Tyler. I just don't think we're right for each other and I don't want to keep going out with you if there's nothing there."
He nods, then looks at me and smiles. "I'm not opposed to trying the friend thing. We didn't date long enough for the friend thing to be awkward. I say we give it a try." He holds his hand out to me. "No hard feelings?"
"Not at all." I smile and shake his hand. "Goodnight, Keith."
"Goodnight."
He waits until I'm in the house before driving off. It's just after eight. Grams is going to wonder why I'm home so early.
"Hey, Grams."
She's sitting on the couch, knitting, with the TV on.
"Hello, Faith," she says, keeping her eyes on her knitting needles. "You're home early."
"Yeah, we just had dinner and came home."
"Are you going to be seeing him again?"
"Not for a date. We might do something together as friends."
"Perhaps you'll meet a young man at school."
"Yeah. Maybe. I think I'll go up to my—" I stop when I hear a knock on the door. "I'll get it."
When I open the door I see Tyler standing there, holding a book.
"Hey," he says, handing me the book. "This is for your grandma. Pops said she wanted it. It's a book on flower gardening."
"I'll give it to her. Tell him thanks."
Tyler looks hot as ever in a gray t-shirt and worn jeans, that chiseled face, those muscles. And he smells good, like he just showered.
"Well, goodnight." I go to close the door but he stops me.
"Wait. Why are you home so early?"
"Because I was tired."
"The date didn't go well?"
"It went fine. I just wanted to get home."
He glances at the couch where Grams is sitting, then looks back at me. "Come over."
"Right now?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Why not? You're not doing anything, are you?"
"No, but—"
"Then come over." He smiles. "You don't even have to sit in the garage. We can sit on the porch."
I shouldn't be around him right now, not after thinking about him all night, and about that kiss we had. I kept trying to erase it from my mind and focus on Keith but I couldn't do it. When I thought about kissing Keith, my mind immediately switched him out for Tyler.
"Okay, but I can't be gone long. Wait here." I take the book to Grams. "This is from Walter. Did you talk to him today?"
"No." She sets the book on the coffee table.
"You can't keep avoiding him. You need to talk to him. He didn't do anything wrong."
"Faith, this is not the time," she says, glancing at Tyler who's standing at the door. "Why is he still here?"
"We're going to hang out for a few minutes. Maybe longer. I don't know yet."
She gives me a stern look. "You don't need this, Faith."
"Need what?"
She glances at Tyler again. "Don't be out late."
I go back to the door and Tyler and I walk to his porch. The lights are on but he also has a couple lanterns set up.
"Are those new?" I ask, pointing to the lanterns.
"I found them in the garage. Sometimes the porch lights attract bugs so I use the lanterns."
A mosquito lands on my arm. I swat it away. "I think you need to shut off the lights."
"You want bug spray?" he asks, flipping off the light switch, leaving the soft glow of the lanterns.
"I'll be fine." I sit on the swing. It's much darker now but the moon is bright, adding light to the now dimly lit porch.
Tyler sits beside me and I immediately think about the last time we sat here. It was the first time we kissed.
"So what's he do? Did you ask?"
"Keith? He's a lawyer."
Tyler nods. "That explains the expensive car."
"Why are we talking about Keith?"
"What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know. You're the one who made me come over here."
"I didn't make you. I invited you."
"And you didn't say why. Were you just bored?"
"Maybe a little. But I also haven't seen you much today. We barely talked before you raced out of the garage this morning. You didn't even have your toaster pastry."
"I've been craving one all day."
He grins. "You want one?"
"You don't have to make me one. It's getting late and I know how your secret technique takes forever."
"I don't mind. If you want one I'll make it."
"Hmm," I say, pretending to think about it. "Okay! I'll take one."
He hops up from the swing. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't leave."
"I won't."
It's sweet he's so excited about making me one of those pastries.