Chapter 32
Istood in front of my bathroom mirror, applying the final touches to my makeup. I swiped a dark mauve-red lipstick across my lips and applied a sparkling gloss on top. I’d been using the same shade since high school, Crème Br?lée from NYX.
I’d chosen a little black dress, one of the only dresses I’d brought with me from home.
It accentuated my figure and, paired with my four-inch black heels, was one of my favorite outfits.
I completed the look with a dainty diamond necklace and earrings that my mother had given me when I graduated high school.
I touched the stones sparkling in the bathroom lighting, thinking about my mom for a moment and the relationship we’d had before everything happened with Dr. Pike and my father.
But my mother would never do anything to go against my father.
If he encouraged dental school, she would too.
If my father didn’t believe me about something, she wouldn’t either.
For a long time, I mourned not only the fact that my father hadn’t stood up for me all those months ago when the incident with Pike occurred, but that my mother hadn’t either.
I sighed and pushed thoughts of my parents aside, not wanting to ruin my night. I’d spent extra time getting ready, curling my hair into loose waves that cascaded over my shoulders. I wasn’t going to ruin the vibe and all the hard work I’d put into my look with thoughts of my parents.
I stepped back to assess myself, feeling a mixture of emotions—a bit of excitement and nervousness. Tonight was my date with Tyler. I was going to watch him play at the local bar.
As I was putting on my heels, my phone buzzed with a text.
Tyler: I’m here.
My eyes widened as realization dawned. I’d forgotten to tell him to come through the garage.
“Oh no, no, no.” I grabbed my clutch and rushed down the stairs two at a time, praying I could intercept Jay before he opened the front door.
But I was too late. By the time I reached the bottom step, I could already hear two male voices drifting in from the entryway.
I rounded the corner and froze.
Tyler stood on the front porch in a crisp button-down and jeans, holding a small bouquet of flowers. Jay, meanwhile, was leaning up against the doorway, arms crossed, looking like a protective father sizing up his daughter’s prom date.
Which was wildly inappropriate, considering he was not my father.
“You’ll have her back by a decent hour, won’t you, Tyler?” Jay asked, his tone light enough to pass as teasing, but I was pretty sure he was actually deadly serious.
“Jay,” I warned, coming up beside him. I shot him a sharp look before turning to Tyler and taking the flowers from his hands. “These are beautiful. Wow, thank you, Ty.”
Tyler smiled, blissfully unaware of the tension filling the front entryway. “You look great, Hope. Nice dress. And don’t worry, Dr. Jay. I’ll take good care of her.”
Jay smiled back, still leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest. He wore black sweatpants and a fitted long-sleeve shirt that clung to his form in a way that, in my opinion, was more revealing than my neckline.
“Alright,” I said quickly. “We should probably go. Don’t want to be late.”
Tyler nodded and started down the steps. I followed, but I was stopped when Jay’s hand closed gently around my wrist, tugging me back.
My breath caught as I felt him lean in, close enough that I felt the warmth of his breath brushing my ear and bare collarbone.
“Your date needs a dictionary,” he murmured. “You don’t just look great.” There was a brief pause. “You’re thoroughly breathtaking.”
I stilled, my heart pattering like April rain, helpless to stop the flutter in my stomach.
Unable to find words, I gave him one last backward glance, catching the playful gleam in his eye before he released my wrist.
It took the walk to Tyler’s car and the entire drive to the bar to catch my breath again.
And even then.
Tyler and I entered Encore, a quaint bar snuggled up against the lake on Main Street in Big Bear. Dim lights, cozy vibes, the soft murmur of conversation, and the melodic rhythm of a band greeted us as soon as we stepped inside.
“This is cute,” I commented as we weaved through the small crowd to a booth nestled in the corner of the bar. We scooted across the plastic-covered cushions, the flickering candle on the table making it feel more intimate than the Velvet Anchor we usually frequented.
“I’m glad you like it.” Tyler flagged down a server and ordered drinks for both of us, along with a plate of my favorite fried snacks.
As we waited, Tyler leaned in close. “I’m a little nervous tonight,” he admitted with a shaky laugh.
His adorable dimples peeked out when he smiled.
I was still trying to push aside weeks of friendship to see him in a more romantic light. Tonight was a good night to really figure out if anything was possible. We were finally alone, just the two of us.
I reached over and gently touched his arm. “Don’t be. You’re going to do great.”
The drinks arrived, and Tyler took a sip before checking his watch. “I want to chat longer, but it’ll have to wait. I go on in five minutes. Are you good?”
“I’m great. Good luck up there,” I said, and he smiled before heading to the stage.
I settled into the booth, smiling as a wave of excitement fluttered through me while I watched Tyler take his place on stage. He grabbed his acoustic guitar, and after some wire untangling and a few height adjustments, everything was finally ready.
“How is everybody tonight?” Tyler asked, and a few people cheered.
“Go, Ty!” I yelled, grinning.
He smiled at me from the stage.
“This first song is called ‘Oceans.’”
He began to strum, and a sweet melody filled the bar.
It was a happy chord progression with a little hint of melancholy.
Your smile lights up the night,
In your arms, I find a place to call my own.
Running across the shore, with sand between our toes,
Underneath the starry sky, a feeling starts to grow.
I listened intently, captivated by his singing. His voice was deep and slightly husky. Not only did he have a good voice, but the lyrics were beautifully written, and I found myself getting lost in them.
Oh, ocean deep and wide,
You reflect what's inside of me,
Caught in your tide, I'm falling, and I can't hide.
Caught in your tide.
No, I can't hide.
I closed my eyes, sitting in the dim light of the little booth and getting lost for a moment.
You look thoroughly breathtaking.
My eyes snapped open, the words Jay said to me earlier hijacking my moment.
I fidgeted in my seat, taking a long sip of my Coke and trying desperately to pull myself together as Tyler moved on to the next song. I really couldn’t be thinking about our boss right now.
The rest of his set was fairly upbeat, so thankfully, I didn’t slip into any more daydreaming. Two Cokes and three songs later, Tyler’s set came to an end, and everyone applauded. He really had done a great job.
When he came back to the booth, his eyes were bright with a light I didn’t typically see at work. I could tell he loved music and singing, and it was actually nice to see him in his element.
“Did you enjoy it?” he asked, a little breathless.
I nodded, giving him a genuine smile. “Yes, you were amazing. I could have listened to you all night. Your lyrics are incredible, and your voice—” I nodded again. “It was really good.”
His smile widened, clearly happy with my response. “Thank you, Hope. That means a lot.”
“Want another drink?” I asked, gesturing to his half-empty glass.
“Actually, I was hoping we could get out of here, maybe? Go somewhere.”
“Sure,” I said, feeling a little nervous for some reason.
Go somewhere? What did that mean exactly?
He had kissed my cheek at the barbecue, which had been fairly innocent, but now I was wondering if he would attempt to kiss me again if given the chance, and this time not on the cheek…
The thought sent my stomach into nervous knots.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d kissed someone.
My first year of college, maybe? I’d been so busy with school that I’d only been on a few dates, and neither of them had ended with anything physical.
The sad truth was that I was out of practice with all this dating stuff, and the thought of a freaking kiss was making me nervous.
He smiled and held out his hand. I took it, trying to remain calm, as he led me out the door into the starlit night.
We got to his truck, and we drove to a local park fifteen minutes from the bar.
It was the same park that we’d gone to for the Community Fair but it looked much different without all the tents.
It had a playground and a little gazebo with sparkling string lights.
It was an adorable place surrounded by tall pine trees, with a great view of the lake.
“Come on,” Tyler said, coming around to open my passenger-side door. I unclipped my heels before jumping down, deciding to go barefoot rather than endure the blisters I was accumulating.
My toes squished into the slightly damp grass as we made our way across the park to a secluded spot where a gap in the trees provided a view of the stars.
“Isn’t this perfect?” Tyler said, pulling out the picnic blanket tucked beneath his arm. He appeared to be vibrating with energy after his set, and I was seeing him in yet another new light. Even when we’d gone zip-lining, I hadn’t seen him this happy—so carefree.
He fanned the blanket across the grass so we could sit side by side on the soft flannel. “I love coming here to clear my head.”
I nodded, leaning back on my hands to gaze up at the sky. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d stargazed.
“I can see why. It’s beautiful out here.”
“Yeah. It’s a great place to talk.”
He glanced at me and flushed a little. I could sense that he was unsure where to lead the conversation, and it was sort of adorable that he was slightly flustered.