Page 93 of It Could Happen
“Because I’m completely enamored with you,” he admits. “Every day I try to come up with reasons to text you. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since the first night you yelled at me in the parking lot.”
Huh. I wasn’t expecting him to say that.
“You’re avoiding the subject,” I retort. “It makes me wonder if you’re just soaking up all the attention you’re getting from both of us. I’m not trying to tell you—”
Before I can finish my statement, Tyler takes my face in his hands and brings his lips toward mine. His kiss is both gentle and urgent, and I don’t resist. His hands move from my face, through my hair and down to my waist. They clasp behind my lower back, and in one fluid motion he pulls my body closer to his. Our kiss doesn’t stop, maybe because the urge has been building for months. After what feels like forever and not long enough, our lips slow.
He exhales and moves a few inches away, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
“Finally,” he says breathlessly. “You really made me work for that.”
I scowl. “You’re the one who’s been torn between two women.”
“No, I haven’t,” he insists. “You can ask Andy. The only woman I’m interested in is you—even though you think I’m impossible.”
“Only sometimes,” I add.
“I’m sorry about Leslie,” he continues. “I guess I’ve been trying to let her down easy and not create any more tension before the wedding. I told her how I felt about you and that there would never be a chance for us.”
“That’s why you were hugging her?”
He grits his teeth. “She didn’t take it well. She got super emotional about her relationship failures, and I was trying to be nice.”
He takes my hands in his. “I still think you’re my lucky charm, and I really, really want to continue this if you’re willing to give me a chance.”
He takes his finger and brushes it along my cheek and over my lips.
I grab onto the lapels of his suit jacket and pull him closer toward me.
“Now this is the side of you I’ve been wanting to see more of,” he teases before kissing me again.
“Tori?”
The sound of my mother’s voice makes both Tyler and me jump.
When I turn around, my parents are staring at us.
How long have they been watching?
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad,” I say, the tone of my voice rising. I wipe the corners of my mouth and smooth down my hair.
Tyler springs into action and introduces himself to my parents. He seems completely unfazed that we were just caught making out.
And he makes the right move by telling my mother that she looks like she could be my sister. It’s totally obvious what he’s doing, but she’s is eating it up.
“Tori and I were headed to grab a drink in the lobby bar. I’d love for you to join us,” Tyler says.
I give him a curious look.We were?
“Drinks are on me,” Tyler adds.
My dad’s face lights up. I’m sure he’s thrilled that he doesn’t have to take out a mortgage due to buying a few beverages. Tyler offers his arm to my mother, and we make our way to the bar.
As soon as we’re seated at a table, my father suddenly becomes uncharacteristically overprotective, shooting off questions about who Tyler is and what he does for a living. As expected, Tyler doesn’t miss a beat. Following his introduction, he asks my parents questions about themselves. My mother begins talking about the munchkins at her school and Tyler acts genuinely interested as he listens.
I zone out, thinking about what’s transpired tonight. That amazing kiss Tyler and I shared, and now having drinks with my parents. I guess Caroline was right about her wedding being magical. She said I might meet someone. And it happened.
“Oh, I can’t wait to meet your mother tomorrow,” my mom squeals, pulling me out of my daydream. “This wedding is going to be so much fun.”
