Page 25 of Nothing To Lose
Wearing my usual beat-up jeans and the same tank top I slept in, I emerge from the bathroom to find Tyler wearing a pair of fitted blue pants cuffed at the ankle, a button-down white shirt, and a grey cardigan. I don't know how, but he dresses like an old, retired professor and manages to pull it off really well. He notices me checking out his outfit and gives me a questioning look.
"You look nice," I tell him. "I feel like I should make more of an effort."
His eyes roam up my body, from my jeans to my exposed arms. "You're fine," he squeaks, and I hide my grin by pulling a hoodie over my head. Maybe, just maybe, he's not completely unaffected by me after all?
I pass him his coat and pull my leather jacket on, then open the door and gesture for him to go ahead. Once I've locked up, I start to walk next to him, tempted to hold his hand. Considering he can barely look at me after this morning, I hold back. If I don't want him to run for the hills, I should probably slow my roll a little. The hand holding should have come before the boner, at least.That warrants a few steps back, I think.
WhenThe Nookis within view, Tyler begins to look worried, and I take the chance. Threading my fingers through his, I tug him towards the door. "Hey, it's okay," I assure him, although I'm unsure what exactly he’s worrying about. Is he uncomfortable because of their playful teasing when we were here to pick up his jacket and phone? Or because they know what happened? Or is it whatever he had to discuss with Anders in private?
Before I can give him a chance to back out and go somewhere else, he opens the door and we're greeted like old friends, just like always. Anders, beyond thrilled to see us together again, gestures to a table and calls for Mac to start something special for us to snack on while we look at menus.
Brenna, rolling her eyes at her dad's antics, brings Tyler his usual iced chai, and a coffee with exactly the right amount of cream and one sugar, just the way I like it. "Look, if he starts setting up candles or changes the music, please know I had nothing to do with it."
Tyler laughs, but looks confused. "What is she talking about?"
"Like you don't know," I say sarcastically, but then notice his bewildered expression. I narrow my eyes.
"What?"
"I'm trying to figure out if you're just adorably oblivious, or if they truly haven't harassed you anywhere near as much as they have me.”
"I mean, I feel like something is happening here that I definitely don't understand. Do they think we're together, or something?" He snorts, as though it's the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard, and I cover my own disappointment with a joke.
"Yeah, or something. Let them down easy though, okay? I'm pretty sure they already started making plans to cater our wedding."
He laughs, his face turning beet red."Why though?"
I shrug, amused despite myself. "They've been trying to push me to ask you out since the day I nearly mowed you over."
"That's hilarious."
"Is it?"
"Well… yeah. Don't they know…"
He trails off, eyes darting around the room, then back at me. I lift an eyebrow, and both of his shoot up to meet his hairline. He shakes his head like he's trying to rid himself of a thought, then reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a small leather case. He pulls a pair of wire-framed glasses from the case, putting them on before focusing on the menu.
I gape.
"You wear glasses?"
"Um, yeah. Normally I wear contacts, but it's too hard to get them in right now." He flushes again, uncomfortable at the mention of his injuries. "I can still see well enough to walk around and stuff, but to read or drive, I really need them."
His nose scrunches adorably, and I can't think of anything to say to fill the silence. "I like them."
"What?"
"The glasses, I like them."Understatement.I'm now in danger of sprouting a bigger boner than I was this morning. "They suit you."
He rolls his eyes, the blue-green orbs even more vibrant behind the wire frames. "Yeah, yeah. Because I'm a giant nerd. Very funny."
"I'm not making fun of you," I say, cocking my head to observe his discomfort. "Although, I have to admit, I kind of dig the whole sexy professor vibe you've got going."
He drops his menu and stares at me. Then excuses himself to go to the restroom.
Anders comes by with a plate of mini quiches. "Tell Tyler these are goat cheese. If he can't eat that, I have something else." He looks to where the person in question just disappeared to. "Is he okay?"
"I'm not sure. He's acting weirder than usual," I say, quirking my lips. "I'm probably not helping by teasing him." I don't want to make him uncomfortable, but I admit I get a little kick out of seeing him flustered.
