Page 85 of The Love Dare
“Studying,” Winnie adds with a bit of attitude. “I know it’s a foreign concept to you, but some of us actually wanted to get good grades in college.”
He wrinkles his nose at his sister, then stares hard at Tyler. “You’re not fucking with me.”
“I wouldn’t. Not about this.”
“You really just watched movies and studied?”
“Yes.”
No one says anything. It’s the longest fifteen seconds of Tyler’s life.
“Well, damn.” Alex finally laughs, his ire evaporating. He glances between the two of them as if this is the funniest thing in the world. “You know she’s been into you since she was like thirteen, right?” Alex glances at Ty, then switches to Winnie. “And him, too. I knew it the second he read that book in ninth grade. I mean, come on. It was so obvious.” He laughs again, shaking his head, before turning back to Tyler. “I’m not sure if you’re a total idiot or a complete saint or both.”
“Both.” Tyler grins ruefully, relief ripe. “Definitely both.”
He’ll take being the butt of a joke over his friend’s anger any day of the week. And, when he thinks about it, it is completely ridiculous that it took a reality show for the two of them to finally get together.
“Ha. Ha,” Winnie comments dryly, clearly unamused. She lifts her hands to her hips and frowns at Alex. Her brother has always had a way of bringing out that little edge to her Tyler loves. Then gold in her eyes practically glows. “I just need to get one thing straight. You knew how we felt about each other this entire time, AND YOU NEVER SAID ANYTHING?”
“He’s my best friend!”
“I’m your sister!”
“Exactly!” He shakes his head and his hands simultaneously, as if to wipe the mental image clean. “I didn’t want to be involved with whatever I thought you guys were doing then, and I still don’t. I’m happy for you or whatever, but, seriously, I don’t need details. I really, really don’t want to know.”
“Are you kidding me?” Winnie laughs with disbelief. “What do you call the past five minutes?”
“An out-of-body experience?” He winces. “Come on. I thought you guys were lying to me—that you’ve been lying to me. I needed to get it off my chest.”
“Well, we weren’t.”
“Call it even?”
“I’m going to kill you!” she shrieks and charges. Tyler wraps an arm around her waist, holding her back, while Alex jumps behind a sofa.
“Win, come on.”
“Murder!”
“Winnie!”
“Yeah, you better run!”
“ENOUGH!” Alexandru’s voice cuts through the chaos and they all stop cold. Tyler lets go of Winnie as if she’s on fire and whips his face around. He completely forgot her parents were still here.
Fuck.
Everything they said—everything they admitted—comes back full force. He’s never wanted to melt into the floor and disappear more than he does right now. Winnie squirms. Even Alex looks chagrined.
“You.” Alexandru points at Alex. “You had more parties in this house?”
“A few, Dad, but?—”
“And you.” He points at Winnie. “You had a boy in your room?”
She swallows. “I— I?—”
“And you.” Alexandru turns on Tyler this time. It’s not an exaggeration to say his life flashes before his eyes. “You waited to date my daughter until you were dating thirty other women at the same time?”
