Page 61 of Wildflowers and Wide Receivers

“Key West is home to North America’s only living coral barrier reef. We studied them in my ecology of marine environments class, and then I snorkeled them. Top-ten experience right there,” Tyler tells us.

Camden nods, agreeing with him when Sully claps his hands.

“You’re getting off track. Focus.” He turns to me. “So are you in love?” he asks in a teasing voice.

My expression drops to one of a blank stare. “It was three days.”

“Three days seems like it’s not really accurate, given the situation between the two of you. Besides, does it matter? My best friend told his now wife that he loved her after six days,” Tyler says.

I’ve heard him talk a lot about Lance over the years, although I’ve yet to meet him. Good dude from everything he’s said.

“Six days?” Camden chimes in, his face one of disgust. “How is that even possible?”

“When you know, you know.” Tyler shrugs.

“Well, I don’t know.” Actually, I do. There’s definitely love there for her. Has been since the night we met. Whether or not it’s endearing love or a forever kind of love is yet to be seen. “Y’all forget, I just had one night with her before, and there wasn’t a lot of talking going on. When Vivi had her appointment, that’s when I learned her last name is Black, and she’s a freaking surgeon. At the beach, she talked about her dad and how she’s from Minnesota and allergic to shrimp. I literally know nothing about this girl, and she knows nothing about me.”

“But you had a good time?” Reid studies me.

“I did.”

One of the best weekends of my life.

“What did my girl think about her being there?” Tyler asks. I love that he’s always thinking about Vivi.

“Oh, she was on cloud nine. Sophie was another person to play with, and they did all the girly things.”

“Except paint nails, apparently,” Camden blurts out, his gaze falling to my hands.

“Well, that has to be a bonus that they get along so well,” Reid says.

“But what happens if we don’t work out? I can’t help the ball of anxiousness that sits in the pit of my stomach at the possibility of her losing someone else she cares about.”

“You might not have known Sophie for two years, but I have. She’s chill and not going anywhere. Even if y’all don’t work out, she’ll still be coming to our house, and Vivi will see her. She’s nice, and knowing what she knows, she would never leave her hanging,” he tells me.

“Right, and she works with kids, so you know she loves them,” Sully volunteers.

I do know this, but here’s the thing. Other than building sandcastles, I had all the time in the world to think about this, her, us, and I know what’s best for Vivi, and even me, is not to play games. As great as it would be to have a little fun with Sophie, Lord knows she brings me to my knees. I’m not looking for someone who wants a friends-with-benefits situation. That gets messy, and inevitably, feelings get hurt. And no matter what, those feelings can not be Vivi’s.

“I’m seeing her again tonight. Reid, can Vivi hang for a bit?”

“Of course,” he says. Vivi is really easy. She talks to Camille, plays with Izzy, and watches movies or colors. She’s even become a bit of a bookworm and will sit on the couch and read. Unless she’s somehow miraculously in their way, you wouldn’t even know she was visiting.

“I’ll take her tonight,” Tyler says.

“You sure?”

“Absolutely. Just let me know when you want her home.”

I nod and clap him on the shoulder. “Thanks.”

“Big night out on the town?” Sully asks.

“Nope. I’m bringing her back to my place. I thought about it, but I need her to see my life, our life. That way she can form her own decisions about whether this/we are something she wants.”

“All or nothing, huh? I didn’t see that coming,” Tyler says.

I shrug my shoulders.