“Our parents. Our mothers anyway. My dad may pause for a minute, but he’ll let my mother react like he usually does.”
“Right. Well, they did ask us to get along, right?”
“Right.” Tyler snickered. “And my mother keeps commenting on who of her friends has grandchildren with a not-so-subtle side-eye. They’ve probably waited for this forever. The shock of it all is just our problem.” His lips curled into a smirk, and I wanted to climb over the console and devour them, along with the rest of him.
“The shock is real,” I agreed. “But as crazy as it sounds, I’m excited. I never planned for this and I’m positive neither did you, but…” I clicked my tongue against my teeth. “I want it. It’s been a long time since I’ve truly looked forward to anything. And”—I dropped my gaze to where my hands were wringing each other in my lap— “I’m glad it’s you.”
“I am too. Excited and…” He slid his hand along the steering wheel and lifted his head. “I’m glad it’s you too.”
I looked out the window, blinking away the threat of a sob. Whiplash was right. Three months ago, Tyler and I were adversaries. Not as vicious as we were younger, but not amiable in the least. I’d never imagined we’d be here: Tyler swoony instead of combative, me being honest about feelings instead of just endeavoring to piss him off. Maybe times really had changed from the awful way we’d treated each other in our younger days.
“Enough,” my father yelled as he stretched his hands out at his sides, holding Tyler and me at a far enough distance apart from each other to stay out of the other’s face. “You upset your mothers when you do this.”
“Helen invited me here,” I said. “I didn’t sneak in. You say I’m rude? Have manners to at least say hello.”
“That’s because you’re everywhere,” Tyler sneered, his heaving chest pressing into my father’s hand. “Can’t you stay home?”
“Aw, do you think I’m going to upset your little girlfriend outside?” I jutted my lip into a pout.
The more Tyler glared at me, the hotter he was. Those bottomless golden eyes narrowed while his chiseled jaw ticked. He could do so much better than that mousy thing he’d brought over today if he had a better personality. Or a personality period.
“Why do you care so much where I am anyway? Obsessed much?” I pressed, feeling him seethe from where he stood.
“Olivia, basta ya!”
I stiffened and stepped back on instinct at my father’s tone. Dad only yelled at me in Spanish when he meant business.
“Sorry, Javier. Look, I’m going back outside.” Tyler shot me one last scowl before stalking into his yard with the rest of his family.
“Mija,” Dad started, glaring at me despite the twitch of his lips. “Are you sure you don’t want to major in law instead of marketing? You love to argue.”
“I know everyone thinks I start with him all the time.” I groaned at his raised brow. “Fine, maybe I do or used to, but he can’t even say hello like a person.”
“Someday,” he began, framing my face with his hands, “not sure when, but you guys will work this out. But until then, we’re guests at Helen and Sam’s house. Whatever your reasons are, check whatever you have against their son at the door when you’re here, got it?”
I nodded and followed Dad back outside.
Someday. Right.
“I know you have to get up early, but you can come in for a bit if you’d like,” I told Tyler as he parked in front of the house.
He smiled as he shut the engine off.
“Do youwantme to come in?” He stretched his arm over the back of my seat.
“Doyouwant to come in?” I fought a smile. Asking him to come inside was dangerous, but I wasn’t ready for the night to end yet.
“Yeah, I do.” He sucked in his bottom lip, and all those sensitive places on my body I’d mentioned to him earlier flared to life.
“Look at us being direct,” I said, a little breathless as I opened the door, not knowing what else to say other thanthe zipper is in the back this time.
“I know. The milestones are piling up.” He held out his hand as I climbed out of the passenger seat. It was on the tip of my tongue to tease him about his sudden show of chivalry but, for once in my life, I shut my mouth and enjoyed it.
“I can make you some coffee.”
“Sure,” he said as his gaze swept up and down my body, the rush of heat searing my skin along its path.
I made my way to my door, hoping Tyler didn’t notice my quivering hand as I finally slid the key into the lock. Ridiculous first-time and first-date jitters took hold of me. We’d already had sex and I’d known Tyler my whole life, although never like this. He’d been different since the wedding, but there was an ease to him tonight I’d never seen.
