The Boyfriend Deal(7)

I was turning into a sap. If the guys knew how worried I was about  Hadley's feelings, then they would revoke my man card. Not to mention  all of the teasing I'd endure. Although, if Colin was right, I was  probably facing quite a bit of teasing anyway just for wanting to be  with Hadley. And I was okay with that. To me, she was worth it. Of  course, I had to make her believe I wanted to be with her when things  got bad at school. Normally, I'd say a few more kisses and she'd be  eating out of my hand, but not with Hadley. She was different, and  different was good. Very good.

Morning couldn't come soon enough. I couldn't wait to see what she'd  wear in the morning, and I was definitely looking forward to breakfast.





Chapter Five



Hadley



I tugged on my denim skirt as I looked in the mirror. The three-quarter  sleeve aqua top was cute, but I'd shoved this skirt to the back of my  closet for a reason. It had been a gift and was the shortest skirt I  owned, barely passing school regulation. I'd only pulled it out that  morning because I thought Tyler might like it. Even when I'd dated  Hunter, I had never dressed to please him, and I wasn't sure I liked the  fact I was doing it now. It shouldn't matter if Tyler liked my outfit.  It should only matter that I liked my outfit.         

     



 

My hair was washed and straightened so it hung long and sleek down my  back and a little past my waist. When it dried naturally, there was a  bit of wave to it that made it shrink up. It wasn't often that I took  the time to straighten my hair, but Tyler had said we were going out for  breakfast this morning, and I wanted to look nice for our date. Or was  it a date? He hadn't called it a date, but …  I shook my head. I was  overthinking things again.

I looked presentable, nice even. Smoothing some peach gloss on my lips, I  gave my reflection one last, long look before grabbing my stuff and  heading downstairs. I was halfway down when there was a knock at the  door. Mom beat me to it, but I smiled when Tyler stepped inside.

His eyes widened and his jaw went a little slack when he looked up at  me, and I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face. Hunter had  never had that look, not with me. I'd seen him look that way at the  cheerleaders, when he thought I wasn't watching, but Tyler's look was  all for me, and it warmed me from the inside out.

"I thought we'd stop by that little diner that's a few blocks from the  school. We should have time to sit down and eat. Unless you'd prefer to  grab something from a drive-thru?" he asked.

"Sitting down to breakfast sounds nice."

He smiled and held out his hand, taking my bag from me. Then he wrapped  his fingers around mine. I waved at Mom on my way out the door and let  Tyler escort me to his  …  truck? My brow furrowed in confusion.

"What happened to your car?"

"The car actually belongs to my Mom, but she'd needed my truck to haul  some stuff. She's actually needed it a lot since school started, so we  just traded cars for a while. But she tossed my keys to me this morning  and said she was finished with it."

I cocked my head. "What could she have possibly had to haul for the  entire school year? We've been in class for about two months now."

He opened and shut his mouth.

"I bet I know why she kept your truck from you." I couldn't stop the  smile that I knew bloomed across my face. "I'm guessing this truck has  seen a lot of action, and she figured you wouldn't fool around in her  car."

He snorted then laughed. "I think you may be right. I told her about you  last night, and there was a change in the way she looked at me. So  maybe you helped me get my truck back, to which I owe you more than just  breakfast."

"Speaking of, if we sit in my driveway much longer, we'll miss breakfast and have to head to class."

He winked at me, backed out of the driveway, and headed toward the  diner. The radio was turned up enough that we could hear the songs but  could still talk if we wanted to. We'd nearly reached the diner when he  took my hand in his, threading our fingers together. I loved the way my  heart kicked in my chest every time he took my hand, and I was certain  there was a goofy grin on my face, but I just couldn't help it. No  matter how many times I told myself this was all for pretend, I couldn't  help but enjoy the attention Tyler gave me. It made me want more, to  want it to be real.

At the diner, we claimed a booth by the window. A waitress dropped two  menus on the table, then wandered off. Tyler didn't even look at his.

"You already know what you want?" I asked.

"I eat here several times a week and always order the same thing."

My nose wrinkled. "Isn't that kind of boring? What about all the things you're missing out on?"

"I guess I never thought of that." With his eyebrows up, he reached for  the menu and looked it over. "What are you going to order?"

"I can't decide between the biscuits with gravy or the waffles with hash browns."

"Definitely the biscuits. Mom used to order those when she came with me and swore they were the best in the state."

I nodded. "Then that's what I'll get."

"You should probably get some eggs or something to go with it though. It's more of a side item than a meal."

My cheeks warmed. "Are you saying I'm too fat to want to eat something small?"

His head jerked up and his eyes were wide. "What? No! I never thought you were fat."

I wasn't entirely sure I believed him, but his shock seemed real enough.

"Who's called you fat?" he asked.

"Hunter used to say I ate too much. Or if I ordered a burger instead of a  salad, he'd make a comment. I don't understand why he's been such a  pest. It wasn't like what we had was all that great. He was always  criticizing me, like I wasn't good enough for him just the way I was."         

     



 

"Hunter was an idiot."

I couldn't argue with that.

"What's he been doing?" Tyler asked.

"He pinned me to my locker a few days ago and tried to force me to kiss  him. He's badgered me to take him back, saying that he'd made a mistake  and I should forgive him. Then there were the roses I found in my locker  with a creepy note. I'm not sure if he thought it was romantic or if he  was trying to freak me out."

"Has he put his hands on you, other than to pin you to your locker?"

I shook my head. "It's mostly verbal."

"Well, it's about to stop. If seeing the two of us together won't do it,  I have no problem having a little chat with the guy. I'm not going to  let him harass you anymore. You should be able to go to school without  worrying about dealing with that jerk."

Hope welled inside of me. Tyler wouldn't offer to do something like that  if he didn't really like me, would he? I supposed it could have been a  way to make him look good to everyone else, but I didn't think that was  it.

"Do you have to write an essay in English about where you see yourself in ten years?" he asked.

"Yeah. I think they gave the same assignment to all of the senior  English classes. Something about preparing us for those college  application essays. Have you applied anywhere yet?"

"A few places. You?"

"I'm debating between staying in state and going to University of  Tennessee, or going to University of Texas. Both have an excellent music  program, and I want to continue playing, even if I'm not in the  marching band."

"You want to study music?"

I nodded. "I think I'd like to be a music teacher to elementary kids,  teach them early to appreciate the different types of music, and even  show them how to play a few things."

He smiled. "I can see you as a teacher."

"What about you? What are you going to do after high school?"

"I'm still deciding what I want to do. I've thought about being a  fireman, but I'm not sure my mom would appreciate that career choice.  She'd probably prefer me to sit behind a desk all day than to run into  burning buildings. What about you? Could you see yourself with a fireman  for a boyfriend?"

My cheeks must have heated a hundred degrees at the implication we'd  still be together after high school. I knew it wasn't likely, but it was  everything I'd ever dreamed of.

"I would want my boyfriend to do whatever made him happy, and if it  happened to be a dangerous job, I would pray for his safety every  morning and night."

He reached out and took my hand in his. "Has anyone ever told you that you have a kind heart?"

"My parents, but I don't think they count."

"You have smart parents."

The waitress came and took our orders, brought some drinks, and then  left us alone until our food was ready. We talked about college and our  future plans a little more, and it made me feel even closer to Tyler.  He'd made a comment about adding two more college applications to his  list, but I didn't dare hope he really meant it. But at the same time, I  really, really wanted him to. What if this wasn't just a fake  relationship? What if, by spending time with me, he saw that I was  someone worthy of this attention?