She didn’t need to repay me for anything, I’d do it a hundred times over for her. We were friends. That was what we did.
“As much as it pains me to turn down your sweet mouth, Emma, I know you feel like shit. So how about I take a rain check and you scoot a little closer and watch television with me?”
She smiled, one of those full-wattage Emma smiles that made all the darkness fade away to shades of gray. “As you wish.”
Chapter 7
“Black slacks. Greenpolo,” I said, turning my car’s engine off before checking my lipstick in the mirror.
After a long week of assisting Mr. Horace with his social studies class, this date with Tyler was my beacon in the night—giving me something to look forward to as the days dragged on. Not that I didn’t love history, but the professor was out for a week and had only left the poor substitute instructionsto have the kids read a chapter a day and answer the question at the end.
Since I kept the lesson plans for each instructor on the primary server, it was easy to see how he ran the classroom and modify it slightly—just enough to keep the kids from acting out. The poor substitute had been grossly misinformed about the middle school class’s day-to-day activities.
I was tired and perhaps should have rescheduled with Tyler, and something about going out with him at seven o’clock on a Saturday night was a little too intimate for my liking. I needed to slowly dip my pinky toe into the world of online dating—and that involved meeting at a well-known restaurant for the early-bird special.
Call me extra cautious, nervous, or just plain paranoid; I’d never agree to some dive bar out in the middle of nowhere for our first meet-up. Tyler didn’t seem to mind that I shot down his first suggestion like a duck during hunting season and even said it was nice meeting someone who knew what she wanted.
Ha.That was a laugh. What did I want? If I knew, I wouldn’t be standing in the too-humid, late afternoon heat, plucking up the courage to walk inside.
Miller:Remember, he’s not as handsome as me, so feel free to fall in love and thank me later.
Me:Your ego knows no bounds.
Miller:Oh, sweetheart. You know exactly how big my ego is.
Miller:*GIF of suggestive eyebrows*
Me:*GIF of eye roll*
Miller:But seriously, Em. Text me when you get home or leave the place.
My heart did this weird little pitter-patter dance inside my chest as I stared at the words on my phone. What was I supposed to say?
Thank you for being a friend?Too Dorothy.
Thank you for being there for me?Too friendly.
So long, and thanks for all the orgasms?Too universally stupid.
“Terribly funny. Really witty,” I said to the space, gripping my phone. Why did it matter how I answered? I’d never been tongue-tied around him, always ready to go toe-to-toe on any topic. But now? Right this second? My mouth was dry, and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth like saltwater taffy. My ears buzzed, and pure adrenaline coursed through my veins—all because he did what every regular, caring friend would.
Right?Yes. Of course. Marietta and Rose had already texted saying the same thing, and Angelina mentioned it yesterday.
It was normal. So why, if it was expected, did I feel such a rush of pure, unfiltered joy?
That question was best left for another time, and I responded to Miller with a thumbs up before checking my reflection in the rearview one more time and heading inside.
The blast of air conditioning hit my overheated skin, and I sighed, taking two deep breaths before smiling at the host. My eyes tracked the people sitting at the bar, landing on Tyler, who was perched at the end. As if he could feel me staring, he turned around and waved. He grabbed his beer and approached me, smiling to show a dimple on either cheek.
He was good-looking and tall. Really tall. Like a basketball player, pine tree kind of tall. Not that my five-foot-four frame was anything to complain about, but this guy had to be six foot, six inches.At least.
“Emma?”
I nodded, holding out my hand to shake his. His palm engulfed mine, and he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the back before stretching back to his full height and winking. His eyes were dark but kind, making him look mysterious and charming as my cheeks flushed, and I glanced at my sandals, noticing thehugesneakers he wore.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you officially, Emma,” he purred, smiling in a way that would highlight his dimples. “Would you like to have a drink at the bar before dinner?”
“Sure. Nice to meet you too, Tyler.”
