Chapter 9 #2
“We should grab another picture,” he said as he pulled out his phone, forever remembering that this was very much a job.
She leaned in without hesitation, touching her cheek to his as he focused them in the frame.
He took the shot, satisfied that they’d both grinned. “I’ll text it to you,” he said, hearing her back pocket ding as he sent it to her.
“Thanks.” She set her phone at her side and lay back, settling in.
He settled his head on his pillow, reaching for her hand, feeling her tense.
She looked at him, holding his gaze in the light from the film, as she let him lace their fingers again. She said nothing as she gave her attention to the movie.
He nudged himself closer, shoulder to shoulder, breathing her in as he watched the movie that he hadn’t seen since he’d been a kid.
Two hours later, Lydia rolled to her side as Cyndi Lauper’s voice filled the park while the end credits rolled across the screen and people started to leave.
Ty rolled, meeting her gaze. “That’s a movie that will never get old.”
She smiled, trying to ignore the way the light and shadows accentuated his exceptional face. “Agreed.”
He sat up. “I imagine we should start packing up and get out of here.”
She shrugged, staying where she was, looking up at him. “I usually wait a few minutes and let some of the chaos wind down.”
“We can do that.”
She settled more comfortably on her pillow. “So, are we doing something together tomorrow?”
“I have to meet with my case agent at noon. We’re meeting halfway, so I’ll probably be gone for most of the day.”
“What’s a case agent?”
“He’s the guy who’s in charge of our leg of the investigation.”
“So, he’s your boss?”
He moved his hand from side to side. “Sort of, but not really. He manages and coordinates the operation and has final say over the case, but in the day-to-day, when I’m not undercover, we’re just colleagues.”
“Huh,” she said, reluctantly fascinated by the different facets of his job. “What do you guys talk about at your meetings?”
“I give him updates on where things are at with the investigation so he can keep the brass informed.”
“I take it the brass is your boss.”
“Bosses,” he said, nodding. “The directors and executive leadership. They’re everybody’s bosses. They’re the very top of the food chain.”
She nodded. “So, it sounds like no hanging out tomorrow, then.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
She continued to hold his gaze, trying to decide if she was more relieved or slightly disappointed. She and Ty had known each other for a mere few days, but he wasn’t the worst person she’d ever spent time with. “Okay.”
“We can get together on Monday, though.”
She shook her head. “I have to go to a curriculum building workshop. I want to get some of my continuing education hours out of the way while I’m still in my school year routine.”
“Is it all day?”
She nodded. “Pretty much. Until three thirty.”
“So come over to my place after. I’ll cook us dinner.”
She shook her head. “You don’t have to cook for me all the time.”
“I’m mostly an omelet guy in DC, so making different stuff doesn’t suck.”
“Why are you an omelet guy?”
“Because they’re fast, high in protein, and taste good whether it’s two in the morning or two in the afternoon. Dump some greens into a bowl, and you’ve got a decent meal.”
“I can see that.”
“My dad has a good pasta sauce recipe. It’s from a jar, but I’ll add some seasoning, mushrooms, onions, sausage, and red pepper flakes for a little kick. It usually turns out pretty amazing.”
“It sounds delicious.”
“So, it’s a date.”
She nodded, even though it wasn’t. Just like tonight.
But she couldn’t deny that she’d had fun, which made her feel guilty. She felt even worse because Ty had been right yesterday when he suggested that she might like him a little.
As much as she didn’t want to, she couldn’t seem to help it.
He was funny, laid-back, and easy to talk to.
If things were different, she had no doubt that they would be great friends, but the extra layers and complications that came with every interaction made the possibility of anything more than an acquaintanceship impossible.
The music shut off as the movie screen went dark, and several floodlights turned on.
She sat up. “It looks like things are clearing out.”
Ty nodded as he scanned the area. “It does.”
They both stood, folding and gathering up the items they had come with.
Ty snagged her hand, lacing their fingers again as they walked through the park among what was left of the crowd.
It felt odd to hold a man’s hand again—something she hadn’t done since she and Andy were together. Ty’s hand felt different—bigger and warmer. But then again, everything about Ty was different.
“This was fun,” he said, interrupting her thoughts.
“It was.”
“Maybe we’ll have a chance to do it again before we head up to Mass.”
She nodded as they crossed the street. “We’ll have to look at the dates. I’m pretty sure there’s one more movie before we leave, but it also might be the week after.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
They stopped at his truck, putting their stuff in the back seat.
She shivered, crossing her arms as the night turned chilly with an occasional cool breeze.
“Are you cold?”
“When the wind blows. It wasn’t very smart of me not to bring a sweater.”
He tossed her a pale-gray hoodie from behind his seat. “Go ahead and put that on.”
She immediately pulled it over her head, smelling him as the soft, warm fabric cocooned her skin. She hummed her appreciation as she took her seat. “This is comfy.”
“It’s pretty nice,” he said as he got in.
She buckled up. “I hate to say it, but I don’t know if you’ll be getting this back.”
He chuckled. “Unfortunately for you, I know where to find you if I need it.”
“Isn’t possession nine-tenths of the law?”
He grinned as she did. “That’s what they say.”
“I’ll try to remember to bring this with me when I come over on Monday night.”
“Go ahead and keep it for now. You can give it back in August.”
“That’s a deal.”
He started the truck and pulled through the empty spot ahead of him, joining the busy stream of traffic, turning onto her road a few short minutes later.
“This looks like your stop,” he said as he pulled into the driveway.
“That it is.” She got out, punching in the code for the garage, waiting for the door to go up.
Ty grabbed the items from the back seat, including the cooler she’d carried. “It’s a lot lighter after we ate and drank almost everything.”
She took the cooler from him, dumping the ice onto the concrete, then tucked the container in the corner to dry. “I can grab this stuff.”
He handed over the fabric cooler next, then the pillows and blanket. “Thanks for letting me tag along tonight.”
“Yeah, for sure.”
“Give me a call on Monday, and we’ll figure out when you want to head over.”
“How about at five? I want to get my laps in at the gym after my workshop.”
“Sounds good.”
“Can I bring anything?”
He shook his head. “I’ll let you know if that changes, but I can’t think of anything at the moment.”
“Okay, then. I’ll see you on Monday night.”
“I’ll see you then.” He walked back to his truck and got in.
She tossed him a wave, then pressed the button on the garage door, watching him back out before it closed.
“I guess that’s that,” she said with a nod. Two nights of spending time together hadn’t been too bad at all, but it looked like she had the next twenty-four hours off from her fake relationship.