“No, dad, boomers are older people. You’re definitely Gen X at most.” Jared motions me to follow him, towards the kitchen. He shouts back at his retreating parents’ back as they step out the door, “Have fun at dinner tonight!”
We circle back into the kitchen, a clean kitchen. “Dinner? I thought you needed help making egg rolls.”
“I do,” Jared says. “We finished rolling them already, I need your help frying them.”
“Okay.” I shed off my jacket on one of the barstools. “Where do you want me?”
Jared goes to the sink to wash his hands. “Can you go outside real quick? There’s a storage shed on the side of the house, there should be oil there, I can’t find any here. It’s next to the trampoline, you can’t miss it.”
“Uh, sure. I’ll be back.”
The shed stands there, next to the trampoline just as Jared had described.
As I approach, a soft glow catches my eye. Strings of fairy lights twinkle in the darkness, illuminating a cozy setup. My heart skips a beat as I spot Serena leaning against the trampoline, amidst a sea of cushions and blankets, a shy smile playing on her lips.
Serena
“Surprise,” I say, my voice slightly shaky from excitement and nervousness.
I can hear Tyler’s breath hitch in his throat while a mix of emotions floods through me. “What–”
“I’m sorry.”
“Serena–”
“No,” I interrupt, closing the distance between us. “Let me say it.”
Tyler nods.
“I’m sorry for running away that night,” I start, my voice trembling slightly. “When you said you were in love with me, it scared me. Love terrifies me–I’ve always been afraid of it. The thought of falling, being in love… I’ve kept everyone at arm’s length because I’m scared they’ll leave me, just like my parents did, intentionally or not.”
I close my eyes briefly, exhaling slowly. “You scare me so much, Tyler. You weren’t supposed to mean this much to me. I never wanted to find love, because of everything I’ve gone through. But here we are. I fell for you and I’m still falling for you.”
I take a hold of his hands and notice they’re slightly sweaty. “I should have said yes that night,” I continue, my heart pounding. “When you asked me to let you in. I’m sorry I didn’t at the time, but I was so overwhelmed that I ran from you and it’s probably one of my biggest mistakes I’ve made. I realize all this time,” I half-laugh as I try to summon all the courage I can for my next words, “I don’t want to watch the sunrises and sunsets with anyone else but you.”
“Love scares the hell out of me, too.” He admits firmly and gently. “But you? You’re someone I don’t want to lose.”
“I have one question for you.”
A grin tugs at the corner of his lips. “Ask away, sunshine.”
My lips curve into a shy smile. “Will you stay?”
Tyler’s smile widens, and his eyes glimmer. “For as long as you’ll have me.”
Without another word, without needing any more reassurance, I stand on my tiptoes, closing the space between us. Our lips meet in a soft, tender kiss. Tyler brings his hands to the sides of my face then wrapping around my neck and I can feel his touch burning every inch of my body.
With a soft giggle, I break the momentary silence, our foreheads gently leaning in together.
“What’s funny?” Tyler asks, his voice a soft murmur.
“I’m just really into you,” I admit, a playful grin dancing on my lips.
“Justinto me?”
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. You’re it for me, golden boy.” I reply, feeling a rush of happiness spreading through me.
“Golden boy?” his eyebrows arch in mild surprise. “Where did that come from?”
