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“I’m really good at fixing old video game systems,” he started. “I got interested in it when I was younger, and so I started fixing them for myself and my friends. It’s always been a hobby, something I like to do to occupy myself and distract me if I’ve got things on my mind. But after talking to a few people, I realized there were so many interested in how to do it. So, I started a little educational channel on YouTube to show people how to fix their systems. I’ve been doing it for years, so I’m much better at it now, but I was awful at speaking in front of the camera when I first started.”

A slow smile spread across my face as I perked up in my seat. “I love that. It’s so cool. Can I watch one of them? What’s your channel?”

He shook his head. “No. No, I’m not showing it to you after I witnessed what you just did here.”

Disappointment moved through me, my shoulders falling. “Are you serious?”

There was discomfort written all over his expression. Seeing that, I was suddenly rethinking my need to see it. I still wanted to, but not if it was going to cause him that level of uneasiness.

“You know what?” I said. “It’s okay. I don’t have to see a video when I get to see the real deal. That’s much better, anyway.”

Relief swept through him. “Thanks.”

As disappointed as I was that he didn’t want me to see it, I refused to let it show. Maybe one day he’d change his mind.

“So, what’s next? Does the video have to be edited?”

Ty sat down right beside me, our legs so close they were almost touching. “It does. Would you like to see how it’s done?”

Without hesitating, I scooted closer. “I’d love to see.”

I watched as his eyes shifted to where our legs were now touching and loved the way his mouth quirked. Ty was so confident all the time, and there was this part of him that seemed a bit shy. I wondered where it came from.

For the next hour or so, I listened intently as Ty explained how to edit my video, doing it on the laptop he’d brought over. He took the time to share what he was doing and why. I thought he was an excellent teacher, and I fully believed he was great at creating his videos for his YouTube channel.

It was amazing to me to see how he cut and spliced the video together, making the final product a seamless video that looked like it had been filmed straight through. I learned a lot, and I was convinced that with a few lessons from Ty, I’d be able to edit videos on my own.

Once we had finished the video, I asked, “So, what games did you bring with you today?”

“Well, I brought a board game in case, but I also brought a video game console as well. I’m not sure if you’re into playing video games, but I figured it might be fun, since you’re just sitting around for the next day or so.”

“I played them when I was younger, and I only ever played the original Nintendo system. If you brought something new or fancy, I might not be very good.”

He grinned. “I brought both a new system and the original Nintendo system. We can do whichever you’d like.”

“I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. Can we go old school first?”

He placed his hand on my thigh and squeezed. “We can do anything you’d like.”

I sent a mischievous look his way and wagged my eyebrows. Ty laughed at me, shook his head, and got up to get the game set up.

Then we spent hours playing games with each other, stopping only for bathroom and food breaks. It was the most fun I’d had in a long time.

And before he left, Ty surprised me by giving me a piece of paper with the name of his YouTube channel, so I could check it out after he went home. Suffice it to say, I stayed up late watching him teach people how to fix their video game consoles, and I felt my heart falling a bit harder for him.

THIRTEEN

Alana

My finger trembled slightly as I pressed the tip of it to the doorbell.

There had been many instances throughout the course of my career as a reporter when I got myself into uncertain situations. But even in those cases, I didn’t feel this level of nerves.

And I wondered if this was the result of me having gotten just a bit too comfortable being at home over the last couple of days and needing to jump back into the work now, or if this was more about what I was gearing up to do at this very moment.

Something told me it was the latter, what I was preparing to do.

Over the last couple of days, I’d done as the doctor had ordered and stayed home, resting and relaxing in hopes of helping my foot heal faster while alleviating some of the swelling.

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