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I laugh. It’s cute seeing him ask permission to do anything. “That’d be okay.”
He jumps out of the truck while wearing a huge smile. My eyes train on him as he walks briskly around the front and stops at my door. Tyler jiggles the handle until it opens. He takes my hand like a true gentleman and helps me hop out of the truck.
We walk hand in hand to Granny’s front porch and then I turn to him as we stand there. “You’re a really good actor.”
“I’m not completely acting, Avery. I really do like you.” He touches my nose with th
e tip of his finger. “Believe me, if I didn’t have the fear that my dad is looking down on me from heaven and shaking his head in disappointment, I’d be all over you.”
“You think he watches you from heaven?” I ask.
“I think he watches me all the time. Since he passed, I’ve felt his presence at different times.”
“What do you mean?”
“There have been signs from Dad.” Tyler holds up his hand. “I know that sounds completely insane because I never used to believe in that kind of thing either, but I’ve seen some things that have made me a believer.”
“Like what?”
“Lots of things. Some small, a couple majorly mind-blowing. Like I can be driving alone and be thinking of Dad, and just talking out loud, pretending that he can hear me, and a song about a father’s love will pop on the radio at that very moment. Or dreams that seem so real it’s like he’s right there with me. It’s really hard to explain, and admitting it out loud to you makes it sound a lot crazier than it did in my mind, but it’s like I know these are signs from him, pointing me in the right direction like he’s my guardian angel. I want to make him proud of me.”
“I have no doubt he is, and he’s probably pretty proud of you for turning me down.”
Tyler laughs. “I think you’re right, and he knows how much of a struggle this is for me too.”
It’s crazy how when I was chunky Avery, a guy like Tyler would’ve laughed in my face if I’d thrown out an offer like I did earlier, which is why I immediately jumped to the conclusion that he didn’t like me. I guess I should be glad at times like this that I have a mother who believes your looks and style are everything. She’s the one responsible for starting me on a path to being healthier. To her being sexy is everything. I guess she was getting tired of me not gaining enough male attention so she pushed me to change.
“So,” he says in a singsong voice and then clears his throat. “I guess this is goodnight.”
“Yep,” I say, popping my lip on the “p.”
I’ve never been this anxious waiting on a guy to kiss me. Most don’t give me the chance to build up any anticipation. Most take kisses from me if that’s what they want. But Tyler is different than any other guy I’ve ever dated, and more than anything I want his kiss.
He grins, leans in, and gives me a little peck on the lips, but doesn’t linger long enough to allow the fireworks that were building to explode.
I’m left unsatisfied because Tyler’s holding back. If we are going to be special friends, I need a little more than that in the lip-locking department in order for this to work.
He begins to move away, but I’m not allowing him off the hook so easy.
I curl my fingers around Tyler’s neck and pull his face back down to mine. “Oh, no. You’re not done yet,” I whisper, then plant my lips on his and wrap my arms around his neck.
His arms snake around my waist and he deepens our kiss. A throaty noise erupts from the back of Tyler’s throat and he presses his toned body against mine. I can feel how much he wants me through the stiff material of his jeans. My pulse pounds in my ears as my panties grow wet.
Tyler pulls away and I let him this time because I feel satisfied with his last attempt.
He grins as he stares down at my face. I’m sure my cheeks are flushed as my mouth hangs open because I’d like nothing more than to continue this make-out session.
Tyler cradles my face in his hands before he leans in and kisses me lightly one last time. “Goodnight, Avery.”
I flex my fingers in a slow wave as I watch him turn toward his truck. The moment he’s out of sight, I press my fingers against my still-tingling lips. Stopping at kissing only is going to be a huge challenge for us both.
AVERY
As soon as I shut the door behind me, Dad shouts my name from his upstairs room. I take the stairs two at a time, surprised by my newfound energy. I still feel all fluttery inside. I’m just as excited about my relationship with Tyler as I would be if I were in a committed relationship. This is the first time a guy has ever made me feel this crazy after just one date.
“Yes, Dad?” I ask, nudging his door open a little more.
“You had a phone call while you were gone. I didn’t mean to pry, but you forgot your phone here and I saw the caller ID when it was ringing. Your cousin Stacy called,” he explains.
