Page 15 of Love is a Roller Coaster

“Yes. One hundred percent. You deserve this. You spent years doing what Landon and your parents wanted instead of making yourself happy. So I have to ask you: would going to Disneyland with Tyler make you happy?”

I wish I could say I have to think about it, but my answer is immediate. “Yes.”

“Whoop!” Ava cheers. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and an unbidden smile creeps across my face. “It’s settled then. You’re going.”

I guess I am.

The next morning,I’m completely exhausted. I had spent all night tossing and turning, trying to decide how to ask Tyler if I could come to Disneyland with him. Ava’s right: I do want to go. And I’m here, on my solo honeymoon, to do whatIwant to do for once.

But what if he already found someone else? What if he asked another girl? Or if he gave the tickets to Brittany and her boyfriend? I’m going to look like a moron. So the sooner I get to him this morning, the better.

Hence, the not-sleeping.

At seven-thirty, I’m fully dressed in another fitted dress and stilettos, and I figure it’s time to face my fears. I leave the security of my room and head down to the lobby.

Which is where I see Tyler and Brittany talking. And Brittany has agiantsmile spread across her face.

Shoot. Did I miss my chance? Did he already offer her the tickets?

I scurry over as fast as my heels will allow, clicking loudly in the lobby.

“That sounds amazing!” Brittany says. “I can’t wait to tell Brandon. He’ll be so excited.”

“Wait!” I blurt. “I’ll go with you!”

Tyler turns his head to look at me. Brittany’s brows furrow in confusion.

“You’ll come with me…to the OC Chili Cookoff?” Brittany asks.

I blink a few times. “Oh. No. I thought…” I glance over at Tyler,

He folds his arms over his chest and smirks. “I didn’t know you were such a fan of spicy peppers.”

I clear my throat. “I, uh, thought you were talking about…” I plead with Tyler through my eyes, hoping he’ll save me from putting my foot in my mouth, but no such luck. “Are you enjoying this?” I ask him.

He shrugs, and I wish I could kiss the smug grin off his face.

Wait, what?

No, no. Notkisshis grin.Smackit.

Yeah, that’s what Imeant.

I compose myself, straightening and taking a deep breath. “Never mind. Tyler, can I speak to you for a minute?”

“Sure.” He uncrosses his arms and gestures over to the pool area. I walk ahead of him, shoulders back, head tall, because I will not be ashamed by my mistake.

But I hear Tyler open a door behind me, and I turn to see him gesturing for me to step through. Once inside, I see a desk littered with paperwork, a computer, some pictures hanging in frames of the ocean and a young woman with a little boy.

“Welcome to my office,” he says, shutting the door behind us.

“Oh, you don’t need to—” I was about to say “close the door,” but as soon as I turn around andfeelrather thanseehow close Tyler stands in front of me, I lose all speech functions.

Tyler takes a beat, not backing away to give me space, but not moving any closer. “So. What did you want to talk about?”

I swallow hard. Why am I here? Oh, yeah. Disneyland. “I changed my mind.”

He tilts his head. “About what?”

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