12. McKenzie
TWELVE
MCKENZIE
The sun streams in through my window, and I jolt awake. Grabbing my phone, I see it’s almost nine. I can’t even remember the last time I slept in this late. I guess staying up chatting with Tyler made me more tired than I thought.
After I went upstairs last night, I decided to sleep in the guest room across the hall from Kylie again. She passed out when we got home from the game, and I didn’t want to wake her.
I climb out of bed and pause at the small mirror hanging on the wall. I look a mess. I throw my hair into a bun and decide I need coffee before attempting to get ready for the day. I’ve got two hours until I need to be at the restaurant, and hopefully, Tyler won’t mind if I take a shower before I go.
I tip-toe downstairs, not wanting to wake anyone. Although this house is big enough that I doubt anyone would hear if I was jumping down the stairs. Still, I want to be respectful.
“Oh.” I’m startled to see Tyler already up and in the kitchen. He’s in the same sweatpants and T-shirt from last night that look delicious on him. “Good morning. I didn’t think you’d be up.”
He looks over his shoulder at me while cooking something on the stove. “Yeah, stupid internal clock. Always has me up with the sun.”
“I’m usually up early, too. I’m surprised I slept as long as I did. Do you mind if I grab some coffee?”
He points to the coffee pot on the counter. “Help yourself. I just made that, so it should be hot.”
“Thanks.”
I pour a cup and grab the creamer from the fridge. Then I subtly look around Tyler’s shoulder to see what he’s making.
“Are you making pancakes?” I ask.
He scratches the back of his head. “Uh, yeah. You said your mom made pancakes on Sundays. Thought it sounded like a good tradition.”
My heart swells an unreasonable amount because he remembered something I told him about myself. It’s so small, and maybe he just likes pancakes, but I’m going to choose to be delusional for a second and believe that he’s doing this because he knows I’ve been homesick.
“Tyler. . .” I’m about to tell him how much I appreciate that when Kylie slides into the kitchen in her socks like she’s Tom Cruise in Risky Business . It’s probably best to keep my delusional emotions to myself. Especially in front of her.
“Morning, peeps. I slept so good last night.” She plops down into a chair. “Sorry I crashed, Kenz. I drained my energy at the game.”
“All good. I was tired, too.” I feel Tyler glance at me. I know we didn’t do anything wrong last night, but I don’t know how Kylie would feel about her dad and me hanging out, even if it was completely innocent.
“Made pancakes, kiddo.” Tyler sets a large plate down on the table, and we sit down to eat.
“Yum. Thanks, Dad.”
“Yes, thank you,” I say as I grab one from the plate.
“Ky, you enjoy the game last night?” he asks.
She scrunches her nose up, and I laugh. “I mean, it was alright. It was a fun atmosphere. One of the girls I was with kept mentioning how hot she thinks you are, though. It was weirding me out.”
Tyler chuckles. “Your old man’s still got it.”
She groans. “Gross.”
Tyler is incredibly attractive. I don’t think anyone would deny it. It’s hard to believe he doesn’t have women all over him all the time. But since I’ve been hanging out with Kylie, I haven’t seen him with anyone.
I wonder if he’s alone for Kylie’s sake or if he just doesn’t want to be in any sort of relationship. It’s none of my business, but I can’t help my curiosity.
“McKenzie, are you working today?” Kylie asks.
“Yep. I’m on a double today.”
“Ugh. Bummer. I wanted to go shopping this afternoon.”
“I can take you shopping,” Tyler says. “I have to go to the school for a bit, but we can go after.”
“Dad, you really want to go shopping with me?” She looks at him like she doesn’t believe him.
He shrugs. “Sure, why not? We’ve hardly spent any time together. We can go wherever you want. We can even go out to dinner after.”
Kylie thinks about it for a second before she agrees. “Ok, let’s do it.”
“Sounds like a fun afternoon. Text me pics of what you get,” I say. Sitting here with them, eating pancakes on a Sunday morning, makes me miss my family even more. I wish I could go shopping with them this afternoon, but I would never want to intrude on their family time. I know how important it is.
After breakfast, I offer to clean up, but Tyler insists on doing it. I shower and get ready for my long day.
Later that evening, in the middle of dinner rush, Lara, the hostess, finds me and tells me someone requested my section.
I look toward my section and see Kylie and Tyler sitting at a booth by the window. As exciting as it is to see them, I look like an absolute mess. I spilled marinara sauce on my shirt barely an hour into my shift and tried unsuccessfully to get it out. Then, I dropped a glass of Coke on my shoe so now I make a nice sticky sound as I walk. And my hair is falling out of the French braid I styled it in this morning.
Plus, I’ve had a few large parties that have really sucked the energy out of me.
It’s been rough, to say the least. But I smooth out my messy shirt and hold my head high as I walk over to their table.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” I say with the biggest smile I can muster.
Tyler looks up from his menu and takes in my appearance, his brows furrowing.
“Wow. Bad day?” Kylie asks. I guess she sees the same thing as her dad.
I sigh. “I’ve had better, that’s for sure.”
“Can you take a break? You could eat with us,” she offers.
My stomach has been growling for the past hour. Besides the breadstick I shoved in my mouth a few hours ago, I haven’t had anything to eat since the pancake breakfast.
“I wish I could, but I’m slammed right now.”
She pouts. “Ok.”
“What can I get you to drink?” I ask, ignoring Tyler’s look of concern.
Kylie orders a Dr. Pepper, and Tyler asks for a water.
After I deliver their drinks and take their order, my manager, Angel, finds me. She’s been like a second mother to me since I started working here my freshman year. I’m grateful that she’s been so great with my schedule over the years, and she always sneaks me extra food when she can.
“You doing ok, Kenz?” she asks.
“Yeah, just a long day.”
“Lara said those two asked for you. Friends of yours?” She nods to Kylie and Tyler’s table. She’s not asking because she’s mad. I imagine she’s curious since in the almost four years I’ve worked here, I’ve never had anyone ask to sit in my section. Lara is Angel’s niece so I should’ve known she would say something.
“Yeah, Kylie is a friend from school, and that’s her dad. He’s the head football coach at La Vista.”
Most people in this town would recognize Tyler. I can tell that half the people in the restaurant already have. He turned our football team around in such a short period and is basically a celebrity here.
But not Angel. Nope. She doesn’t like football. Says she has better things to do with her time than watching grown men toss around a ball. I’ve suggested she might change her mind if she actually went to a game, but she never does.
“That’s good. I’m glad your friends are here. Give them a dessert on the house.”
I look at her, surprised. That’s not something we usually do. “You’re sure?”
“Yes, honey.” She pats my arm and heads off to start her rounds.
I check on my other tables before I grab Kylie and Tyler’s food and take it to their table.
“This looks amazing, thank you,” Tyler says when I put his chicken parm in front of him.
“It’s good. One of my favorite things on the menu, actually.”
“McKenzie, do you wanna come over tonight when you get off?” Kylie asks. I know she means well. She now knows that if I’m not at her house, I’m probably sleeping in my car. And while I appreciate her offer, I don’t want to be a charity case. I’ll accept help up to a certain point. Hanging out and having a sleepover is one thing. Coming over only to crash in one of their beds feels like too much.
“I can’t tonight. I’m going to be off super late.”
She stares at me as if she’s trying to communicate something with her eyes. “Are you sure?”
I nod and smile to try to reassure her that I’ll be fine.
“Ok, but if you change your mind, text me.”
“I will.”
Tyler looks a little confused by our conversation, but he doesn’t say anything. I’m still trusting that he doesn’t know anything about my situation. Kylie promised she wouldn’t tell him.
I let them enjoy their meal, and when they’re done, I offer them their free dessert. Tyler refuses, but Kylie accepts, so I bring her the biggest piece of chocolate cake we have.
They leave while I’m busy with another table, so I only get to wave goodbye. I grab their check before the table gets bussed, and my jaw drops when I realize Tyler left me a one hundred percent tip.
It’s not like their bill was a hundred dollars or anything, but still. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten this big a tip before.
He did something probably so minuscule for him but with such a huge impact for me. Something else I can add to the list of things that make Tyler so great.
And it’s certainly not helping the crush that’s blooming in my head.