know I ain’t perfect and I’m open and willing to any type of growth. And that can happen in anything whether its personal growth in mental or physical aspects or even growth in your work. That’s big to me. Other than that, I want a best friend in wife form.” 

“I’ma finna be getting that from everybody all season probably, go head and get that shit out now. You got till the end of the weekend, after that I don’t wanna hear shit.” Even though they didn’t need the show to talk and hangout, it was nice to be back around company like his counterpart for a lot of reasons. Seeing Michael take the bottle, TYLER nodded his head as he talked up the bottle but his attention was stolen by the cigar presented to him. “Aw shit, not the ‘gars. I told you these was it, I ain’t never wrong. But man, I ‘preciate this. You already know its up and im coming for that other one too.” He said with some newly invigorated energy just from their exchanges alone. Slowly he lifted it towards his nose to get a quick whiff of the familiar sent, nodding his head again after that as he was satisfied with the gift. “I heard that. It ain’t always easy but that hard work paid off man. But better than Killmonger? Deadass, shit if that’s the case I’ll catch yo ass later cause now I gotta see what work you been putting it forreal. You setting ya own levels to this shit, and that’s something that I’m really proud of for you. You on hard on ya self but its paying off.” 

“They on my head already, maybe I just like the show.” The male laughed, taking a second to gather himself after that. “Hopefully not though, they say third time’s a charm so maybe you’ll be my lucky charm.” Even after being there for another time with another new match, TYLER was very optimistic about this time around for some reason that would hopefully come to fruition soon. “I’ve done this before obviously so we can do the basics later or as it comes, but I wanna know, what are you expectations? I want to say requirements but I feel like that sounds unfavorable. But that’s kinda what I mean.” 

It was only a matter of time until TYLER had found his brother from another mother and the star of the night. He hadn’t come empty handed as he just barely overheard him showing appreciation and asking a question that he had a big answer to. “My nigga, my nigga, my mf’ nigga. Don’t matter what I’m drinking, this all you my guy.” He exclaimed with clear cut excitement in his tone while handing the gold bottle of Branson Cognac. “But forreal congrats family, a nigga done did it again. We boosting the fuck out this though. ” 

Having been to a few movie premieres and viewings, TYLER knew the ropes of what was going to happen for the evening. Even with it being for his friend, he wasn’t nervous for him but nervous for himself and running into his new match. he had gone back and forth about coming back but there was no more time for that as he thought he spotted the woman. “Uh..excuse me, Jonica right?” He implored with a soft grin. “I’m Tyler, its nice to meet you.”

Rubi name be in every one lmao. I know she sick. 

yall cheating again. 

“Don’t count on it, they be cheating in these parts. You might think you first but you probably 8th.” TYLER said jokingly as he picked up a napkin from the kitchen counter and wiped the corners of his mouth. “But nah, don’t let me kill ya vibe, it could be different tonight.” 

“Not Cindy, aw hell.” He let out a long sigh and shook his head thinking about the headache the woman had inflicted. “It ain’t even my ex and I don’t wanna hear that name so I know you going through it. I definitely know what you mean now.” Both men getting caught up in nonsense with their exes wasn’t typical of either but at least they had each other to confide and relate to. “It wasn’t that bad this time, just a graze cause she ain’t mean to but 12 wasn’t tryna hear the story.” He explained as he recalled the night. “But I know, I was gon’ call but I wasn’t even thinking straight, like I been saying it was just a lot. Its crazy when you going through it, I’m just lucky it didn’t get out and I can thank ‘Nik for that too. But you right about that communication cause man, coming back I was expecting the worse. But it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been, I’m still alive you feel me.” He said jokingly as he looked over at the male for a second and then back out the window. “Ion expect you to judge me but I know you gon’ keep it real though. As far as things now, I feel good. Being back at square one is crazy but I’m just taking it day by day. When I first came back I had a plan and I was like aight I’ma do this, this and this and its gon’ be all good but that’s not always the case. So now with my new match, I’m just tryna make sure I don’t make the same mistakes. We not dwelling on the past, just moving forward. I like Selie and our connection been smooth from the beginning so the future looks bright. I’m working on my communication, I hope you are too, nigga.” 

“More wild shit? Worse than this?” He questioned with repetition as he couldn’t even imagine what he might’ve been insinuating. “Yeah we definitely got some catching up to cause, man what.” Still in disbelief of what his friend was going through, he paused his responses as he got in the car once it arrived, closing the door after. “I feel you bro, I was just in some shit that could’ve easily got me ambushed just like this but worse cause I know I did that shit. But you gon’ be good, you innocent so you’ll be good bro.” He cracked the window slightly just to let some air in before the other male circled things back to Tyler. “Of course you ain’t forget, shit. Its a lot, ion even know where to start. But I guess, to start with where the fuck I was. The short version is me and ‘Nik had got into it, I got arrested on some bullshit, mostly cause there was a gun, I was in jail for a few days with a damn bullet wound, but of course I go down. Then when I got out, I was like fuck. I don’t know how this is gon go over back home, na’ I’m saying. So I just didn’t come back. I actually went home to Philly to get my head right but man, if them charges ain’t get dropped...I was bout to be done.” 

“I don’t even blame you now cause that was some outta pocket shit.” Still keeping an eye on where they came from just in case they were followed out, TYLER walked away to an open area away from the entrance. “You already know, if we was gon’ have to do a lil more I was gon’ be right there with you cause these people act like they ain’t got no sense tryna get a story.” He felt for her friend and the recent ambush and hoped for the best in his situation knowing all too well how one mishap could affect you. “I’m saying, it don’t even sound like you. But don’t let it make you do nothing crazy, call management and let them work this shit out. Cause if you act irrationally too soon it could get worse.” Taking out his phone he texted the driver that TLC provided to let them know he was ready to leave. “The van finna be here in a second to take us back cause I’m not gon risk some weirdos popping up on me with no shit either.” 

After dapping up the male, he put the empty glass on the bar counter and asked the bartender for another one. In the meantime he went back to the conversation with Michael. “Laying low as you should be, that’s good.” TYLER couldn’t hold back his laughter for a second as he shook his head once he brought up his previous circumstances. “Man, cause it was a lot at once and then it was nothing. I’ma fill you in right quick, let me get my dri-..” his sentence trailed off as the commotion got closer to where they were and with the questions being directed at Michael, he was confused from the start. “Can yall give a nigga some space damn. Back the fuck up.” Even if he didn’t know what this was about, he wasn’t about to let his friend get ambushed alone. He pushed one of the camera guys away as he followed Michael out of the restaurant and kept looking back to make sure they weren’t getting followed. “Security acting like they ain’t got a job to do either, cmon’ man.” He sighed and shook out his arms. “You better hit up your management and see what the fuck going on, cause that was some bullshit.”