The rest of his set was fairly upbeat, so thankfully, I didn’t slip into any more daydreaming. Two Cokes and three songs later, Tyler’s set came to an end, and everyone applauded. He really had done a great job.
When he came back to the booth, his eyes were bright with a light I didn’t typically see at work. I could tell he loved music and singing, and it was actually nice to see him in his element.
“Did you enjoy it?” he asked, a little breathless.
I nodded, giving him a genuine smile. “Yes, you were amazing. I could have listened to you all night. Your lyrics are incredible, and your voice—” I nodded again. “It was really good.”
His smile widened, clearly happy with my response. “Thank you, Hope. That means a lot.”
“Want another drink?” I asked, gesturing to his half-empty glass.
“Actually, I was hoping we could get out of here, maybe? Go somewhere.”
“Sure,” I said, feeling a little nervous for some reason.Go somewhere?What did that mean exactly? He had kissed my cheek at the barbecue, which had been fairly innocent, but now I was wondering if he would attempt to kiss me again if given the chance, and this time not on the cheek… The thought sent my stomach into nervous knots. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d kissed someone. My first year of college, maybe? I’d been so busy with school that I’d only been on a few dates, and neither of them had ended with anything physical. The sad truth was that I was out of practice with all this dating stuff, and the thought of a freaking kiss was making me nervous.
He smiled and held out his hand. I took it, trying to remain calm, as he led me out the door into the starlit night.
We got to his truck, and we drove to a local park fifteen minutes from the bar. It was the same park that we’d gone to for the Community Fair but it looked much different without all the tents. It had a playground and a little gazebo with sparkling string lights. It was an adorable place surrounded by tall pine trees, with a great view of the lake.
“Come on,” Tyler said, coming around to open my passenger-side door. I unclipped my heels before jumping down, deciding to go barefoot rather than endure the blisters I was accumulating.
My toes squished into the slightly damp grass as we made our way across the park to a secluded spot where a gap in the trees provided a view of the stars.
“Isn’t this perfect?” Tyler said, pulling out the picnic blanket tucked beneath his arm. He appeared to be vibrating with energy after his set, and I was seeing him in yet another new light. Even when we’d gone zip-lining, I hadn’t seen him this happy—so carefree.
He fanned the blanket across the grass so we could sit side by side on the soft flannel. “I love coming here to clear my head.”
I nodded, leaning back on my hands to gaze up at the sky. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d stargazed.
“I can see why. It’s beautiful out here.”
“Yeah. It’s a great place to talk.”
He glanced at me and flushed a little. I could sense that he was unsure where to lead the conversation, and it was sort of adorable that he was slightly flustered.
“So, tell me more about you, Ty. What’s your family like? Where are you from?”
He seemed relieved that I’d picked a topic. “So, I’m originally from San Jose. I’m an only child. My mom’s a nurse, and my dad’s an ENT specialist. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to work in medicine.”
“I love that,” I said. “Sounds like your parents are great people.”
“Well, they’ve always been so supportive. Part of the reason I stuck with it so long is because of them. I only have one year left now, and I’ll be graduating. They’ve always urged me to keep going, thankfully.”
“That’s wonderful,” I replied softly, my gaze fixed on the stars. I felt a pang somewhere deep in my chest. Longing, maybe? To have a situation where my parents supported me—it felt like a broken dream, an impossible wish.
“What about your parents, Hope? Do you have a close relationship with them?”
I hesitated, unsure whether I should be honest. Was it too heavy for a first date? I shifted uncomfortably on the blanket, unsure of how much to say. “Um, not really,” I replied vaguely, my voice barely above a whisper. “We don’t have the best relationship.”
His brow furrowed, but he seemed to sense my reluctance to talk more about the subject. “I’m sorry if I’m prying,” he said gently. “You don’t have to talk about it if you’re not comfortable.”
“No, it’s okay,” I assured him quickly, offering a small smile. “It’s just, complicated.”
I’d never really confided in anyone other than Emily about all the stuff with Dr. Pike and my dad. But I didn’t feel brave enough to speak about it again now.
As we sat side by side under the vast expanse of the night sky, I felt a pang of guilt. Tyler’s openness about his family contrasted sharply with the walls I’d put up. I wanted to talk to him, but the thought of burdening him with the intensity of my situation seemed somehow selfish. Also, speaking about my anxiety was always nerve-wracking. It was a side of me that felt uncontrollable, and I knew there was a stigma surrounding mental health. I didn’t doubt Tyler would be kind, but would it change his view of me?
Tyler reached out, his hand brushing against mine on the blanket. “Hope,” he murmured softly, breaking the silence. “Whatever you’re going through, you don’t have to face it alone.”
