Page 376 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 1
"Come on. There's a diner down the street from here that has a really good grilled cheese."
I smiled. He knew I couldn't resist a grilled cheese sandwich and fries. We walked toward the diner in silence. He was probably wondering the same thing I was about Melissa's reaction to this. I didn't want him to be in the doghouse because of me.
As if sensing what I was thinking, he opened up the door for me, and said, "I'm not leaving one of my best friends alone when they just burst into tears in the middle of the sidewalk. Food. Now."
"When did you get so bossy?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Apparently girls dig it, though."
I laughed and walked into the diner. It smelled like hot grease and all things wonderful in the world. We got seated in one of the booths by the windows. I slid in across from him and picked up a menu.
"You're really not going to tell me what's wrong?" Tyler asked.
I bit my lip. "It's just been a really bad week."
"Because of your new job? Or the last minute wedding stuff?"
I shrugged. "Everything. I've been so stressed out ever since graduation."
"I remember that feeling. Moving here was probably the scariest thing I ever did. Sometimes the real world sucks." He looked down at his menu and then set it aside.
"Especially when two of your best friends aren't speaking to you."
"I never agreed to that," said Tyler. "I'm here, aren't I?"
The waiter came over and Tyler ordered each of us a Cherry Coke, grilled cheese, and French fries.
"And what is Melissa going to say about that?" I asked. "She won't even speak to me."
"James came around. She will too."
I sighed. "Not fast enough. I need her right now."
"I know. I'm sorry about the timing of all this." He scratched the back of his neck.
"It's not your fault."
"Well, it kind of is. Apparently I talk about you too much." He smiled at me. "But we always have the best stories. Remember the fall cricket fiasco? How can I not talk about that?"
I started laughing. "That was the best. I mean, horrible, but hilarious." His neighbor had kept blasting music at all hours of the night. So we had gone to the pet store and bought tons of crickets. For some reason Tyler knew how to pick locks. He said it was a fraternity thing. The plan was to release them in his neighbor's apartment. But the bag had a hole in it and thecrickets escaped all over Tyler's apartment instead. It took him weeks to catch them all. And for the longest time afterward we'd still hear chirping noises and go on cricket searching missions on Friday nights.
"It's like my go to party story."
"It's a great story."
He shrugged. "Melissa hates it."
I shifted in my seat. "Do you think you could try to get her to freak out about this after the wedding?"
"I've tried talking to her. I can't believe she didn't come with you to this. She's your freaking maid of honor."
At least he understood.
"Not that I minded stepping up." He gave me a small smile. "And I think you should tell me what's really bothering you. On top of your two best friends banging."
I laughed and pulled the picture out of my purse. I needed to talk this through with someone. Tyler was my friend. If Melissa wasn't around, I was allowed to go to him for help. "Isabella's been sending me pictures, trying to freak me out or something."
"She's so insane."
