Page 39 of Tied

Chris

There must be a seating chart. Walking into the restaurant, Jim is shouting at the kids to behave. Charlie is trying to calm Jim while bouncing Tig’s daughter on his lap. Tessa is talking to Troy about something, Rush and Julia are turning each other on under the table, and Jax is trying to coordinate their next trip to the Hamptons. Sitting quietly, taking it all in is Tyler. Today he’s wearing a button down camel Henley, conservative caramel slacks, wire rim glasses, and a smile. The smile is directed at me.

“Nice to see you again, Chris.” He pushes the empty chair out beside him, motioning for me to sit. “I hear the week went well. Julia, as usual, pulled it off.”

“It seems,” I say, grabbing up the water that rests in front of me. Guzzling down a mouthful, I stare into the bottom of the glass, covering up the fact that all I want to do is ogle Tyler. In business attire, he was nice to look at. With a wide grin and a relaxed outfit, Tyler is scrumptious. I have a hard time not wanting to ask if I can get him out of the Henley.

I set the glass down. “Was your week as eventful as mine?” I ask, hoping to distract my mind from my true wishes.

“Busy, but nothing like yours I bet. Congratulations on winning your case.”

“Thanks.”

“You don’t seem happy?”

“My best friend slash ex-wife asked me to never contact her again. She left me divorce papers, moved out of the house, and won’t answer my calls. I knew there was a chance our friendship could falter, but with everything, I’d hoped that Elaine wouldn’t desert me.” I laugh at that. “That’s silly, isn’t it? Carli’s right. I’m being a posh pussy.”

“I’m not quite sure what that means, but if you believe it, I guess so.”

Laughing it off, I tell Tyler the conversation I had with Carli just recently, and how she has a way with words. She can tell you off in lyrical and ingenious ways.

Over the next few hours, it felt the same as the previous week. I relaxed, I enjoyed the company of others, and I wasn’t judged for my sexual tendencies. We’ve all dealt with the same stereotypes and stigmas. It’s a relief that I feel so at ease around everyone here. Tyler, Julia, and their family have made me feel included. I feel their loyalty. It scares me that I’ll lose this when I return to Indiana, where I’ll be all alone again. Taking in all the conversations that go on around the table, each are individual, yet interchanging. I can be talking to Tyler when Jax pops in. It’s not intrusive, it’s inclusive. Sadly, I won’t have it when I leave.

“What’s wrong?” Tyler asks me, clearly interested. It makes me feel worse in a way.

“I’m just sad is all. Your family is an amazing group. I’m not sure how big the rats nest is that I’m running into when I get home tomorrow. Honestly, I’m disappointed to leave this.”

“Give me your phone, Chris,” Tyler says.

Handing it to him, I watch him type into it, then turn it towards himself to take a couple pictures. Tyler smiles and hands it back. “There. Now you’re not alone.”

Flicking through the pictures he’s just taken, Tyler has added candid shots of Jax and Troy, comfortable, at peace, and smiling with love in their eyes at one another. A picture of Jim comforting Tig’s daughter with Tessa grinning is another. A rare photo of Rush smirking in a devilish way towards his Julia. And lastly, a picture of Tyler himself. Scribbled across the photo is a number and the words, call anytime.

“Thank you.”

Shrugging it off, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, Tyler’s eyes smile behind the wire rim glasses. Pocketing my phone, I grasp his hand, giving it a light squeeze. “You have no idea how much it means.”

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