Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Tyler doesn’t ask questions about my mom’s visit, and I’m grateful.
I go to work the next day less self-conscious in my new clothes, though still hurt about my mom.
I did the right thing for both of us, and that’s what’s important.
My hope is that someday we can build a relationship based on a genuine foundation, and not me giving her money all the time.
I train with Hayden all day and don’t see Tyler until evening. He’s at the dining table, booting up his computer, when I walk in.
“How was your day?” he asks.
“Better.” I set my purse on the couch.
Tyler stares at me, then at his laptop. He shuts it abruptly. “What do you think about going for a bike ride?”
I don’t say anything at first. Tyler and I have never done anything fun together. The shopping expedition was more a forced situation. “Um, I don’t own a bike.”
“You don’t need one. Just change and meet me out front. If we hurry, we can catch the sunset.”
I stand there, just staring.
He glances up from putting away his computer. “Hurry up, Mira. The sun doesn’t wait for anyone.”
Without another word, I do as he says. When I meet Tyler out front, he’s on his bike, a sweatshirt over his long-sleeved T.
I zip up my fleece jacket and pull a knit cap over my head, the waves of my hair tickling my cheeks. “I still don’t own a bike, Tyler.”
“Not a problem. We’ll do this like we did the last time. It’s only a few blocks to the beach.”
Like the last time. In the woods? When I rode on his lap? “I’m not sure this is such a good idea.”
He studies my face. “Chicken?”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, right.” But I totally am. Doesn’t stop me from walking over.
He opens his arm. “Sit sideways so your legs stick out the side. I’ll take care of the rest.”
I do as he says and slide across the top of his thighs. There’s no way for us to make this work without me wrapping my arm over his broad shoulders and sitting high up, right above his crotch.
He lifts me and makes some kind of adjustment. I focus my gaze anywhere but on his face, inches away.
“Don’t be afraid to hold on tight,” he says with a naughty wink.
He’s flirting with me? Right as the thought crosses my mind, Tyler takes off with a jerk and I yelp, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing my chest to his.
“Good hold, but I need to breathe.” He chuckles.
“Okay, speed demon, then slow down. You’re going to kill us.” I close my eyes as we pass our neighbors’ houses in a whirl and turn down a side road to the main strip.
“Have a little faith. I won’t let anything happen to you, Mira.” There’s a serious undertone to his words.
I glance up to see him staring at me. My stomach tightens, my heart speeding up. It would be so easy to fall back in love with Tyler—assuming I ever fell out of love with him.
Tyler
This bike ride is a wee bit different from our last one together. For one thing, I’m infinitely aware of every curve of Mira’s body pressing down on places that don’t need more encouragement to make their presence known. And her vanilla scent is driving me nuts.
I don’t know why I asked her to come with me.
I hadn’t planned on going for a ride, but when she walked in the door my chest did a little lurch and my blood started rushing through my veins.
I couldn’t stand the thought of another evening spent avoiding each other.
I said the first thing that came to mind.
Considering I have her in my lap, it turned out to be a genius idea.
I ride to the stairs to the lake that are located closest to our cabin.
Our cabin? Since when did Cali’s house become my and Mira’s place?
Mira slides off and stands beside me. “We’re not too late,” she says, staring at the sun as it sets behind the mountain range.
I hike my bike on my shoulder and jog down the steps to the sand, resting it up against a cement block that was once a part of a pier. Mira’s still at the top of the stairs, staring out.
“You coming?”
She climbs down and approaches my side, gaze flickering back to the sunset. “It’s pretty.”
I brush her long, dark hair over her shoulder. Her hat hugs the top of her head, leaving her hair to frame her face. She is so beautiful. “Come on.” I grab her hand and pull her up the beach.
Mira doesn’t recoil from my touch or try to ease away, and for some reason that makes me happy. We arrive at the large rock where I like to stare out at the lake, and I let go of her hand. We are not a couple. This is not a date. But it’s nice.
Mira and I sit there long after the sun has set, until it’s so dark, I realize we had better get back. The road is well lit, but I don’t want to take a chance riding with Mira on my lap in the dark and competing for road space with cars.
I stand, and without a word, Mira does too. We make it all the way back to the cabin in total silence. It should be awkward, but it isn’t. I lock my bike in the backyard, and meet her inside.
She looks up shyly. “Thanks. That was nice.”
“You’re welcome. Any time you want to ride my lap, just let me know.”
She shakes her head. “You had to go there,” she says, but she’s smiling.
My lips twitch. “You know who you’re dealing with.”
Her smile fades. “Do I?”
I swallow. “Better get back to work.” I head for the dining table.
“Work?” she says. “Is that what you’ve been doing over there?”
I scan the textbooks and journal articles I’ve been researching.
I needed something to keep me busy once I arrived in Lake Tahoe, but the small project I started has taken on a life of its own.
“Yeah, I guess I have. It’s something I’ve been thinking about since I began teaching. Never had the time before, but now…”
“Now you do, except you’re working at Blue and that must take time away from it.”
It’s true. I haven’t been able to put as many hours into my project since I started working at Blue, but my job as a security guard is temporary. Soon Mira will move out and it won’t matter if I spend a few hours less on my project. It will still be there waiting for me when she’s gone.
“Eh, I needed a break from it. This way, I come home and I’m excited to dig in. No big deal.”
There’s a pause, then, “Thank you, Tyler. For getting the job at Blue.” She walks into her room and closes the door.
I stare off for several minutes, wondering what the fuck I’m really doing with her, with my life.