The other thing that had pleased me was when Zac and Tyler returned to the site after finishing up that other job. This meant Tyler and I could have lunch together as often as we wanted to, with Ethan unable to say a thing about it.
It hadn’t taken long for word to get out about my showdown with the boss over his stupid rule. Zac, in particular, appeared overjoyed, immediately packing up his lunch while muttering something about needing to collect supplies in town.
As we sit on the top step and watch Zac’s truck disappearing down the road, Tyler nudges me with his shoulder. “I wouldn’t mind collecting some supplies in town.”
There’s no missing his hidden message with him having told me all about Zac’s infatuation with Kelly Sanderson, the client at the job they’d not long finished.
“Now that you mention it, there was something I wanted to pick up in town, but it’s very heavy, so I’ll probably need your help.”
There’s no stopping Tyler’s laughter in response to this, although he calms down enough to splutter out, “If it’s the model I’m thinking of, it’s also got some length and width to it.”
“That’s the one. Luckily, I’ve got the perfect spot for it.”
“Jeez, you two, get a room, will you?”
I’ve no need to turn around to know this complaint is from Cole, although he’s got a point.
“Tyler, you heard the man.” I’m on my feet a second later, racing down the front steps with Tyler right behind me.
Cole’s, “Aww freaking hell, I didn’t mean it!” follows in our wake, but it’s too late with me already opening the door of Tyler’s truck. He’s not far behind, with us leaving in a squeal of tires soon after.
We’re in the shower at his place in town, the lease still having a couple of months to run, when Tyler stops briefly with his lathering of me. “Don’t forget, we’ve got Zoe’s school play this afternoon.”
In order to clear my head enough to respond sensibly, I turn off the hot tap, resulting in us being blasted with freezing water. This both dampens my arousal and rinses me clean of any remaining suds. It’s brutal, but effective.
“That’s today? I thought it was tomorrow?”
Tyler wrenches off the cold water before looking at me sheepishly. “I told you they’d had to change it, didn’t I?”
By now, I’m out of the shower and wrapping a towel around myself. Only once my hands are dry, do I grab my phone off the kitchen counter and open my calendar.
There, as clear as a bell, is Zoe’s play, set for three o’clock tomorrow.
“Tyler!” After slamming my phone down, I rub myself dry, conscious I need to get home and tidy up properly. This will be the first time I’ve been to a school event, and I don’t want to rock up looking as though I’ve just had toe-curling sex, even if it’s true.
“Sorry, I thought I’d told you about it. We’re not due there for an hour and a half. We’ll be okay.”
As I struggle into my clothes, my still damp skin making this nigh on impossible, I don’t share his confidence. The only plus in all of this is that I’d had my hair bundled up for the shower.
Soon enough we’re on our way back to my place, with Tyler even turning the truck into the driveway and going as far as he can. The second he applies the brakes, I’m out of the car.
It isn’t just that I need to change into something that will have me blending with all those moms. I want to call into a florist and get Zoe some flowers to celebrate this milestone.
The other thing I’m conscious of is looking nice in front of Tyler’s mom. It doesn’t matter that the woman is as down to earth as they come. I want to make a good impression.
All this has me a bundle of nerves when we pull up outside the school with minutes to spare. Most of this is thanks to the florist taking as long with the bouquet as Mother Nature took to grow the flowers.
We meet Sarah, Tyler’s mom, outside the hall doors with her relief at spotting us, only reinforcing how late we really are. It’s also something that sees us sitting in the very back row.
Too far back to see much of what’s going on, and too far back for the third princess in from the left to see we’ve made it. As I sit with the small, and very pink, bouquet in my lap, I vow to make it up to Zoe.
TYLER
I’m in bliss as I sit with Lily on one side and my mom on the other. Meanwhile, my daughter is up on stage showing a complete lack of talent for singing and dancing.
This doesn’t bother me with her already showing herself to be smart as a whip with subjects like writing and math. And despite what her teacher says, there’s plenty of time for her to decide what she wants to be when she grows up.
The play is both excruciating and hilarious. However, the humor is less intentional, and more to do with the individuality of some cast members and their desire to improvise.
