Page 47 of Scores Of The Heart

I get a text from him after lunch while Andrea, Simon, and I are having a coffee break, and I can’t hide the smile from my face.

They have been sworn to secrecy, of course, and I don’t honestly think they would tell anyone.

I don’t want it to get out from a slip of the tongue. It worries me a little. People don’t always mean to rat you out, but sometimes it happens.

I assure myself nothing even is happening anyway, just two people who work for the Hawk’s having coffee. It’s simple.

Tyler

Hey beautiful, what time do you get off work today?

My heart flutters ridiculously at him calling me that.

I quickly type back.

Cindy

At 5. Do you want to meet up then?

I see the gray text bubble appear, and my heart quickens again, knowing he’s replying.

Tyler

Sounds great. I’ll see you soon

“Is that lover-boy you’re beaming over?” Simon quizzes me as we fix our coffee and head back to our offices.

“Shhh,” I chastise him, but I am grinning like an idiot.

“What? no one can hear,” Andrea adds.

“We’re not lovers!” I whisper-shout.

“It’s just an expression.” Simon shakes his head, chuckling.

“You seem pretty pent up about it.” Andrea looks down her glasses at me and I can’t help but laugh.

“Hello, this is Tyler Peterson we’re talking about,” I tell them as we round the corner back into our office. Simon’s eyes suddenly grow wide as we all stop in short in the doorway to see my dad standing there. Simon quickly salutes his goodbye and scurries off.

“Dad!” I try not to act too startled. I really hope he didn’t just hear those last few words out of my mouth.

“Hi princess, just seeing if you have five.” Phew, maybe he didn’t hear after all.

Andrea quickly walks back to her desk.

“What were you just saying about Tyler?” He asks, his eyebrows knitting together.

Shit. Double shit.

I think fast, not liking lying to him one bit. “Um, nothing, Dad. Just how he’s more focused than ever on the finals. Everyone is talking about it.”

Dad’s lips press together. Satisfied with that, he walks over to my desk while Andrea puts her head down and busies herself with emails.

“What was it you were going to ask me?”

Like he just remembered why he was here, he perches on my desk and folds his arms across his chest. “I was going to ask you about a trip coming up after the finals.”

“Yeah, which trip?”

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