I frowned at the tone he’d stated those words.
“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Diagnosed in the second grade.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “So sports was better suited for you?”
He nodded. “My father thought so. Around the third time he caught me jumping off the bannister of the staircase onto our living room’s couch, he decided it was time to throw me in sports. Either that or my mother was going to strangle me.”
I giggled. “She was fed up with you, huh?”
He chuckled. “Hell yeah. I was the last of four very headstrong boys. She was ready to kick me out by the time I was twelve.”
“I can imagine.”
“But she let me stay until I went away to college.”
“I bet she misses you now.”
“If her calling every other day is any indication, I’d say you’re right about that.”
“She’s a mom.” I lowered my eyes to the table, pressing my hand against my belly, wishing the sense of sorrow that passed through me to go away. When I lifted my gaze again, Tyler’s eyes were firmly planted on me, inquiring. “Are you close with your brothers?” I asked, again, diverting the conversation.
He stared for another moment before he nodded. “Yeah, as close as we can be with me traveling as much.”
“That’s good”
“How about you? Any siblings?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m my parents’ only child. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’m the only child they had, but Resha, my cousin, as I’m sure you’re aware, came to live with us when she was twelve. After that, we were raised as siblings.”
“And you two are very close.”
“We are.”
We talked some more about our families in between finishing our meals. Once completed, Tyler waved the waitress over for the bill. He paid and then rose to pull my chair out before taking me by the hand again and escorting us out of the restaurant. We headed down toward the center of Williamsport where there was a walking strip that ran along a manmade river.
“Oh, I loved tossing pennies in that fountain as a kid.” I smiled at the fond memories of my parents bringing me to this part of town on summer nights for ice cream and my father would always give me a penny to toss in the well to make a wish.
“Make a wish,” Tyler said low in my ear at the same time I felt him press a penny into the palm of my hand.
I glanced down to see the shiny penny, heads up. I smiled up at him, and for a second got lost in those hypnotizing eyes. Another smile creased his face and that dimple I’d never seen before was back.
“Close your eyes.”
My eyelids fell shut and I silently made a wish before opening my eyes and tossing the penny into the clear water.
“Your turn,” I challenged, turning to him.
“I don’t make wishes.”
I tilted my head to the side.
“I make my own dreams come true.”
I tossed my head back, laughing. “Uh, huh.” I shook my head when he tried to pull me into him by the waist. “I made a wish, so you have to make one.”
He frowned.
“Come on.” I bumped him with my arm, causing him to chuckle.
