Page 29 of A Vicious Rumor

"I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out," Tyson said. "Your mom told me you were here. I stopped by your house."

My heart did a little backflip in my chest. He'd stopped by my house? He'd spoken to my mother and he still wanted something to do with me? I knew my mother, especially when it came to boys. She'd gotten pregnant with me so early, she tried to do anything she could to keep me away from them.

"I don't know," I said slowly. "What do you think Ronny?"

I knew I was teasing, and I had a feeling that a guy like Tyson didn't like to be teased, but I couldn't help it.

"I dunno," Ronny said. "Do you have any eight's?"

"Go fish," I replied. He grabbed a card from the deck and I could see Tyson clench and unclench his fists from my peripheral.

"Where you plan on taking her?" Ronny asked Tyson.

"Wherever she wants to go," Tyson responded.

"No plan?" Ronny asked. "Hmm," he said in a disapproving tone.

"I'm new here," Tyson said. "She's not. The plan is to let the person who knows the area pick the destination rather than wander around aimlessly."

Ronny ignored his explanation and peppered him with another question. "Who pays for dinner?"

Tyson rolled his shoulders. "We're both in high school and my family's business is about to go under, but I get that you want me to say that I pay." My eyes widened at what Tyson said about his family business.

Ronny waved his hand in front of his face. "No, no. Gosh, you're a serious kid. I was hoping you'd suggest I pay." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. "Here," he said, handing me a twenty dollar bill. "Go somewhere nice, or go to McDonald's and get twenty cheeseburgers. Your choice."

"Ronny, you know I'm a vegan," I said with a laugh.

"Then tell them no meat and ask them to give you a discount," he said, pushing the money across the table.

"Thanks, but we don't need it," Tyson said, his tone still very defensive.

"Tell him, sweetheart. Tell him arguing with me doesn't work," Ronny said.

I looked up at Tyson and smiled. "It's true. It really doesn't." I picked up the twenty dollar bill and put it in my pocket. "Thank you, Ronny," I said.

"You can thank me by forfeiting our game and having a good time with this nice young man here." Ronny hesitated. "But not too good of a time."

I blushed and Tyson shifted from foot to foot. "Behave," I scolded my friend.

"You, too. Goodbye," Ronny said, waving us both off.

Tyson turned and made his way towards the door without saying anything. I didn't mind it. I knew Ronny was a lot to take in. What I did mind was Ronny obligating me to go on a date with someone who had ghosted me for five weeks. But, it sounded like Tyson had a lot going on.

We made it all the way out to the front of the Senior Center. The summer sun was just starting to set, but it was still plenty bright outside. I could see Tyson's blue Jeep parked off to the side.

"I told your mom that I'd give you a ride home," he said.

I nodded my head. "Okay. I'm surprised she agreed."

"I wanted to call," he started to say, but I cut him off. As much as I wanted to hear what his explanation was, I didn't want to have this conversation in public.

"Tell me later?" I asked. "I'm starving," I said.

He sighed. "What exactly is it you eat?"

I laughed. "Come on, I know a place."

"We only got twenty dollars," he said, and I nodded.

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