33. McKenzie
THIRTY-THREE
MCKENZIE
It’s been three weeks since Kylie’s first date with Jake. I managed to get out of the double date, but I did agree to go with her to a party at the house that Jake shares with some of his teammates. Kylie made sure to introduce me to every hockey player in attendance and asked me what my interest level was after each one of them.
It was not my favorite thing.
Honestly, most of them were great and seemed like really nice guys. But none of them are Tyler.
As much as I know what Tyler and I are doing is wrong, I can’t stop it. I let him in my bed every night. I smile every time I see his name pop up on my phone. My heart flutters every time he tells me he loves me.
And it was Tyler who encouraged me to go to the party with Kylie. As much as I would love to spend all my free time with him, he insists that I still need to have a real college experience and that includes going to parties.
So I went to the party knowing I’d just end up with him later that night.
I left out the part where Kylie tried to hook me up with every male within a five-mile radius.
I’ve been putting off finding my own apartment even though I still think it’s the right thing to do now that I’m able to work more and have more money. But I only have a few months left at La Vista, and I’m not sure what kind of lease I could get for that short of time. Because of that and against my better judgment, I stay at the Danvers’s house. It makes Tyler happy that I’m here, which makes me happy and ultimately makes Kylie happy, even though she had no idea I was looking to move anyway.
It’s almost like we’re one big happy family. We have breakfast and dinner, where we talk about each other’s days. When I’m not working evenings, the three of us—and sometimes Jake—will watch movies or play board games if Kylie is feeling generous. It’s been so nice.
Except there’s a looming secret hanging over my head.
Tyler has been busy with letter-of-intent signings and new recruits over the last week, so time together has been scarce. Today, he has a later start to his day than usual, so he made us all scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon before Kylie and I had to leave for class.
“Do you work tonight, McKenzie?” Kylie asks between bites.
“Nope. I’m off tonight.” I’ve been counting down the days until this night off. Not only do I have a pile of homework, but I also want to sit around and do nothing with Tyler and Kylie.
“Cool. I think Jake is going to come over.” Tyler shoots her a side-eyed glance, and I do my best to hold back my laugh. He’s been surprisingly friendly around Jake, but he’s told me in private that he doesn’t think he’s good enough for his daughter. “And I was going to see if he wanted to bring one of his friends.”
She wriggles her eyebrows at me, and a knot of dread forms in the pit of my stomach.
“Oh. Uh.” My brain doesn’t move fast enough. I can’t look at Tyler because that would be too obvious. Instead, I look down at my plate and shift some eggs around before I say, “Ok.”
Kylie claps her hands in excitement. I feel the exact opposite, but I have no way of getting out of it now.
“Perfect,” she says before going back to her food.
I’ve completely lost my appetite.
Kylie finishes eating first and excuses herself to grab her books from upstairs.
I immediately turn to Tyler and whisper, “I couldn’t think of a way out.”
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Don’t worry, baby. This is my fault. I’m not upset.”
“I just wanted to spend tonight with you.”
There’s pain in his eyes. I know this is killing him, too. The secrecy. The sneaking around. There’s only so much a person can take. “Me too.”
Kylie comes back downstairs and into the kitchen. “You ready? Let’s go.”
Our classes start at the same time today so we’re leaving together.
“Bye, Dad. See ya later,” she says from over her shoulder.
“Bye, Ky. Have a good day.”
“Bye, Coach,” I say as I follow Kylie down the hall, wishing I could kiss him goodbye.
“Bye, baby. I love you.”
Five words and the whole world stops. I freeze in place. My heart is beating in my ears as I wait to see if Kylie noticed what he said. For a moment, I think maybe she didn’t. Maybe she wasn’t paying attention.
She keeps walking and doesn’t turn around, and I think maybe we’re ok.
Then, right before she reaches for the doorknob, she stops. She turns and looks at me, her brows furrowed as she thinks. I can’t imagine what I must look like. Deer in headlights, I assume.
“What did he just say?” she asks me.
Tyler comes out from the kitchen. I look from him to Kylie, unsure what to do. Tyler jumps in before I can answer her. “I was telling you bye and I love you.”
Kylie starts slowly shaking her head as if she’s trying to understand. “No. No. That’s not what you said. What did you actually say?”
Tyler and I look at each other. I have no idea what to say, and I know he’s probably panicking internally too.
“What. Did. You. Say?” Kylie emphasizes each word through gritted teeth.
Tyler sighs. “Kylie, listen—”
“No. Don’t ‘Kylie listen’ me. Tell me what you just said.”
Tyler swallows, and I wish more than anything I could reach out and grab his hand, but I know that wouldn’t make this situation any better. “I said, ‘bye baby, I love you.’”
“Mhmm, and why exactly did you tell my best friend that you love her?”
I brace myself for a lie that doesn’t come. I know he’s decided to tell her the truth. As much as I wanted this to happen, I wasn’t prepared for it this morning and certainly not like this.
“Because I do.”
Kylie stands there stunned for a moment too long. She looks from Tyler to me over and over again as if trying to compute what is happening.
“Kylie, McKenzie and I have been seeing each other—”
She doesn’t let him continue. “Seeing each other? Are you kidding me? This is sick. You could be her father.”
“Kylie—” I start to defend him, but she doesn’t let me.
“No. You don’t get to say anything yet.” She turns her attention back to her dad. “You realize how disturbing this is.”
“I understand how it could be perceived from an outsider, yes,” Tyler says.
“And you’re just ok with that?”
“No. I’m not, Kylie. This certainly hasn’t been easy. We tried to stop.”
She scoffs. “Yeah, looks like you tried real fucking hard.”
“Kylie, please. You have to understand—”
“Are you two sleeping together?” she asks, as if the thought just popped into her head.
Tyler and I stay silent.
“Oh, God.” She looks at me. “You’re sleeping with my dad? I’m going to be sick.” She turns and opens the door to leave.
“Kylie, please wait,” I call out to her. “It’s not just sex. We made an emotional connection way before it turned physical. It’s more than what you’re probably thinking right now.”
“Really? Because I’m thinking my dad preyed on someone almost half his age. Someone he took in when she needed help. And that my best friend has been lying to me for who knows how long. Someone I thought I could trust but was probably just using me like everyone else to get to my dad.”
“No. That’s not true. I—”
“I don’t want to hear it right now.” She turns to leave again.
“Kylie,” Tyler calls out, and she bounds down the stairs.
“I don’t want to talk to either of you. Leave me alone.” She climbs in her car and speeds off down the driveway.
“Fuck!” Tyler yells, making me jump. He hits the door with his fist.
“Tyler!”
“Sorry. Sorry. I just really fucked that up.” He tugs at his hair.
“I-I don’t know what to do.” I look to the door where Kylie just left and back to Tyler.
“Me either.”
We both knew it would come out eventually, that this would blow up in our faces. But now that it’s here, I don’t know what to do. I expected Kylie to be upset, but I suppose I’d hoped that she would understand. I didn’t expect her to turn this around into something it’s not.
I consented to the relationship with Tyler. He never took advantage of me like Kylie is thinking, and I hate that that thought even popped into her mind.
Now I’m torn between comforting Tyler or running after Kylie. Two of the most important people in my life.
And I’m walking the fine line of losing them both.