Page 90 of Lights Out

I grinned. Now that Aly had stopped pretending to be annoyed by my needling, she’d started giving it back to me, and I liked it. A lot.

I slipped a key in your purse,I told her.It’s to my place. If you want to get yourself and The Chosen One settled there, I can meet you after I’m done.

What about Tyler?she asked.Won’t that be awkward?

I blinked. Right. Somehow, I’d forgotten about him. And the fact that he and Aly had been together. My brain had probably buried the information to protect me, but now it didn’t feel necessary. They’d never been serious, and I knew neither of them still harbored feelings for the other, so there wasn’t a need to feel threatened or insecure.

I texted my roommate.Remember how I agreed to help Aly?

It was barely five in the morning, but Tyler was an early riser, and even on the weekends, he had difficulty sleeping in. His response came through almost immediately.

Please tell me you two hit it off,he said.

I grinned. I’d lucked out in the best friend department.

A little bubble appeared, telling me he was typing. Another text came through a second later.Because you’ve been creepier than normal lately, and I was starting to think I needed to call Maria and Rob for another intervention.

And just like that, he ruined it.

No need to involve my parents,I told him.I asked Aly to be my girlfriend.

Grats!Tyler texted.Wait, she said yes, right?

Yeah. Do you mind if she comes over?

Not a problem,he said.Are you not going to be with her?

No,I told him.I have to take care of something, and then I’ll be back in an hour or two. Her house needs to get fumigated, so she’ll have her cat with her.

Great. That little shit hates me.

My grin returned. I’d never get over how special it made me feel that I was one of only two humans Fred tolerated.How dare you impugn the good name of my son.

Your son?

Yes. Sir Frederick Cappellucci-Hammond, the first of his name.

Tyler texted me an eye roll emoji.Thank fucking god there’s a woman in your life to take some of your weirdness off my hands.

Unlike Aly, Tyler didn’t seem to appreciate my particular brand of humor.

Thanks for this,I said.She’ll be there in a little while. I gave her a key so she could let herself in.

Daaamn. A key already? You went in hard. She know about your dad yet?

My grin slipped as a fresh wave of guilt washed over me.Not yet. She knows my childhood was rough, but not the full extent of it. I plan on telling her when I get home.

Let me know if you want me there to help explain it all,he said.

I think I’ll be okay, but thank you.

I switched back to Aly’s text thread.He’s cool with it.

You sure?she asked.This will sound horrible, but I didn’t even think about how he might feel about us until now.

Ha! I did the same thing. I blame you for it.

Me?!she wrote back.How is this my fault?

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