Chapter 37
Tyler
Part of me wants to knock out Jared for sending me out on a goose chase, but the conscious side of me knows I can’t really do that since our friendship is rocky at the moment.
When Jared told me Serena was meeting her mom at a diner downtown, I rushed over to see her, hoping I could catch her to settle everything between us. But she wasn’t there and I missed the chance once again.
Life hates me.
I’ve already gone to Boba Republic, texted her friends, no sign of her.
The sun dipped low, casting an amber hue through the blinds of my room. I sat at the edge of my bed, phone in hand, my gaze fixed on the screen, begging for it to light up with a message from Serena. But as the hours passed, silence came.
I toss my phone onto the bed and run a hand through my hair in frustration. I fucking blew it, I scared her away with my emotions. I should’ve known better, should’ve handled things differently. I said we could take it slow, but I pressed on the accelerator too goddamn early.
“She’s probably done with me,” I mutter to the empty room, a pang of regret tugging at my chest.
Glancing at the clock, I realize how late it has gotten. The idea of reaching out to her again flickers in my mind. Then again, I doubt myself, would she even want to hear from me after everything?
“I can’t leave it like this,” I say to myself, standing up with the pride I have left and shaking the uncomfortable sensations off to feel bold as hell. I grab my jacket and keys, sliding my phone into my pocket. Maybe face-to-face is what we need. Maybe actions are better than my words at this point.
Communication is key , I repeat in my head.
Just as I brace myself to head out, my phone pings.
Jared: if you want to earn my forgiveness, come help me roll these egg rolls.
I pause, feeling so much relief at this sign. It’s not just about helping out a friend anymore; it’s about the chance to run into Serena and actually have a real conversation with her. I shoot Jared a quick reply, Only if you sneak me 10 egg rolls to take home .
I run to my dad’s office and let him know I’m stepping out for a while so he can watch Harper in case she wakes up. I go to her room, give her a soft kiss on the forehead and leave the house, locking the door behind me. The cool night air hits my face, and it only helps me feel confident that this is going to work out.
I park outside their house, and I walk up to the front door.
“Oh? Hey, Tyler.” Ralph greets me.
“Honey, who is that?” Lina pops her head behind Ralph’s shoulder, “Oh, Tyler!”
I shove my hands into my pockets, unsure of what to do with them. “Hi Mr. and Mrs. Collins. I’m here to help Jared out.”
“Sure, son, come on in,” Ralph says, widening the door for me to step in. “You don’t have to call me Mr. Collins, by the way, it makes me feel like a boomer .”
“No, dad, boomers are older people. You’re definitely Gen X at most.” Jared motions me to follow him, towards the kitchen. He shouts back at his retreating parents’ back as they step out the door, “Have fun at dinner tonight!”
We circle back into the kitchen, a clean kitchen. “Dinner? I thought you needed help making egg rolls.”
“I do,” Jared says. “We finished rolling them already, I need your help frying them. ”
“Okay.” I shed off my jacket on one of the barstools. “Where do you want me?”
Jared goes to the sink to wash his hands. “Can you go outside real quick? There’s a storage shed on the side of the house, there should be oil there, I can’t find any here. It’s next to the trampoline, you can’t miss it.”
“Uh, sure. I’ll be back.”
The shed stands there, next to the trampoline just as Jared had described.
As I approach, a soft glow catches my eye. Strings of fairy lights twinkle in the darkness, illuminating a cozy setup. My heart skips a beat as I spot Serena leaning against the trampoline, amidst a sea of cushions and blankets, a shy smile playing on her lips.
Serena
“Surprise,” I say, my voice slightly shaky from excitement and nervousness.
I can hear Tyler’s breath hitch in his throat while a mix of emotions floods through me. “What– ”
“I’m sorry.”
“Serena–”
“No,” I interrupt, closing the distance between us. “Let me say it.”
Tyler nods.
“I’m sorry for running away that night,” I start, my voice trembling slightly. “When you said you were in love with me, it scared me. Love terrifies me–I’ve always been afraid of it. The thought of falling, being in love… I’ve kept everyone at arm’s length because I’m scared they’ll leave me, just like my parents did, intentionally or not.”
I close my eyes briefly, exhaling slowly. “You scare me so much, Tyler. You weren’t supposed to mean this much to me. I never wanted to find love, because of everything I’ve gone through. But here we are. I fell for you and I’m still falling for you.”
I take a hold of his hands and notice they’re slightly sweaty. “I should have said yes that night,” I continue, my heart pounding. “When you asked me to let you in. I’m sorry I didn’t at the time, but I was so overwhelmed that I ran from you and it’s probably one of my biggest mistakes I’ve made. I realize all this time,” I half-laugh as I try to summon all the courage I can for my next words, “I don’t want to watch the sunrises and sunsets with anyone else but you. ”
“Love scares the hell out of me, too.” He admits firmly and gently. “But you? You’re someone I don’t want to lose.”
“I have one question for you.”
A grin tugs at the corner of his lips. “Ask away, sunshine.”
My lips curve into a shy smile. “Will you stay?”
Tyler’s smile widens, and his eyes glimmer. “For as long as you’ll have me.”
Without another word, without needing any more reassurance, I stand on my tiptoes, closing the space between us. Our lips meet in a soft, tender kiss. Tyler brings his hands to the sides of my face then wrapping around my neck and I can feel his touch burning every inch of my body.
With a soft giggle, I break the momentary silence, our foreheads gently leaning in together.
“What’s funny?” Tyler asks, his voice a soft murmur.
“I’m just really into you,” I admit, a playful grin dancing on my lips.
“ Just into me?”
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. You’re it for me, golden boy.” I reply, feeling a rush of happiness spreading through me.
“Golden boy?” his eyebrows arch in mild surprise. “Where did that come from? ”
“That’s what they call you at school.”
“Huh, really?”
“Because you’re golden,” I explain, my fingers tracing absent-minded patterns on his chest. I could get used to this girlfriend shit .
“Well, you’re worth more than gold to me.”
“God, I love you.”
“Say it again.”
“I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.”
I kiss him again, my heart beating wildly as the wind swirls around us. “I actually can’t get enough of this, you, us .”
His eyes soften, a warmth washing over his features. “We’re just getting started.” He kisses me again with so much hunger like it’s our first and last kiss.
It’s only then that I realize the universe was never out to get me. Through the chaos, through the heightened emotions, it’s led me here, right where I belong.