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He smirks in his classic Tyler way. “All I remember is you offering to bring me to urgent care, and then I woke up in your car.”
“Pretty much sums it up. You weren’t out for long, but still. It felt like forever trying to drag you to the car. I never realized how sick a sunburn can make you.” I rub my arms, the air chilly inside the small room. I’ve honestly never heard of getting sun poisoning from a sunburn. I just assumed it was from being in the sun too long, burned skin or not. But it makes sense, considering how bad Tyler’s is. He spent way too much time in the sun for it to get that bad.
“That makes you and me both. I won’t ever forget to apply sunscreen again.”
“Good, you crazy boy. How did you not feel your skin burning under the hot sun?”
Tyler shrugs as he inspects the IV in his hand. “I was too distracted while playing volleyball.”
“Ah, beach volleyball. Burning human skin for centuries,” I tease as I shake my head. He forgot, plain and simple. Volleyball has nothing to do with it.
“Facts. Glad you get it.”
I chuckle under my breath, hoping he doesn’t hear, but of course he does.
“Maybe next time you can help me remember.”
My eyes snap to his.Is he really flirting with me right now?
If his expression tells me anything, it’s that he is, a playful grin stretched across his handsome face.
I smile back and whisper, “Maybe.” And then I raise my voice and quickly change the topic. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yeah, a little. Mainly tired. I slept like shit last night.”
“I bet. Couldn’t get comfortable?”
“No. And I have a feeling the worst is yet to come.”
“If you blister, I imagine it might be hard to get comfortable. Hopefully, the cream helps.” I still remember one bad sunburn I got. It only blistered a little, but I still recall to this day how bad the pain was. I thought my skin was set on fire. I vowed never to forget sunscreen again. It seems like everyone has a similar story, learning the hard way just how brutal the sun can be. Tyler is just a little late to the game. Or he didn’t learn his lesson the first time.
“Thanks for bringing me, Lo. If you want to go, you can. I’ll ask Don to bring my Jeep over, and I’ll give him a ride back to the shop.”
“I don’t mind. I owe you a favor, anyway.”
“Lo, I fixed your tire for free because I wanted to. You don’t owe me anything.”
“I’m not leaving, Ty. Deal with it.” Now it’s my turn to smirk.
He throws his head back and laughs but then immediately winces in pain. “Fuck,” he whines between laughs. “I forgot how bad it hurts to move.”
“Better not laugh, then.”
“It’s your fault for making me.”
“I didn’t make you do anything. This sun exposure is poisoning your head too, isn’t it?”
Tyler laughs again and winces more. “Stop! See, it’s you!”
We both crack up, and when we stop, we lock eyes on one another, a loud silence falling between us. A memory whiplashes me from the side, one of our many late nights on the beach spent laughing at each other with stupid jokes. It’s like I’m jolted back there. Even the smell and sound of the ocean are crystal clear.
I know he’s remembering too, his eyes searching mine as a silent conversation passes between us.
Then the door swings open, and the moment is gone.
* * *
I spend the next several days job hunting and visiting with Cat. It felt like old times, as if no time had passed between us.
