Page 21 of Tiger Lilies and Tight Ends

“I’ll try.”

Chapter 8

Tyler

I’ve thought a lot about that call a few days ago with Lance. While Lily doesn’t look outwardly sad or heartbroken, she might be on the inside, and she’s just hiding it.

Should I ask her how she’s doing? Maybe, but honestly, I don’t want to. It’s not that I don’t want to listen to her or that I don’t care about her feelings, I just want her to move on and not be dragged back there by talking about him. Plus, hearing about him makes me angry, and I don’t want to hear about him.

This morning, we had coffee like we always do. I went for a run, and when I got back, Lily had already assumed the position on the couch like she has for the past two weeks. While she seems pretty into whatever it is that she’s working on, she’s starting to worry me a little bit. Maybe Lance is right.

“I think we should get out of the house today,” I tell her as I’m coming down the stairs. I’ve thought this plan through. Where we can go, what we’ll do, and who we’ll do it with.

She pulls her headphones off and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What do you mean?” she asks, as her eyes drag down the length of me. Nope, I take it back, Lance is wrong. While I don’t think she’s fully recovered yet, I don’t think she’s pining for Dean. She just checked me out. Subtly, but still.

“I mean, you’ve been here for two weeks, and I’m not sure you’ve left the house once. You need vitamin D, fresh air, and maybe a tour guide around Tampa.” I pop a smile to attempt to defuse some of the tension that has taken over her body as her brows pull down.

“I go outside. I’ve done yoga on the boat dock almost every day,” she says as I grab a glass and fill it with water. One can never drink too much water.

“You have?”

I haven’t seen her. Then again, it’s better that I don’t. Especially if she goes out there in the little shorts and bends over. Lord help me. Drinking the water in three large gulps, I will the coolness to cool my thoughts and set the glass in the sink.

“Yes. I like it out there. And I’ll have you know I’m up to thirty push-ups,” she says proudly.

“Thirty. Not bad, Kent.”

I’ve now decided that I’m extra grateful that I haven’t seen her work out. Women who take care of themselves, that’s a green flag for me. Exercise is so important not only for our bodies but also for our minds, so I know whoever I end up with one day will be as conscientious as I am.

She lifts one arm, pulls up the sleeve, and flexes for me to show how strong she is. Toned muscles make themselves known from her elbow to her shoulder. Damn, I bet she’s ripped all over, too. My groin starts telling me to abort the mission, but my mouth doesn’t get the message.

“Nice. But be that as it may, you need to get out more.”

She drops her arm, looks down at her computer, and frowns.

I move to sit down in the chair across from her, and she tracks me as I take a seat. While she’s taken over the couch, this tends to be in my spot when I join her in the afternoons to watch a little television.

I lean forward and place my elbows on my knees. “Listen, Lance called, and he’s worried about you. Do I need to be worried about you?”

I take in the details of her face. Even though her hair is up in a messy knot on top of her head, there are wispy hairs all around her forehead. Her skin is clear but dotted with freckles, and her eyes are not cloudy but bright with my favorite color. There are no sad wrinkles present, and her mouth, well, I’m not looking at her mouth. But overall, she looks all right.

“No, I promise I’m good. I’ve just been working a lot, and it’s felt really good. Things are flowing.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but I’ll feel better if you let me take you out.”

She frowns again. I’ve decided I definitely don’t like it when she frowns.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

Her brows rise like she’s surprised I’m asking.

“What are you worried about?”

She flips a piece of her hair up, looks at it, and then looks at me.

“So what? There are plenty of girls with hair your color. Wear a hat. Besides, it’s a Sunday. There will be a crowd, but not too big of one, and honestly, who do you think is going to recognize you here?”