Page 126 of Just One Fake Date

Instead of having a chance to talk to Tyler—or thank him in a very earthy way—she watched as he grabbed his stuff and packed his car. He shook hands with Aidan, then turned to leave without even touching her. “See you Wednesday,” he said to Shannyn, his gaze intense. “And I promise to act like we’re strangers.”

Seemed like he was already doing that. Shannyn couldn’t think of what to say to turn things around, and Tyler wasn’t waiting to find out.

“Smooth, Taz,” Aidan said when Tyler backed out his car. “Really smooth.”

“I thought he was staying.”

“Did you ask him?”

“No, but...”

“He’s a nice guy, Taz. You could do worse, and hey, you have.”

“Thank you for that. I suppose you’re hungry again.”

But Aidan stood up with purpose. “I am, but I’m going for a beer.”

“You couldn’t have done that an hour ago?” Shannyn asked but he just waved her off and strode down the driveway.

And she was alone one more time, apparently triumphant with no one to celebrate.

But Tyler was wrong. She was not risk-averse.

Ty was stuckin traffic heading back into the city when his phone rang. His mom. He wasn’t in the mood to be diplomatic, but he supposed it was time to get the inevitable behind him.

“Yes, Mom.” Ty knew he sounded impatient, but his mom was having that effect on him.

“Tyler, Derek has sent us some pictures of you all working on Shannyn’s house this weekend and I’m shocked by the difference in your appearance.”

“Are you?”

“This girl is changing you, dear, and you don’t see it...”

“I don’t think trying something new is that dire, Mom.”

“Well, I don’t agree. Shannyn is an inappropriate choice, dear. You may be infatuated with her, but she won’t be able to make you happy.”

“She does make me happy,” he insisted even as he acknowledged that this particular moment was an exception.

“But Tyler, you can’t have a serious relationship with a woman who doesn’t want children! And she has a tattoo!”

“Actually, she has two.”

“Tyler!”

“Mom, didn’t you always say that the most important thing was for all five of us to be happy?”

“Of course, dear, but I know that you want a family...”

“Would you have been happy with Dad if you hadn’t ended up having children?”

“It’s not the same thing. I just want you to think about the implications, Tyler...”

“And I’d like you to stay in your lane, Mom,” Ty said firmly. “I believe you’ve made your reservations clear, but they actually aren’t that pertinent.” His mother fell silent and he knew she was shocked. “I appreciate your input, but I think I’m a better judge of what will make me happy. Shannyn does, so you need to get used to her.”

Before his mom could argue again, Ty ended the call and tossed his phone onto the passenger seat. No wonder Shannyn believed that people only loved her for what she could do for them.

He was starting to wonder if it was even possible to change her mind about that.

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