Page 102
* * *
Rory was placing the last image of the night into the yearbook when a knock sounded at the door.
“Holy crap, it’s finally finished,” Vanessa said. “I feel like we need to celebrate.”
“Melanie brought over some sparkling cider,” she said, pointing to the fridge as she went for the door. She swung it open and felt like she was going to combust.
Tyler was at the door, still in his tux. His bow tie was unclipped, swinging around his neck, the top two buttons undone. He was leaning against the door frame, his hands in his pockets. He looked tired, but his eyes were bright as he looked down at her.
“Maybe hold off on that,” she heard Melanie say. “I think we’re about to get kicked out.”
Vanessa made some kind of purring noise. Rory turned to glare at her, but Vanessa just gave her a cheeky smile in response.
Rory brought her attention back to Tyler. “Is Zoe okay?”
“She’s at Helen’s for the night,” Tyler explained. “And I told them to call me if they needed me.”
Rory nodded, a lump forming in her throat. Words eluded her.
As if reading her mind, Tyler brushed his fingers against her. “Can we talk?”
She followed him out onto the porch, where he leaned against the railing. She shivered.
“Cold?” he asked, reaching to shrug off his jacket.
“Don’t,” Rory protested. “So cliché. Let me just go get my sweatshirt.”
“I think I have something better.”
Tyler pointed to the small table at the end of the porch. A bright red bag was perched at the center, the handles tied together with a white bow.
“My birthday isn’t for another week,” she jested.
“Trust me, this can’t wait.”
She glanced up at him, unable to resist the smoldering look he was giving her. Like she was the most precious thing in the world…even in her baggy T-shirt and leggings. It was hard enough to be standing this close to him with the way he looked in that tux. It took everything in her not to let that puny shred of control snap entirely.
The front door swung open as Vanessa and Melanie creeped out, bags in hand.
Rory pressed toward them. “Wait, we need to finish.”
“We literally just did,” Vanessa retorted. “I sent the file to Penelope for one final look. It goes to print in the morning.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Wow, I can’t believe it’s over.”
“Or just beginning,” Vanessa mused, her eyes glancing up at Tyler.
Tyler smirked in response, crossing his arms.
Rory hugged Melanie. “Are you good—”
“Vanessa is taking me to Calvin’s,” Melanie whispered in her ear. “You better text me later with an update.”
Tyler was patient with her as she watched them leave, threading his fingers through hers after the car was out of sight. “Present?”
Rory frowned. “This seems silly.”
“Seriously, Ry? I had to wrangle Bea out of bed to help me wrap this thing, and you won’t even—”
