HOME. The chilly air wraps my skin as soon as I step out of my family private jet. I deeply inhale the smell of the New York City; the city that never sleeps; the big apple.

Welcome Back, Bash!

It's good to be back!

The skyline buildings, the noises, the lights and the New Yorkers; I miss all of them. I get inside of the black Rolls Royce of my Grandpa Mike. My stomach churns at the thought of being back.

I thought I got myself ready for this but I was wrong and the anxiousness crawling in my skin. Now that I'm here I wanted to go back to London and stay there for my entire life.

But I promised my family that once I finish my college I will be back; that's one of the two reasons why I'm here.

"Welcome back, Sir Bash!" The family driver of early forties greets me with courtesy; he turns his head on me then nods. "I'm Edmund Russell, your driver, Mr. Hughes." He extends his hand and I immediately grip it for a handshake.

"Thank you, Edmund. Please call me Bash if you would like to stay as my driver," I say in a less intimidating way.

"Sure Bash," he says with hesitant, "when your family is not around," adding with a salute.

I chuckle. "Good, now let's head home."

"Yes, Sir," he replies with enthusiasm.

I glance at him one more time then smile. I can't help but amaze at the astounding City lights of array colors as we pass by, the colossal skyline buildings that stand tall from afar, the neon lights that flicker in different colors, and billboards flashing with advertisements that blur through the car window.

The New Yorkers are still busy even at this past midnight hour, indeed the city that never sleeps. The yellow cabs and the chaotic traffic with the honking of the vehicles remind me that I'm back to New York City.

"Bash, your parents told me to send you to your Penthouse suite, but first I will drive you to Hughes mansion." His deep voice bashes me out from my thoughts.

"Sure, like you can say no to my dad."

he chuckles. "The order was actually from Mrs. Hughes, your mom, Bash."

I roll my eyes. "Of course, her baby boy is back." At my twenty-one years, she treats me like a nine-year-old boy.

I can't blame her though. I'm her only son and she almost died giving birth to me. She got complications during her labor that resulted in her not getting pregnant again. They had to remove her uterus.

"Let's go then, I had a long flight Edmund. I hope we won't stay long there."

"Sure Bash," he responses shortly.

I lean my head back when Edmund play a 90's song, I can't help but hum as the song plays on the speaker above my head.

"Bash, are you sure you know how to braid?" Trinity asks, looking up at me. She's sitting on the red-carpeted floor in her room while I'm sitting at her pink-covered bed. I start separating her tangled curly red hair into two sections. I twist up the second sections and secure it with a hair clip.

"You don't trust me, Tri? I watched it many times on YouTube so you don't have to worry. Lizzy won't let me try it on her hair," I say, separating the first section into three sections then twist it and cross it as it was shown on the video.

Her arms are drape on my thighs. "I trust you, Bash. But make sure you will make it fast, you'll still have to help me choose my dress for the Prom." She tilts her head to look at me.

I push her head down. "Stay still if you want me to finish this fast." I try to concentrate, brows meet together.

"Ouch! Easy there, Tiger!" She whines hitting me in my leg.

I laugh. "It was not strong, goldfish," I tell her between laugh. I did the first half of her hair perfectly. "See? Look at this, Tri, it's perfect!" She glances at her braided hair.

Her face lights up, eyes glimmer, looking up at me. "It's perfect, Bash! Thanks!" she says chirpily hugging my right leg.

_____

I've been sitting patiently here in the dress boutique for thirty minutes already. Trinity chooses three dresses she likes. I cross my legs and tap my fingers on my knee. I forget to bring the headset with me so I have to hum some songs in my head.

Trinity emerges from the fitting room wearing a baby blue ankle length dress.

She smiles at me. "What do you think of this, Bash?"

I look at her without expression on my face. I shake my head.

"But it's blue, Bash?" Her shoulders slump.

"Trinity, I'm not a color-blind," I snap, rolling my eyes.

"But we like blue," she insists.

I take a deep breath.

Since I figured out Trinity can draw, I bribed her to help me draw and sketch. Since then we started to get along. But I can't help myself not to annoy and bully her sometimes, okay most of the time. She cried and hid away from me for days until I will apologize. I needed her to help me in my art classes. I'd rather chose her to help me than the art tutor that my parents paid.

"It's plain, Trinity. Try something colorful. You have nice skin color, your hair, and your eyes."

She glares. "I thought you hate my hair and my freckles, and my skin is translucent."

I laugh on my seat as the sales lady approaches. us. "I said Pale and not translucent. Ms. Jenna, can you please help my girlfriend here." I stand up wrapping my arm around Trinity's exposed shoulder, elbowing me in return."Choose a perfect dress for her?"

The sales lady's face lights up like she has some idea. "I know what's perfect for her, she got a beautiful skin with redhead and green eyes." Ms. Jenna scans the dress one by one until she stops and grabs the black, red and green dress.

"Try these on, the size fits for you, dear."

Trinity and I go to the same school from grade school to high school and we become best friends, sometimes I think of her as lesbian because she never dated anyone, unlike me I dated some girlsbbut I broke up with them when they're mean to Trinity and she gets into trouble because of me.

"Stay away from Bash, Ugly Kiara if you don't want me to ruin your pathetic life!" I hear my girlfriend, Alesha yelling at Trinity in the Gym during their P.E class. I just finished practicing football when I decide to talk to Trinity to teach her Calculus. I cross my arms over my chest as I watch them intently.

"You tell your boyfriend to stay away from me, not the other way around!" Trinity responses, her face turns red with anger. She tells me she doesn't like Alesha since I started dating her month ago.

"He will tell you ugly! He's just waiting for the right time, so I'm telling you now. Do you even have a date for Prom? I bet nobody asks you yet, right?" Alesha pokes Trinity in her shoulder.

"I don't go to that lousy dance or prom, that's for brainless cheerleaders who want to lose their virginity with drunk horny boys!"

My lips curve to smile. I can't help but chuckle.

"Ha ha! You're just jealous that Bash chooses me over his loser of a maid!" Alesha yells on Trinity that makes her jumps. They get everyone's attention. Students are already circling around while Trinity and Alesha are in the center.

My jaw clenches. That's totally a lie, first I didn't ask Alesha to be my Prom date and Trinity is my best friend and not my maid. I sprint toward them and push two students to give me a way. Alesha's eyes widen when she notices me. Trinity doesn't look at me in the eyes but I can see the pain in those green orbs.

She walks away out of the crowd but I catch her arm and grip it tightly. She struggles to loosen my grip.

"Let go of me, Bash!" She yells and starts crying, and my heart just breaks.

"Let her go, Bash!" I hear Alesha's whining voice at my back.

"Stay away from me, Alesha! And stay away from Trinity! If I will see you near her again, you will lose your cheerleading team!"

Everyone gasps. Alesha almost fainted, she looks pale, wide eyes and jaw dropped.

"Let's go Trinity." I drag the silent Trinity with me out of the gym.

"We're here, Bash," Edmund announces after opening the car door for me.

Nothing changed on this mansion the last time I stepped in here was three years ago. Just me who got three years older, gained some muscles, more mature and more focused.

I get inside the mansion where I grew up with my sister Lizzy, I smell of sweet scent, a hint of mixed perfume and alcohol? assaulted my nose.

"SURPRISE!" I almost jump at the voices and flicker of lights in the crowded living room. My hand quickly on my frantic chest.

"I could die right now with a heart attack," I say rolling my eyes.

"Welcome home, baby boy!" Mom literally sprints towards me, I meet her halfway with a huge hug.

"I miss you too, mom," I say, kissing her cheek.

"Son, good to see you back!" Dad deep husky voice, one of his strong traits that I got from him. After hugging him I move to my beautiful sister Elizabeth Catherine, she's two years older than me.

"Hello, sweet little brother," she sings with the brightest smile on her face.

"Miss me, Lizzy?" I hug her tight lifting her from the floor causing to she shrieks. "You weight nothing, Lizzy, are you even eating?"

She rolls her eyes as soon as we break our welcome embraced. Everyone came to hug and kiss me except for one person that I longed to see for these whole tormenting three years. I scan the crowd but I didn't find her beautiful face. I take a long deep breath and swallow hard pushing back the thought of what I am afraid of finding out. I feel disappointed.

Lizzy wraps her arm around my waist and whispers in my ear, "she didn't come."

I nod pressing my lips hard into a thin line. Lizzy knows all my secrets. My body suddenly drains out of energy while everyone is enjoying of my come back. I took the champagne glass Lizzy offers for the toast when I hear the familiar voice from my back.

"Sorry! I'm late!"

______

WHO CAME LATE?

Beautiful Readers,

This is the third book (standalone) of SUIT and TIE SERIES but you can read this book without reading the first and the second one but that would be lovely if you will read from GRANTING ONE LAST WISH to TEASING PHOENIX then BASHing TRINITY.

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO VOTE and COMMENT. That would mean so much to me

#Bashty