Page 96 of Under Pressure

“Good.” We sit there for a moment, each unsure how to proceed.

“Were—”

“I—”

We each pause, and I indicate for him to continue.

“I was making tacos for dinner. You’re welcome to stay. Mom and Riley should be home…” He glances up at the clock on the dining room wall. “In about ten minutes.”

I give him a tentative smile. “Sounds good.”

He gets up and heads into the kitchen, but I linger at the table and exhale a lengthy breath once I’m alone. That went… probably as well as it could have. Lifelong questions answered, old wounds in the process of healing. I just can’t believe it took this long to get it all out in the open.

And I have one person to thank for it.

* * *

“Hey, good looking.” Kelsey leans against the door in short cutoffs and a tank top, despite it being in the low fifties outside. “You here for Mia?”

“Obviously,” I reply dryly, peering over her head into the apartment.

“She’s in her room.” She hitches a thumb behind her, finally moving out of the way, giving me a once-over as I pass by her. Does the girl seriously have no respect for her friend? “Are those for her?” She motions to the bouquet in my hand.

“Again, obviously.”

She rolls her eyes, mildly offended. “Well, sorry. I was just asking.” She walks to the other end of the apartment and pounds on Mia’s door twice. “Your boyfriend’s here,” she yells, a hint of snot in her voice.

She avoids my gaze as she turns back down the short hallway, but I ignore her, turning the knob to Mia’s room.

She looks at me quizzically from her spot on the bed, taking a pair of AirPods out of her ears. “Tyler,” she says happily, her face transforming when she realizes it’s me. She closes her laptop and sets it on her nightstand. “Sorry, I thought I heard Kelsey’s voice.”

“You did.” I shut the door behind me, blocking out some reality show Kelsey has on in the living room.

“Are those for me?” she asks excitedly, her eyes trained on the flowers in my hand. After leaving my parents’ house, the only thing I wanted to do was come see her. Show her how much I appreciate her, how much she’s brought to my life.

“They’re for you,” I confirm. I kneel on the bed next to her, laying a soft kiss on her lips.

“What for?” She takes a deep whiff of the bouquet, their fragrance just as sweet as her.

“Because I love you.”

She looks up at me, her eyes shining. “You’re setting a dangerous precedent, Tyler. I’ll start expecting this kind of stuff.”

“You should,” I tell her seriously. “You deserve everything.”

She stares at me, her smile slipping. “Okay, now you’re starting to scare me. What’s going on?”

I laugh. She’s right to be suspicious. This change of heart is still new to me too. “Nothing,” I promise her. “I had a really good talk with Dan. Cleared the air on a lot of things.” I tell her everything we discussed, feeling lighter the more I unload.

“That’s great.” She squeezes my hand. “What about with your mom?”

“I’m still working on that.” I’ve had enough heart-to-hearts with my family for one night. I lie down next to her, gazing upon her perfect form. “But I realized I wouldn’t be there having that conversation at all if it wasn’t for you.”

She slides down against her pillow until she’s parallel with me on the bed. “I’m glad I could help.”

“You know, you’re the single best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Her eyes water at my words, and she frantically wipes at them. “I’m a watering pot around you lately. You keep saying the sweetest things.”

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