AllFreeNovel
Share Us
At least, most of the time. There are exceptions. Like my dad. Likeme.
“Essays instead of music.” Tyler shakes his head. “You’re deadinside.”
There’s no reason for those words to land heavy on myheart.
They doanyway.
Maybe because he talks about music like my dad does. Like it’s not a choice, it’s part of him, and like they’re part of the same exclusiveclub.
I can’t help wondering what it would be like to be part of Tyler, to be something so important tohim.
I clear my throat. “You can ride to school withme.”
Tyler shrugs out of the jacket, hangs it in the closet. “I’ll take my bike. Unless parking’s anissue.”
I ignore the hit of disappointment. “There’s enough asphalt at Oakwood to service a shopping mall. Ironically, fewer oaks than you’d think.” He laughs. “When did you get thebike?”
“Spent the summer building it from parts so I’d have wheels when I movedout.”
That grabs my attention. “You movedout?”
Being friends with Tyler has always been easy. Maybe because after a few months in the same city, we were long distance, existing on texts and emails and the occasional call that left me grinning for a weekafter.
But though he didn’t expect many things from me, there was an implicit rule, always: we never talked about his home life, not even when we both lived inPhilly.
Now, my heart thuds dully in my chest, a new kind of uneasiness working through me. “Tyler… where have you beenliving?”
“Around.”
It didn’t occur to me he hadn’t answered because he had his own shit going on. Shit that might have been worse thanmine.
My heart aches, and I know what I’m thinking is plain on my face because he reacts too, shaking his head as if he can ward me off even as those eyes darken in warning. “Annie…”
Without thinking, I throw myself against him, and I feel him inhale in surprise. As if maybe he would’ve dodged me if he’d seen mecoming.
He’s so strong, but I wish I could tell him he doesn’t have to be. That I’ll be strong for both ofus.
Even if he feels different, smells different than he usedto.
Even if he went from handsome to the kind of hot that makes my body tighten just being in the same room ashim.
"I'm glad you're here, and tomorrow’s going to be great. Promise,” I murmur against his chest. ”I should let youunpack."
"Yeah. It could take all night." His dry tone as I pull back has me glancing at the single bag he brought withhim.
“Need anything before your clothes gethere?”
“I might need some tights. A pink skirt. A pastryhat.”
The smirk on his face makes my heart lift in my chest. “Fuck you,” Iretort.
But there’s no bite init.
I head for the door but turn back at the sound of his voice. “Hey,Annie.”
Tyler stands next to the bed, his duffle on top. His hair is messier than it was a second ago, as if he ran an impatient hand throughit.
“I missed youtoo.”
