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“Yeah, I know. And that was me stopping you,” I tell her, and she just smiles, shaking her head.
Tyler looks between us, and then asks me, “What’s your favorite? What would you suggest?”
“I think you should go with the mini strawberry shortcake cake. I love all things strawberry.”
“Wrap it up, then.”
“Why would he need your favorite?” Courtney asks, turning in her husband’s arms and smiling like she knows all.
“Just go back to mauling your husband,” I tell her, placing the cake in a box. When I hand it off to Tyler, his fingers brush mine, and a current runs up my arms.
“See you later.” His voice drops an octave, and the image of eating this cake with him later floods my brain – the way the cream would taste on his tongue, sliding against mine.
“Mhmm,” I hum, unable to form a response.
Jack kisses Courtney goodbye, and we watch the two men leave.
“Well, well, well, missy,” Ally says the second the door closes. “What’s going on?”
“We went out last night,” I confess. “And we’re going out again tonight. But before you say anything, it’s not what you think.”
“Sure. Whatever you say. But I knew you’d hit it off with him.”
“It is whatever I say. He makes me laugh, and I could use the distraction after Kyle.”
“So, you don’t like him? You do like him?”
“No, I do. I just don’t want a relationship.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “But I like the way I feel when I’m around him. I’m smiling. I’m laughing. I’m comfortable with who I am. I don’t know…” I shrug.
“No, I get it,” she says. “When I first met Jake, I was instantly comfortable with him. I wasmewith him. I worried about nothing but being there in the moment with him. So, I hope Tyler gives you what you need. Whatever that is. He’s a good guy.”
“I know.”
“Just be careful. There will come a time when the fun will either turn into something more, or you’ll have to walk away. This is a small town. There are only so many places to hide if things go wrong.”
“I know,” I repeat. “But I’m not thinking about that right now. My mind is more focused on what his lips will taste like,” I confess, and they laugh.
“Fair enough. And please let me know the verdict.”
I roll my eyes and head back into the kitchen, throwing a maybe over my shoulder as I do.
The rest of the day flies by, and I take the ten-minute walk back to my apartment to calm my nerves. Ever since Tyler made his proposition last night, all I can think about is what our fun will entail, and how soon it’ll start.
Maybe Ashley and Ally are on the right track when they said the best way to get over one man is to get under another. Because all I can think about is being under Tyler, and Kyle is the furthest thing from my mind when I am.
Showering quickly, I twist my hair up into a bun, reapply my makeup, and then slip on a flowy white sundress that has colorful embroidered flowers all over it. And while I look and feel pretty, my nerves have returned tenfold as the clock ticks its way closer to seven o’clock.
I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never done casual.
The knock at the door has me practically jumping out of my skin, and my hand flies to my chest, my heart beating erratically.
I need to calm the hell down and get out of my head.
It’s just him and me. Friends. Fun. Maybe a little kissing. Maybe a little something more.
