Tyler laughed and ran a hand through his dirty-blonde hair. “Just making sure. I don’t want to make any moves if you’re into someone else.” He gave me a flirtatious smile, and my steps faltered a little.
Whoa. Hold on.
Had I missed, like, a thousand clues? Had I really been so obsessed with my new job, settling in, and avoiding my boss that I hadn’t even noticed that Ty was actually into me?
Suddenly, the veil lifted, and the unintentional friend-zoning I’d cloaked him in abruptly disintegrated.
So the invitation to watch him sing was because he liked me.
It was at this moment that I took a second to really lookat him. He was a few inches taller than me, and he had a nice smile. His dirty-blond hair was swept back from his face, thick and neatly styled. And his eyes—the deep brown I’d always found quite beautiful—were now staring at me intently, gauging my reaction.
I realized I needed to respond.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about Jay. Nothing is going on there,” I said, letting out a nervous laugh and trying to sound confident.
Tyler’s smile didn’t falter. “Well, that’s good to hear. I’m happy you came today, Hope. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
I blushed. Suddenly, the whole dynamic shifted in a matter of seconds. He’d been so nice to me from the moment I arrived that, in my desperation to find my footing, I’d latched onto him and Macey as lifelines of sorts. They’d become such good friends that I hadn’t stopped to consider how they might view the relationship.
“I’m glad I came too, Ty. I’ve had a lot of fun today.”
He took a deep breath, as if gathering his courage. Then, without another word, he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to my cheek.
The kiss was unexpected, and I stilled in surprise but didn’t pull away. Tyler’s lips were very warm, lingering against my chilled skin for only a second before he pulled back.
When he came back into view, he wore a sheepish smile, his cheeks flushed.
“Sorry. You just looked too adorable not to do that.”
I chuckled. “I don’t know how I could possibly look adorable with this hair.” I gestured to my helmet hair. “But thank you.”
Wow. I really felt like I’d been thrown a ball from left field. I kicked myself for not being more prepared. I wasn’t upset, just surprised, and trying to decide how I felt.
Could I feel something for Tyler?
Maybe.
And that was more than I usually felt about anyone. I’d had a few boyfriends in high school and one in college, but nothing had ever really stuck. It was hard to date when I was consumed with my studies twenty-four-seven. I’d never had the time or space to think about a relationship. And it wasn’t like my father would’ve ever let me anyway.
Now that I was actually paying attention, I felt open to the idea. Tyler was good. Tyler was sweet and normal. And most important of all, he wasn’t my boss or a dentist.
“You didn’t hate it?” he asked, sliding his hands into his pockets and shifting his weight.
“No, I didn’t hate it,” I said, reaching out to take his hand from where he’d tucked it away. “It was sweet.”
Someone genuinely kind and calm with a good personality and a handsome face wouldn’t be a bad way to go.
“So, I guess that means you’ll still be coming to watch me play next week?” His eyes were hopeful.
“Most definitely. It’s a date,” I said, and we began our walk back up the path.
The lanterns lining the property made everything feel incredibly romantic, and I was feeling really happy as we started up the steps.
Then, as we neared the last dozen or so steps leading back to the party, my foot caught on the edge of one of the wooden stairs. My dirty shoelaces snagged on the rough corner, and I stumbled forward, instinctively reaching out with both hands to catch myself.
I wasn’t fast enough.
I fell face-first into one of the steps. A sharp pain shot through my face as my temple struck one of the thick wooden planks.
