AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Nice company? You mean me?” he asks innocently, tilting his head to the side with a teasing smile.
I roll my eyes. “Don’t let it get to your head.”
His smile widens. “I wouldn’t dream of it, sugar.”
Shaking my head, I bite back a smile and unfold my napkin, placing it on my lap and picking up my menu. I don’t know how I’ll be able to sit across from Tyler while he looks at me like he is, and not beg him to kiss me the moment we’re alone.
For the next hour, we eat, laugh, and talk about whatever pops into our heads. I don’t think I’ve felt so comfortable around a man, especially one like Tyler. He puts me at ease, but still leaves me in knots at the same time.
When our dessert arrives, we each dig into the slice of blueberry pie we decided to share, and he clears his throat, making me look up at him. I can tell he wants to say something, but he’s trying to find the right words.
“I know you’re not looking for anything right now,” he starts, clearing his throat again. “And your ex fucked up majorly. But I think I can help with that.”
“How?”
“I like you, and you like me.” I open my mouth to object, but then close it, knowing I have no reason to deny it. “I’m not asking for more than friendship,” he says, and I tilt my head to the side to study him.
“Then what are you asking for? Please don’t say friends with benefits, because I hate that term.”
“I wasn’t going to. I was going to propose a little fun.”
“Fun?”
“Yes. Fun. Do you remember what that feels like?”
“Vaguely,” I say sarcastically, taking another bite of pie.
“You need to be reminded how to have fun, and I can give you that.”
“Can you, now?”
“Yes.” He gives me a wide grin – dimples and all – and I find myself nodding.
“Okay.” The word is pulled from me without even realizing it, and his eyes take on another level of blue.
“Excellent,” he says, and we finish our dessert, all the while stealing glances at one another, trying to read the other’s thoughts.
My brain is all fuzzy from the wine during dinner and being around Tyler, so I’m not completely sure what I’ve just agreed to…
On the ride back, the cab of his truck is filled with more tension than was present earlier. My mind is flitting through all the possibilities of all the kinds of fun we can have together, and I have to focus on keeping my breathing even.
Fun without attachments.
Fun without the pressure of a relationship.
Fun without the possibility of being hurt.
If we’re not together, then he can’t cheat on me. He can’t break my heart.
I like the sound of that. Not that I plan on dating a bunch of men now, but I like that being with Tyler means I get to only give him what I choose to. I can keep my heart protected from further damage.
I don’t think I could handle more of that right now.
When Tyler pulls up to the back of The Rusty Anchor, I turn to him. “Thank you for tonight. I had fun.”
“Are you surprised by that?”
“No,” I tell him honestly. I knew a night with him would be perfect.
