Meeting The Unpredictable (14 page)

“When one door closes another opens. Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn’t open right away, but I’m happy for you. You deserve to be happy, and if that wasn’t going to happen with her, then I’m glad you found out before it was too late.”

Tyler looks around before he smiles. “Let’s get out of here and go do something fun.”

I chuckle. “Okay, but what’s your idea of fun?”

“I don’t know. I’m feeling a little crazy today so I’m going to bow down to your expertise and let you pick.”

“Okay, then I know exactly what we’re going to do.” The normal look I get from Tyler when I make suggestions is nowhere to be found. Maybe he really is ready to say goodbye to his past and hello to his future.

***

I DRIVE ALMOST THIRTY MINUTES
before we finally arrive at River Rock Lake. Tyler glances around with a grin on his face until I pull up to the paddleboard rental.

“Paddleboards? I thought you brought us out here to kayak.”

“Kayaks are for people who don’t know how to have fun. Paddleboards, on the other hand, bring on a whole new level of excitement.”

“Why am I not surprised?” He sighs. “I should have known you wouldn’t do anything deemed normal.”

“I told you, Tyler, I don’t like that word.”

He chuckles. “Of course you don’t.”

“Let’s do this.” I jump out of the car and walk up to the rental booth. “We need two paddleboards for...” I glance at the rates. “We’ll pay the daily rate.”

Tyler’s eyes widen. “How long do you plan to be out on the water?”

“Until it’s no longer any fun.”

I turn back to the man at the rental counter and hand him my card.

“I got it.” Tyler knocks my hand away and gives the guy his card.

“This is going to be a lot of fun, just wait.”

“Do you ever not get your way?” Tyler laughs again, but his comment hits harder than he could ever know. If I got my way, my life would be nothing like it is.

I COME AWAKE HEARING AN
awful sound. I look around the room only to find myself alone. When I fell asleep, Lennie was wrapped around me. Now she’s nowhere to be found. I hear the noise again, only this time I can tell someone is getting sick.

I rush to the hall bathroom and push the door open to find Lennie hunched over the toilet. “Shit,” I mumble before grabbing a washcloth. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, sorry I woke you.”

“Fuck, don’t be sorry.” I wet the washcloth then hand it to her before I rub my hand up and down her back. Lennie acted fine all day and we both ate the same meal. I’m guessing she’s come down with a bug.

“I think I should go home.”

“Home?” My eyes narrow. “Is Jodi going to take care of you?” She keeps her eyes cast down. “Because if she’s not, then you’re staying here so I can.”

She sniffles before finally looking at me. “Okay, I’ll stay.” I didn’t realize how fast my heart was racing until she agreed to stay. “Good. Now let’s get you back to bed.” I wrap my arm around her waist and start walking her back to my room. Once she’s snuggled up in my bed, I grab my trashcan and put it next to her.

“Thank you, Tyler.”

I push her sweaty hair away from her face. “You don’t need to thank me. Friends take care of each other.”

The corner of her mouth turns up. “Then thank you for being my friend.”

Her words pierce another layer I didn’t know I had around my heart.

***

“YOU LOOK LIKE YOU’RE FEELING
better.”

Lennie smiles as if she’s ready to take on the world when only six hours ago she was puking her guts out. “Yeah, I’m fine. I think something didn’t agree with my system.”

“Are you going somewhere?” She’s dressed in her clothing from yesterday but she has her purse and shoes in her hand. “Yeah. I plan to clean up at Jodi’s then I need to check in with the animal shelter.”

“You were just there the other day, plus you spent the night sick. I think they’d understand.”

“Yeah, I know they would. It’s just...I think I could use some dog therapy today.”

I can’t stop myself from laughing. “Only you, Lennie...only you, and I mean that in a good way.”

She cracks a small smile, but it’s enough to send my heart racing. “I’ll check in with you later.”

“Okay.” I barely have time to agree before she’s gone.

Chad left for work hours ago, and now that I’m alone, the apartment seems empty. A month ago, I wanted empty. I craved empty, but now...it feels wrong. When Lennie officially leaves town, it’s going to be harder on me than I originally thought.

I fire up my computer and open a file when my phone starts ringing. I glance at the caller ID and groan when I see my mother’s name. If I ignore her call, she’ll either keep calling or, God forbid, show up at my place.

“Good morning, Mother.”

“More like afternoon.”

I roll my eyes. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m your mother. Do I need a reason to call?”

“No, but you usually do.”

She huffs into my ear. “Okay, Mr. Smarty Pants, I spoke with Amber yesterday. She told me she ran into you.” I groan, knowing exactly where this is going.

“She said you weren’t alone. That you had...a lady friend with you.”

“Amber can butt right the hell out my business,” I growl.

“I agree. I could tell she was trying to stir the pot but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to meet this woman. No wonder you didn’t want me to set you up with Joyce’s daughter. How come you didn’t tell me?”

“Mom, it’s not like that. We’re...friends.” The second I call Lennie my friend, it feels like a lie. We are friends, but deep down she’s more than that.

“Well, still, I want to meet her.” My feet start bouncing while I try to decide what to say. My mother doesn’t call often, but when she does, it’s usually because she wants something, and when that happens, she’s like a dog with a bone. I should consider myself lucky that she hasn’t been hounding me about this woman she wanted to set me up with.

I clear my throat. “Mom, she’s different from Amber.”

“Good, you don’t need another Amber in your life.” I’m taken aback by her comment. Things changed between Amber and myself, but they didn’t change for Amber and my family. They still love her despite what she did to me.

“If Amber told you I was hanging out with a guy, would you want to meet him too, or is this solely because Lennie is a female?”

“Lennie? Oh, that’s a sweet name.”

“Mother,” I warn. “See this is what I’m talking about. You don’t bring a friend who happens to be a female over to meet your parents, especially when they’re acting like they can hear wedding bells in the near future.”

“Oh, nonsense. Quit making this a bigger deal than it is. Saturday night, bring her over and we’ll have dinner with your father.”

If I don’t agree, she’ll show up here looking to meet her. “I’ll talk to Lennie and see if she’s free, but I’m not promising anything.”

“Talk to your friend and let me know. I’ll plan something special for dinner.”

“Okay,” I say with exasperation. “I’ll let you go. I really need to get some work done.”

“Certainly, dear. Talk to you soon.”

After the call is disconnected, I sit at my desk staring at my blank computer screen for the longest time.

I could tell when I saw Amber that she wasn’t happy Lennie was with me. And Lennie couldn’t have made Amber any more uncomfortable if she tried, which I secretly loved.

When Amber first told me she was in love with Brandon, my world fell apart. Nothing seemed right, and the more I was forced to watch her move on without me, the more removed from the world I became.

Now, thanks to time and Lennie, I have a clear head. I know there was a time when I loved Amber. We shared too many firsts together, but somewhere along the way, we fell out of love, but it’s the part where she was willing to publicly toss me to the side that still hurts.

I haven’t forgiven them, but I’ve let it go. Holding on to my anger was only holding me back from life, and thanks to Lennie, I’m ready to start living again.

***

I DECIDED TO TAKE A
page out of Lennie’s book and surprise her by showing up at my parents’ house. If I’m being completely honest, I was nervous to ask her to join me. I have no idea where I stand with Lennie, but at the very least, I know she’s important to me. But, introducing a woman to your parents is a big deal, and I’m not sure how I would react if she refused to come with me. “I thought you said we were going out for dinner.”

“We are.” Her eyes move back to my parents’ house. “My mom found out I was hanging out with you and insisted on meeting you. I told her we’re only friends but...”

Her eyes narrow. “How did your mom find out about me?”

“Amber.”

“Amber?” she repeats with a confused look. “Why does your mom still talk to Amber?”

I groan. “It’s a long story. One I don’t really like talking about.”

Lennie looks at me suspiciously. “O...kay.” Her gaze travels back to my parents’ house. “Who am I?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

She chuckles before looking back at me. “To your parents. Who am I?”

“I told you, you’re my friend.” She nods her head in silence. “Okay, let’s do this.” Lennie hops out of my SUV and is halfway to my parents’ front door before I’m able to force my feet to start moving.

When I catch up with her, I pause before opening the door. “This isn’t a big deal. I promise.”

Lennie smiles before winking at me. “I’m ready.”

I turn the knob and push open the door and the two of us step inside. Instantly, voices followed by laughter fill the air, causing my heart to drop because I know my parents aren’t the only ones here.

TYLER’S BODY COILS WITH TENSION.

“What’s wrong?”

His breathing picks up as his eyes widen. “I think my mom invited my brothers.”

I cock my head to the side, wondering why he’s acting this strange. “It’s not a big deal, I promise. I’d love to meet your family.” I lace my hand with his and give him a tug.

“It’s just that...” He trails off as an older lady—I’m assuming his mother—walks down the hall towards us.

“I’m Marie, Tyler’s mother. You must be Lennie.”

“Yes,” I answer with a smile, but it quickly fades when her lips set in a hard line as she studies my tattoos. “Do you like them?” I ask with a large dose of sarcasm. “I’m trying to decide what to add for Tyler.”

“For Tyler?”

“Yes, I usually get a tattoo to remember a special time in my life, and so far, my time with your son has been unforgettable.” She seems taken aback by my answer, but when I glance up at Tyler, I see a gleam in his eye that wasn’t there seconds ago.

“Oh, well...that’s nice.” Marie clears her throat. “Tyler, your brothers found out you were coming over tonight with a date. I was unable to stop them from showing up. More the merrier, right?”

“Right,” Tyler adds in a sharp tone.

Marie turns and leads us down a hall that opens up into a large living room full of people. My eyes scan the room but my face screws up in anger when I notice Amber, Tyler’s ex, standing off to the side. She’s watching Tyler closely. “Everyone, this is Lennie. Lennie, this is my husband, Thomas.”

A man who looks like an older version of Tyler smiles at me. “Nice to meet you, Lennie.”

“Likewise.”

“And this is Joel, Austin, and Brandon, Tyler’s brothers.” My heart drops when I notice that Brandon is holding the same little girl Amber had with her the other day.

“This little cutie here is Allie and her big brother, Sam, is over there.” I follow her finger to see a little boy playing with a tablet on the couch.

“Oh.” I glance over at Tyler but he won’t look at me.

I’ve never been one to cower away from saying what I’m thinking. “And why is Tyler’s ex here?” I glance at Amber in time to see her eyes widen with shock.

Marie clears her throat, but Brandon speaks before she has a chance. “Because she’s my wife.”

My mouth drops open. I can’t believe Tyler failed to mention that. “Are we ready to eat?” Marie questions, trying her best to avoid the awkward moment everyone is feeling.

“Yes, that would be great. Can I do anything to help you?” I ask as I force a smile.