Page 99 of Compared
I might as well be in seventh grade.
I clear my throat. “So back to the rules. At school, I think we need to implement no talking, no touching, and no kissing. Too many people could walk in on us.”
He turns around, nodding. “That’s a lot of rules.”
“Necessary rules.”
He walks toward me, bending down, whispering in my ear. “Fine, I’ll follow your rules. Because I like you, Meg. Ireallylike you.”
I close my eyes and raise my shoulder, fighting off the chills covering my neck and ear. I can’t even think straight enough to form a sentence.
His lips brush the side of my neck slightly. “I better go before we get caught. See you later, Miss Johnson.” His smile is so smug and so handsome as he walks out of my room, I’m going to need to chew on some ice to cool myself down.
Sneaking around with Tyler is like riding on a roller coaster that’s missing a giant chunk of track. I’m having fun, but in the back of my mind, I know it’s dangerous.
I know there is a big chance that I’ll get hurt.
CHAPTER29
TYLER
“Trick or Treat!” Krew yells when Diane opens the door. He holds out his plastic pumpkin for some candy.
“Krew, weren’t you a pirate at school today?” Diane asks as she looks him over. “Why did you change your costume?”
“Pirates are stupid. I wanted to be a ninja.” He pushes past Diane and runs into her house.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Someone at school must have made fun of his pirate costume, because he came home demanding that I take him to the store before trick-or-treating so he could be something different.”
Diane frowns. “And you gave in?”
Well, obviously. He’s a ninja now, not a pirate.
“Was I not supposed to?”
“Tyler, you can’t let Krew walk all over you. There have to be boundaries in your parenting, or else he’ll grow up thinking he can get whatever he wants. This is not how Kristen would’ve raised him.” She shakes her head as she walks into the house, leaving me on the porch. “You need to do better.”
I shut the door behind me. “Kristenisn’there, so how she would’ve raised him doesn’t apply.”
I immediately regret my words. I don’t really mean them, but sometimes I get sick of Diane’s comments about my parenting.
She turns over her shoulder, and I can see the tears already starting to form in her eyes. “What Kristen wanted for Krewalwaysapplies.”
My head drops, and my hands go to my hips. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean it. It’s just…I’m doing the best I can raising him alone.”
She turns her head and begins walking again. “Let’s forget this conversation ever happened. Krew!” she calls. “Come stand out on the patio so I can get a picture of you in your costume.”
I let out a deep breath, following after her.
“Are you still planning on coming for dinner this Sunday?”
It’s amazing how Diane can push her hurt aside and pretend like everything is okay.
“Yeah, we’ll be here.”
Krew poses for the camera in his best fighting positions.
“I got some good ones.” Diane looks at her phone then back up at me. “Where are you taking him trick-or-treating?”
