everything to Tyler makes it worse. Hopefully, wine joins this conversation because I need something to help take off the edge. I get out of the car, check the street for anything out of the ordinary, then walk up the sidewalk.
Tyler opens the door wearing a sweet grin.
"Right on time,” he kindly says, but I know I’m early. Once inside, I smell the hearty aroma of the spices. I sit at the bar as Tyler hurries to the stove.
“It’s almost ready,” he says, looking over his shoulder at me. When he moves around, I can’t help but notice how his shirt hugs his muscles just perfectly.
“What’d you cook?” I ask.
“Shrimp and grits.”
“It’s my favorite. You remembered?” I ask, surprised.
He chuckles, and the sound is inviting and warm. “I actually asked your dad.”
“Great. He’s really gonna think something’s going on between us, especially after lunch today.” I sigh, not sure how to bring up the conversation with my dad.
“Yeah, he made sure to remind me that you were engaged. Talk about awkward.” Tyler stirs the shrimp and sauce.
“How mortifying. I’m so sorry.” I cover my face.
“It’s not a big deal.”
Tyler pulls grit patties he roasted from the oven, covers them with foil, then sets them on the stovetop. The way he moves in the kitchen so comfortably is mesmerizing, and I’m thankful he pulls me away from my thoughts, even if it’s briefly.
“Want something to drink?” he asks, pulling two wine glasses from the cabinet before I answer. “Everleigh’s wine subscription box was delivered today, so there are a ton of choices. She won’t mind.” He winks.
After what happened on Monday and how she came to my rescue, I’m sure she wouldn’t. Hell, she’d tell me to open two bottles. I choose a chardonnay, not sure if it pairs with our dinner, but not caring either. Unlike Robert, Tyler doesn’t say shit about my choice. Instead, he happily unscrews the cork and fills our glasses.
When I’m around Tyler, I’m happier. There’s no acting a part or being judged, and I can just be who I am without those worries. Tyler makes me feel human again, and I appreciate the normalcy for once.
I take a sip of wine. “This is really good.”
“Just wait until you try dinner. Once the shrimp is done, we can start eating, so it shouldn’t be too much longer. Hopefully, Everleigh isn’t late either.” Tyler places a lid on the skillet as it simmers, then sits next to me. This conversation is happening, and there’s no going back now.
“So…” he says, lingering. "I understand what happened with Robert isn’t gonna be easy to repeat, so if you—”
I shake my head, not wanting him to continue. “I’m okay talking about it. I trust you, Tyler. I always have.”
He smiles as he lifts his wine glass, and I tap mine against his before taking a big gulp. I explain each detail from the beginning, finding the receipt in Robert’s desk, then having his client congratulate us on getting married before the end of the year.
“Wait. He moved the wedding date without telling you?” Tyler asks, stunned.
“Yep. I didn’t even know what to say, so I just sat through dinner in shock.”
“And he just thought you’d go along with it?” he asks as he stands, then goes to stir the roux but comes right back.
“In his perfect world, he really did.”
Next, I mention the wedding dress and invitations. With flared nostrils, his face distorts. My emotions are all over the place as I speak Tyler grabs my hand and squeezes. It’s a friendly gesture but it sets my body on fire.
“I was scared. No telling what would’ve happened if Everleigh hadn’t come and gotten me out of there. I’ve never seen him act that way before and handle me so aggressively. Thankfully, Everleigh called after getting a gibberish text message and knew something was wrong when I was finally able to answer her call. I was a mess when she brought me here.” All she kept saying was how much she wanted to kick his ass and how sorry she was that it happened. The only person who should’ve been apologizing that night was Robert. After my tears dried up, we watched Hallmark until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. Friends like her are worth their weight in gold, and I’ll never be able to repay her for rescuing me from that dangerous situation.
Tyler huffs, and his jaw tightens. “What he did to you isn’t okay, Gemma.”