The Boyfriend Deal(14)

“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?

Not that there was anything wrong with my self-worth. But I didn’t fool myself by thinking the hottest boy in school could possibly have had his eye on me like he’d insinuated yesterday at the ice cream parlor.

As we ate, his phone started going nuts, but he ignored it and kept talking to me.

“Don’t you need to get that?” I asked.

“I’m sure it’s just Robert or Colin, maybe both. They can wait until we get to school. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Maybe you should look, just to be sure?”

Tyler smiled. “I’m not checking my phone while I have the most beautiful girl in school sitting across from me. They can wait. My time with you is limited, and I’m going to savor the moment.”

I didn’t believe a word he’d just said, but it definitely won him some points. If this was the real thing, he’d be the perfect boyfriend. Which made me wonder why he’d only ever dated Alicia.

“How come you’ve never dated anyone seriously but Alicia?” I asked.

“Alicia was more of a habit than a girlfriend. She had her uses, but I never intended to be with her long-term. As for the other girls, they knew I was only in it for a day or two. I never made it a secret that I was only looking for a good time.”

“And now?” I couldn’t help but ask, but I was almost afraid of his answer.

“Things are different now. I’ve got Mom breathing down my neck to change my ways or else face military school for the rest of my senior year, and honestly … when I look to the near future, I don’t see myself going off to college and keeping Alicia as a girlfriend, or keep hopping from girl to girl. I want something more.”

“You mean like a real relationship?”

He nodded. “It’s time for me to get serious about life, and that means I need a serious girlfriend.”