Page 21 of A Constant Surprise

“By the way, baby brother, guess who I saw the other day.”

He simply shrugged.

“Marisol.”

Just the mention of the name made him stop scrolling and look up to give a seething look to his sister.

“I didn’t know she’d gotten back from Paris.” His words mimicked nonchalance, but his body language gave him away.

“Guess so. She asked about you, but I said I hadn’t talked to you in awhile.”

No one said anything for what seemed like an eternity.

“Okay, who is Marisol?” I said with a nervous smile.

Her eyes widened. “You haven’t told her?”

Tyler stared daggers through her as a pit in my stomach started to form.

“Marisol is his ex. They were together over a year, and everyone thought they were on the fast track to get married. Then, one day, poof, it just ended. She went to Europe, and Tyler started fucking everything with a vagina and a pulse.”

Now the pit in my stomach was churning with jealousy. Jealousy and shock. Shock that Tyler had actually dated someone seriously and shock that he hadn’t told me about it.

Of course, I was the pot calling the kettle black. There was a lot about my past that I hadn’t been exactly forthcoming with. Still didn’t mean the secrecy didn’t hurt.

“Tess, isn’t it about time for you to go?”

She could tell that this time, it wasn’t a question.

“Yes, of course. But before I do, could you make me a cup of coffee for the road?”

It was obvious that he didn’t want to, but at that moment, he would have done anything to get her to leave, so off he sauntered to the kitchen.

When Tess was sure he was out of earshot, her head snapped toward me.

“Look, I don’t know what’s up with you and my brother, but I consider myself very protective of him. He tells me you’re not after his money.”

I went to chime in, but of course, she didn’t let me.

“I trust his judgement, but I also know that deep down he has a big heart…and that line of him not wanting anything serious is a load of bullshit. I don’t want to see him hurt again. He cares about you…in a way I haven’t seen him care about anyone in a long time. I need you to take that seriously.”

“Tess, I think you’re getting the wrong idea here. Tyler and I are just friends. I needed a place to stay, and he was just being a friend. That’s it.” I shrugged to try to show my indifference.

She smiled. “Wow, you’re just as in denial as he is, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

But before she could answer, her brother walked back in with a to-go cup of coffee.

“Here you go, Tess. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

She gave me a happy little wave and a wink and walked out behind him.

Tess was a lot to digest, so I decided to go take a bath and enjoy the quiet for a bit.

As I lay in the hot water, I tried to picture Tyler in a long-term relationship. All I had ever known him as was someone who liked to have a good time for a short time. What would it be like to call a man like Tyler Wendell your significant other?

Part of me yearned to find out, and part of me was envious that another woman had gotten to see him in that light, but I shut down those thoughts as fast as I could.

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