I’d hoped they would have dissipated after I won the bet at the beginning of the tour and he was no longer allowed to make jokes about or bring up our night together, but they haven’t. He's still gorgeous. And sweet. And charming. And funny. And completely out of my league.
Do I think he regrets sleeping with me? Well, he’s a guy, so I’m going to go with no. But do I think he has feelings for me? The same feelings I have for him? Absolutely not. I think he enjoys watching me squirm. Enjoys having the upper hand and knowing the effect he has on me. I think this is all a game to him.
Even though to me, it’s become very real.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Eric
? Family - Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors ?
Of course, even though I specifically asked them not to, my entire family is waiting for us at the airport, and I groan as I look at the signs they made. My brother is holding one that says, WELCOME HOME FROM PRISON, ERIC in big, block letters. Right next to him, my sister holds one that says, WE KNEW YOU DIDN’T KILL AND EAT THOSE PEOPLE.
I smile and shake my head. I’m used to their antics, but I swear to God if any of them make this weird for Tyler, I will disown them all.
Without even looking at her, I know the moment Tyler sees them, because she bursts into a fit of laughter. Laughing so hard she has tears running down her cheeks.
“Oh my god,” she says, wiping at her eyes with one hand and squeezing my arm with the other. “I love them already.”
“Tyler,” my mom says, ignoring me completely and wrapping her in a hug. “It’s so great tofinally meet you. We’ve heard so much about you.” Tyler looks over my mom’s shoulder and at me.
Shit.
“You…told them about me?” she asks. I shoot my mother a look and she winks before stepping back to stand next to my dad.
“Well, I…” I say, trying to think of an excuse that wasn’t as psychotic as,Of course I told them about you. They never thought I’d love again and they’re desperate for more grandchildren. “I had to let them know you were coming.” Tyler’s face falls a bit before my sister steals her attention.
After introductions, we head to baggage claim to get our stuff before heading to the parking lot. Conveniently, the only vehicle with room for Tyler and me is my sister’s minivan, and, conveniently, the only seats left in said minivan are in the very back on the bench seat next to my nephew, Colin, who, conveniently, decides to take up more room on his side of the seat than is necessary. Which leaves me pressed against Tyler for the thirty minute drive to my parents’ house.
Whatever the plan is, they’re clearly all in on it, and I can’t decide if I should be happy or angry. They know Tyler and I can’t touch each other, yet here they are. Fanning the flames. Inviting temptation and testing my patience.
When we arrive at the house, I grab our bags from the back of the van and we all file inside. My mom immediately goes to the kitchen to start preparing lunch while my nieces and nephews settle into the living room to play Mario Kart.
“Come on,” I say to Tyler, nodding toward the stairs. “I’ll show you the spare rooms.”
“Oh, sorry,” my mom says, popping her head around the corner from the kitchen. “Didn’t I tell you? You need to sharea room.” Tyler freezes mid-step, and I whip around and narrow my eyes at my mother.
“No,” I say through gritted teeth. “You failed to mention that important piece of information.”
She waves her hand dismissively.
“April, Dustin, and the kids are staying this week, so the other rooms are full.”
I divert my seething gaze to my sister, who smiles and shrugs.
“Bed bugs,” she says. “They’re fumigating the house. It’s a whole thing. Huge outbreak around here.”
“Uh-huh,” I say, before turning back to Tyler, who is still frozen in place on the stairs. “You can have my bedroom. I’ll sleep down here on the couch.” I tell her.
“Eric, no,” she says. “This is your house. If anyone’s sleeping on the couch, it’s me.” She tries to push past me, but my mom’s voice stops her again.
“No one is sleeping on the couch,” she says, her tone final.
“Tyler clearly doesn’t want to share a bed, and I’m not about to—”
“I don’t mind,” Ty says, cutting me off. My eyes dart to hers. She shrugs, turns, and heads up the stairs without another word.
I turn back to my mom and sister, who are looking at each other and grinning like the co-conspirators they are.
