Page 106 of Every Broken Promise
“What has you smiling so big, June bug?” my dad asked, and it was enough for me to notice that at some point I started grinning like a loon while looking at my phone.
“Just a meme,” I lied.
I was sure that if I said it was something funny Ty said they would be thrilled, but for now I wanted to keep this close to my chest. Everything was still so raw and fresh—it kind of felt like a dream. I guess I was scared that if I voiced it aloud, it would become a nightmare.
Instead of focusing on all of that, I finished the rest of my work. I did one last read-through of my article onDelicia’sandthen I sent it over. I was used to submitting pieces forThe Herald, but this was different.
“I’m going to bed,” I told my parents.
They too were under the impression I had been too ill to work. I was pretty sure they knew it was bullshit, but they had yet to call me out on it. The perks of being a good kid.
“Night, baby, we are so proud of you,” my mama said as she kissed my cheek.
Two hours later,and I was a ball of nerves. Every little creak I heard made me sit up thinking it was Tyler. I knew he would come—it was just a matter of when.
God, how was this my life now?
It was just Tyler. He had been sneaking in through my window since he was eleven years old. Okay, yes, it was very innocent back then, and today would also be very innocent, so I don’t know why I was freaking out.
The love of your life is coming to see you.
Okay, that was exactly why I was freaking out, but Tyler couldn’t be the love of my life. I mean, I had strong feelings for him, but love already?
Just then my window began to slide open and even though I had been expecting this, I still jumped up at the sound.
Tyler jumped in with ease. Clearly it was practice from all those years.
“You waited for me, beautiful?” He grinned.
I rolled my eyes.
“You have the grace of a panda. I think my neighbors heard you come in.”
“Maybe I should wait to take my clothes off in case your mom and dad were to bust our little party?”
“Tyler Kane, you will not be defiling the sanctuary of my room!”
The asshole silently laughed.
He took off his shoes and crawled up the bed with me. I felt butterflies in my stomach as he did that. There was nothing innocent about the way he was staring at me.
“You have to stay above the covers,” I said as I pointed a finger at him.
“Scared you won’t be able to resist me, beautiful?”
I wanted to slap him.
“Ty,” I warned.
He kneeled and raised his hands up in surrender. When he saw I was satisfied, he kept on moving while he took the left side of the bed—just like before.
What wasn’t like before was the awkwardness that followed us.
“Come here.” He broke the silence, put an arm around me, and brought me toward his chest.
“You in my arms, Astrid…It feels like I can finally breathe again.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
