Cross My Heart

6. TYLER

Chapter 6

TYLER

16 YEARS OLD

N oah slept over last night, and for the first time ever, he’s sleeping in my bed right next to me. We fell asleep watching a movie, the air mattress was set up right next to my bed. I just didn’t have it in me to wake him up.

Now I’m trying not to be creepy, but I can’t help staring at him. His lips are slightly parted as he breathes in steadily. His eyes fluttering as if he’s dreaming. His dark hair is sleep-mussed and messy. I stare at him intently, as if I’m willing him to open his eyes.

I can’t stop looking at him.

I shake my head in confusion, trying to decipher where those thoughts came from, while also acknowledging that it’s really how I feel. But I don’t have much time to think about it because he’s opening his eyes and staring straight into mine. My gaze drifts down to his lips, which are set in a smirk, and my breathing becomes labored.

“You’re so fucking pretty, Ty,” he breathes. “So pretty.”

“You think I’m pretty?” I gulp, trying to figure out why there’s butterflies raging in my stomach at the words.

He nods. “I do.”

Noah reaches out, stroking my cheek with his fingers, and I gasp. I’m frozen to the spot, unsure of what to do. So I just stay still for him as I look into his eyes, which are currently dilating and swallowing the blue. It’s as if I’m hypnotized, and there’s a smile on his lips, and I just want to lean in and?—

The door bursts open and Noah drops his hand between us, and when I look around him, in comes Scarlett. She gets on the bed and lies between us, turning toward me and grinning up at me. But for the first time in a long time, I want her to leave. I want to go back to the moment between Noah and I. I want to figure out what the hell that was because, for the life of me, I really don’t know. But it felt good, and I want to experience it again.

“What are y’all doing?” she asks cheerfully, and it makes me roll my eyes. “Slept on the same bed, huh?”

“It’s a sleepover.”

But I don’t miss the way Noah flinches, and suddenly I feel like shit about it. “Yeah,” he says solemnly. “Just a sleepover.”

“Sure feels cozy in here.” Scarlett smirks. “You sure you’re not fucking behind my back?”

“And if we were?” I ask her.

“That would ruin our friendship!” She pouts. “We’re The Three Musketeers.”

Noah rolls his eyes. “We’re too old for that, Scar.”

“Never too old,” Scar huffs.

“Ty doesn’t like boys,” Noah says, and my stomach drops.

“But you do.” Scar points out, which feels accusatory.

“It takes two to tango, Scar,” Noah replies, then watches me intently.

I watch him back, pleading with my eyes for him to not make me go there. To give me some more time to figure this out so I don’t lose them both. For him to teach me to decipher what it was that we just shared.

But he looks away, focusing his eyes back on Scarlett. Her eyes are trained on the ceiling, a frown on her pretty face. Her cute little upturned nose is wrinkled, and it’s her telltale sign that she’s annoyed. So I do the only sensible thing and squeeze her hand in reassurance. Her eyes slide over to my face, and she gives me a tentative smile. So I smile back. But in the back of my mind, I keep seeing Noah’s face when he first opened his eyes.

I clear my throat.

“Why don’t we go to the tree house?” I ask them, wanting to get out of this room. It feels like I’m suffocating in here. “We can get popsicles and drink some of the booze from the stash.”

“Your mom will kill us if we don’t have breakfast,” Noah points out, and he’s not entirely wrong. “I’m in.” He grins.

“Yeah,” Scarlett chimes in. “Let’s do it.”

“First one to get there gets the first drink of the booze,” Noah whispers, getting up from the bed and running out of the room.

“Oh, man.” Scarlett pouts. “That shit tastes nasty anyway.”

“Don’t be such a baby,” I tell her with a grin, but hold out my hand for her anyway. “Just don’t throw up.”

“I haven’t had breakfast!”

“Pussy,” I whisper, letting go of her hand and running down the stairs.

“Not fair!” she yells after me.

I have a head start, but Noah is already out the back sliding door either way, so he gets the first taste. I pass the living room, and when I make it to the kitchen, my mom is making french toast. It smells delicious, but we have more important matters to tend to.

Opening the freezer, I grab three popsicles and cut them open with the kitchen scissors. But before I can run out to the backyard, my mom stops me in my tracks.

“Where are you going?” My mom narrows her eyes at me. “Breakfast is almost ready.”

“Tree house,” is all I say before I run out the back door.

“Tyler Levi!” Mom yells after me, and I can just imagine steam coming out of her ears.

I run over to the tree house, climbing the ladder quickly. Noah is already settled in on the blankets, legs crossed and back against the wooden wall. I roll my eyes when I see him playing a game on the PSP. Even still, I climb up and settle in beside him.

The tree house is spacious, but it barely accommodates three sixteen-year-olds. I look around at the fairy lights hanging from the ceiling and smirk at the sign on the wall opposite to where I’m sitting.

No gurlz allowed.

And yet in comes Scarlett, huffing and puffing, all out of breath. “You bitches suck.” She groans, climbing up and into the tree house. She settles in right next to the sign, stretching her legs until they’re draped over my lap. I hand over the pink popsicle, her favorite, and she grins. “Awwww, look at you, Ty. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you like me.” She winks.

My cheeks heat, and Noah and I make eye contact. “Shut up,” I tell her, shoving her leg.

“Where’s mine?” Noah asks, clearly annoyed, and I hand over the grape. “Hey, why do you get the blue one? That one’s my favorite.”

“Ha!” Scarlett yells triumphantly. “Told ya he likes me better.”

“Why are y’all both so fucking annoying?” I roll my eyes. “Worse than toddlers, I tell you.”

Noah puts down the gaming console and makes a show of biting into the popsicle. “So, who’s excited about junior year starting on Monday?”

I groan. “Not me.”

“I am.” Scarlett smirks. “Thomas already asked me to homecoming.”

My stomach drops. “Nice,” is all I say. “I’m going with Ashley,” I lie, and Scarlett grins.

“Cute little Ty.” She sighs. “Are you gonna hit it?”

“Gross, Scarlett.” I laugh. “Never say those words again.”

“What?” She grins. “Sex is normal.”

“You’re a virgin,” Noah points out.

“I’m saving myself for the right guy,” Scarlett replies. “My dream guy.”

“And who is that?” I ask, suddenly curious.

“I have very specific requirements.” She holds up her hand and begins to tick off her fingers. “Tall, handsome, blue eyes, dark hair.”

My brows raise. “You have a type?” Noah narrows his eyes at her. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re pining after Noah.”

“He’s gay as fuck, Tyler,” she cackles. “Besides, have you met him? He’s annoying as hell. No way!”

“Hey!” Noah throws a pillow at her. “I’ll have you know I have plenty of guys chasing after me.”

“Sure you do.” She grins.

“Are we drinking, or what?” I ask them, and Noah produces the vodka bottle from behind a pillow. He uncaps it and takes a long gulp of the clear liquid, coughing. “Here, I’ll teach you how to drink it properly.”

Noah rolls his eyes but hands over the bottle.

Taking a long swig, I close my eyes and wince at the burn as it goes down my esophagus. I grin triumphantly at the fact that I didn’t cough and sputter like he did, and he groans. But I just hand over the bottle to Scar.

“Do I have to?” She groans. “I’m going to throw it up.”

“You’re so much more fun when you drink,” I tell her, and she shakes her head.

“I’m plenty of fun when I’m sober, asshole.” But she still takes a drink.

Noah and I both grin when she turns red, and she burps loudly.

“What a lady,” Noah laughs.

“I told you she was a heathen.” I laugh too.

“Fuck both of you.”

But she’s joining us in laughter, and my chest feels tight. Never in a million years did I think I’d move here and have two best friends, but here we are.

And I couldn’t be more grateful.