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I don't bother taking a shower as I rush to my room to grab a sweatshirt. Making my way to Archer's room, I find him engrossed in playing with his Lego sets on the floor.
"Hey buddy, how would you like to visit grandma today? Just for a little while," I suggest, hoping I don't come across as completely insane to him.
"I don't know. I'm playing with my Legos," Archer replies, eyeing his toys longingly.
"How about we get you even more Legos?" I propose, hoping the idea will sway him.
"Okay!" he exclaims excitedly, jumping up from the floor and running off to find his shoes.
Less than an hour later, my mind feels like it's racing a million miles an hour as I pull into my mom's driveway. Maybe I should have called ahead.
"Jared, I wasn't expecting you," my mom exclaims upon opening the door and finding Archer and me standing there. "But what a lovely surprise!" she adds, bending down to hug Archer.
"Yeah, sorry for barging in. I was wondering if you could watch Archer for a bit," I begin, lowering my voice. "I wanted to go talk to Tyler."
My mom gives me a sympathetic smile and steps aside, gesturing for Archer to come inside.
"Can I have a snack, Grandma?" Archer asks innocently, unaware of the situation.
"Of course, sweetheart. Say goodbye to Daddy," my mom says.
"Bye, Daddy," he replies with a smile before disappearing into the house.
"Bye, kiddo," I call out, even though he's already out of sight.
Mom looks at me sympathetically. "I'm sure Tyler will come around. Eventually."
"Let's hope so," I grumble, giving her a quick hug before turning to head back to my car.
* * *
I'll belucky if I make it past Tyler’s front door, considering how upset he is with me. I almost want to turn around, get Archer, and go home, but I know I need to at least attempt to make things right.
Approaching his door, I'm grateful that Maria is the one to open it. She gives me a sympathetic smile but doesn't say anything as she steps aside from the doorway to let me in.
"I'll get Tyler," she tells me softly before disappearing up the stairs.
I wait anxiously for Tyler to come down. I'm unsure how he'll react when he sees me standing in his living room, but I can't imagine it will be a positive response.
"You didn't say it was him," Tyler says to Maria as he descends the steps, then turns around to head back upstairs. However, Maria blocks his path.
"I better not see you upstairs until you've worked something out," Maria tells him sternly before turning around and heading back up, giving Tyler and me some privacy.
Tyler glances at me briefly before letting out a huff and taking a seat on the living room couch. Unsure of what to do, I cautiously approach the couch where he's sitting and take a seat at the opposite end.
"What do you want?" Tyler finally grumbles, not even bothering to look in my direction.
I sigh. “You know why I’m here.”
He couldn't possibly think I'd let almost forty years of friendship go down the drain.
"Didn't occur to me you were too concerned about me, considering you were sleeping with my sister behind my back," he bites out, and I cringe at his words.
"Tyler, I..." I begin, but I don't even know what I want to tell him.
Because he's right. I did sleep with his sister. And I kept it a secret because I knew he would be furious. I understand why; I would probably be upset, too, if I were in his shoes. But I couldn't resist. It was inevitable. Like gravity. Monica is just so... Monica.
Beautiful, fiery, a smart ass, devoted to those she cares about. She's truly an amazing human being.
