you say? You want to go out?"
"Is this a date?"
"We're dating, so yeah, it's a date."
"Where are you taking me?"
"Does it matter?" he asks with a smile. "Just being out with me should be enough."
I roll my eyes. "While that may be true, I'd still like to know where we're going."
"I haven't really thought that far ahead. I just want to be with you tonight. Without having to worry about your grandma catching us."
"She'll think something's up if we go out."
"Why don't we just tell her? It's too much work trying to hide it."
"You saw how she freaked out when she saw us coming out of the bathroom today. If she finds out we're dating she'll start in again about how you're not right for me."
"Why does she think I'm not right for you?"
"Your tattoo, for one." I finally saw his tattoo. It's on his lower abs, left side. It's just a random design. He said he was drunk when he did it so has no idea why he picked that design. He didn't even remember getting the tattoo. He just woke up the next day and it was there. "Grams doesn't like guys with tattoos. And then there's the fact that you're leaving. She'll tell me I'm just setting myself up to get my heart broken."
"Which is the last thing I want to happen." He slips his hand around mine. "You sure you want to keep doing this?"
"I already told you I did. Don't you?"
"Not if it means you'll get hurt."
"Everyone gets hurt in relationships. It's part of dating." I pull my hand from his and walk away. "I'm going to tell Grams I won't be around for dinner. What time are we leaving?"
"After I shower. Give me like twenty minutes. I'll come over and get you." He's giving me this regretful look that makes me think he's going to change his mind about us dating. He better not. It took forever for him to agree to this and I don't want him backing out now.
As for me getting hurt? It's too late to try to prevent that. Even before we started dating, I was already sad about him leaving. I know it'll hurt when he's gone but I still want whatever time I have left with him.
"Grams." I walk over to the bench where she's sitting with Walter. I swear I saw them holding hands but now she has her hand resting by her side.
"What is it, dear?"
"I just wanted to let you know I won't be around for dinner. Tyler and I are going to get something to eat in town and then maybe we'll go to a movie."
"You have school tomorrow," she reminds me as if I'm a child.
"I know. I won't be out late."
"Have a good time," Walter says.
Grams glances at him, and again I feel like there's something she's not telling me. Is it about Tyler? Or about her and Walter?
"What are you two going to do?" I ask.
"Walter is going to show me some of the videos from his travels," Grams says.
"That should be fun." I smile, happy they're spending time together. "Okay, well, see you later."
Back at the house I take a quick shower and put on jeans and lightweight pink sweater. Tyler shows up at the door in dark jeans and a button-up shirt, and he's wearing cologne.
"You look nice." I smile. "You smell nice too."
"Had to. It's a date."
I peek my head out the door, looking both ways.
"They're still out back," he says. "They won't hear us. What'd you tell your grandma?"
"That we were going to dinner and a movie."
"I thought you didn't want her to know it's a date."
"Which is why I made it clear it's not."
"Dinner and a movie? Faith, everyone knows that's a date."
"Well, she didn't act like it was, although she gave Walter a look like…I don't know. It's like they have some secret they're not telling me."
"Like what?"
"I'm not sure. I just feel like they're hiding something."
"They're probably just glad to be getting rid of us. I think they're going to be having their own date tonight."
"I think so too. I swear I saw them holding hands."
"You ready to go?"
"Yeah." I grab my purse and follow him out to the truck. As we’re driving off, my phone rings. It's Jules. "I have to get this," I tell Tyler. "It's my best friend. I'll keep it quick." I answer the call. "Hey, Jules. What's up?"
"I had another horrible date. They're getting worse. I might just have