What Happens Tomorrow (19 page)

TYLER’S PARENTS HAVE loaned us the use of their timeshare. Apparently it’s a beautiful rustic beach house that backs onto the beach. He says it’s his favorite place in the world and I can’t wait to see it.

I need to let my mom know that Tyler is taking me on a trip, so I phone her the night before.

“Oh baby, I’m happy for you. You’re gonna have such a fabulous time. I hear it’s really beautiful, and to think that you’ll be that much closer to us.” She sighs.”You know, Dad and I really like Tyler, but it’s more than that. H-h-he’s…”

“Mom, are you okay?” I lower my tone in hopes that it’ll help settle her obvious distress. More and more, I’ve come to realize how much of a toll the past years have taken on my parents.

It makes my heart ache.

“Dad and I have worried about you, Brooke…please understand, sweetheart…I don’t think either one of us ever expected you to…to still be here.” It’s the first time she’s ever admitted her fears to me. Even though, deep down I’ve always known.

The heartbreaking sound of my mom choking back a sob has me filling with guilt. “Mom, I can’t tell you how sorry I am that you and Dad had to deal with so much because of me.”

“Shhh, that’s our job, baby. That’s what parenthood is about. You’ll never know how hard it was watching and knowing there wasn’t a single thing either of us could do to help you. I would’ve given anything to take your pain away, sweetheart. As a mother, it crushed my soul to see you hurting. Even more than the pain I felt in my own heart from losing Matt and Katelin. You’re
my
baby, Brooke. No matter how old you are. You always will be.”

“I love you, Mom. More than you’ll ever know. You, Dad and Charlie…you were the only ones that kept me…here,” I say with an aching sigh. “I never wanted you to have to suffer because of losing your daughter like I did.” The words leave my mouth, taking my breath with them.

I hear a sniffle on the other end of the line, knowing my words have wounded her. I know this, because it hurt me to say them. “That’s all in the past now, sweetheart.”

I sigh at her words as relief sweeps over me. Relief that my parents are no longer burdened with the constant worry of their daughter’s mental state.

“You two have a wonderful time. I can’t wait to hear all about it when you get back. One more thing. Remember, my beautiful girl, all any mother wants out of her life is to see her children healthy and happy. That’s what I wish for my darling girl…health and happiness, nothing more. If Tyler makes you happy, I’m happy.”

I smile. I needed to hear her approval. “I love you, Mom. Give Daddy a hug and a kiss for me, and I’ll call you when we get home.”

“I love you, my beautiful girl. I’m proud of you, Brooke.”

I smile at her words.

FOR THE NEXT ten days, the rest of the world will cease to exist.

We’re packed and ready for our first trip away together. I’m excited about going on a road trip; more than excited. I’ve heard so many people talk about how breathtaking the drive along Oregon Coast is. Matt and I never did anything like this. He was a homebody.

Tyler wants to get an early start in the morning, hoping to avoid the morning traffic congestion. I’m not a morning person, so getting up at the crack of dawn is definitely not my thing.

“Come on, lazy. You can sleep in the car.” He playfully pokes me in the side while trailing soft, electrifying kisses down the back of my neck. “We need to get a move on before the traffic starts. We’ve got a sixteen hour drive ahead of us at best, so come on. Get up.”

I pick my pillow up and smoosh it over the top of my head, trying hard to block Tyler and the bedroom light out. Why can’t we leave a little later? We’re on vacation.

He yanks the pillow out of my hand as he laughs and pokes me again. “Come on, Brooke. Please, baby…get your gorgeous ass out of bed.”

I stretch slow and long as I yawn. “All right, I’m awake, but I’m not happy about it.” I pout when I realize he’s already showered and dressed. What the hell time did he get up?

“You’re ready?”

“I am. I fed the little man, took him out for a stretch and I packed the last of our things. Now we’re just waiting on you,” he teases with a sly wink.

Rubbing my eyes, I climb out of bed feeling like something from a zombie apocalypse.

“Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be ready to go.”

He cocks a brow in disbelief.

An hour later we are officially on the road.

We make a quick stop and grab our morning lattes. Neither one of us is human in the morning without coffee. Honestly, I’ll never understand—or trust!—someone who doesn’t drink coffee.

Tyler’s compact SUV is surprisingly comfortable, even with all of our bags crammed in the back. My precious Charlie boy lays in his dog seat, contently chewing on one of those disgusting ligament chew sticks. The smell is gross but at least he’s happy.

Tyler reaches over and takes my hand, lacing our fingers together. He quickly glances at me, trying not to take his attention away from the road for too long. The sweetest smile graces his lips as a look of sheer contentment washes across his face. “I can’t believe we’re really on our way to Oregon. That I get to spend the next ten days with you and only you ….”

He doesn’t finish his sentence.

After what seems like a long pause, he breaks his silence. “Are you happy?” he cautiously asks, lifting our entwined hands to his lips. I focus all my attention on our hands as he places a soft, lingering kiss to the back of my hand.

“Of course I’m happy. I wouldn’t be here with you if I weren’t. Why would you ask that?” He lets go of my hand, gripping the steering wheel in one hand while nervously rubbing his fingertips across his forehead with the other.

What just happened?

Did I miss something?

I don’t understand the sudden change in his demeanor. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe we aren’t ready to be going away together. Was this a mistake?

“I heard you on the phone yesterday with your mom. You were crying.” He shakes his head. “Brooke, if your parents don’t approve of us, I—”

“What do you mean if my parents don’t approve? What would give you that impression? Have you completely lost your mind!” I scold. “First off, never listen to someone’s phone conversation, especially when it doesn’t involve you. You’ll only get half of the story and end up making stupid assumptions.” I clear my throat while rolling my eyes at him. “Secondly, I was upset because my mom was crying, and she was crying because she’s happy for me…for us.” I pull my lips into a content smile as I raise my brows.

Relief.

It was all a stupid misunderstanding.

I place my hand on his thigh and give it a loving squeeze. “She told me that they think you’re good for me.”

He sighs deeply as his neck and shoulders relax and his body once again reclines comfortably into his seat. I know a gigantic weight has been lifted from him. He takes my hand, removing it from his thigh. “God, you have no idea how relieved I am to hear that. The last twenty-four hours have been a nightmare. I don’t know what I would have done if your parents didn’t approve.”

I playfully snort, shaking my head at him. It’s sweet that he has old fashioned values.

“What...you’re laughing at me now?” He tries to look serious with his furrowed brows, but I see right through him. His poker face is no better than mine. That’s because the man wears his heart on his sleeve—what you see is what you get. It’s one of the qualities I love the most about him.

“Mmm hmm, of course I’m laughing at you, silly man. I can’t for the life of me understand why you would think my parents wouldn’t love you as much as I do.”

And the words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them.

Crap!

His face beams as the brightest, most endearing smile curves across his lips.

Wonderful! Way to pick a moment, Brooke. You just blurted out you love him for the very first time during a car ride.”

He
doesn’t
say a word. He just keeps on driving with his sexy grin plastered across his face..

AFTER BEING STUCK in the car for the better part of the day, we’re both tired and in need of something to eat and somewhere to sleep.

We pull into the parking lot of a motel just off the main strip in Florence. It’s nothing spectacular to look at, but I bet it has an incredible view in the daytime. It overlooks a beautiful, picturesque beach that leads out to the ocean. Too bad we won’t be here to enjoy it in the morning.

Ty had wanted to keep driving, but I could tell by the way he was slouched in his seat that he was getting achy and tired from driving for so long. I’d offered to take over and give him a break, but he was quite happy being in control and I didn’t argue because truthfully, I wanted nothing more than to stretch my legs, have a hot shower, then curl up in bed and snuggle against the warmth of Tyler’s bare chest.

I want to hear the sound of his heart beating.

We don’t bother to ask the motel staff if they accept pets…in case they don’t. We just smuggle Charlie into the room once we’re registered.

The perks of having a little dog.

I quickly shower away the day while Tyler runs out to pick us up something to eat. By the time he returns with pizza and drinks in hand, I’m sitting in the middle of the bed in a pair of tight, hot-pink boy shorts and matching tank, casually towel drying my hair.

He stops dead in his tracks the moment he sees me.

Lust.

His bright, ice-blue eyes are now dark…hooded. They never leave my body as he sets the pizza down on the desk, then stalks over to the end of the bed.

“No way. No goddamned way. This …” he says, motioning to what I’m wearing, “is not gonna work. Do you have any idea how sexy you look right now?”

I swallow hard and nearly choke at his words. My breathing hitches, and every inch of my skin feels electrified as his eyes slowly caress every inch of my body.

Desired.

“There is absolutely no goddamned way I’ll be able to sleep beside you while you’re wearing that. A man only has so much self restraint, and that outfit just destroyed the last shred of mine.” His hand motions up and down my body.