Page 39 of Here's to Yesterday

I set my phone aside and realize that my face hurts.Why in the hell does my face hurt?And then I catch on to what it’s from—smiling so much. Because that’s all I’ve been doing since I texted Tucker back. Five minutesago.

Jumping out of bed with an extra spring in my step, I head to my closet to get dressed for the birthdayparty.

I pull out my yellow maxi skirt, white v-neck top, and white crochet Toms. After showering and spending all of five minutes making my hair appear to have “beach waves,” I throw on my outfit and apply a light layer of make-up.

By the time I’m done, I have five minutes to spare. I head into the living room the find Kassi falling asleep eating a bowl of cereal on the couch. She’s been working for the past four days, only getting a few hours of sleep before having to head back. The beauty of being an ER nurse, Iguess.

I carefully pull the spoon and bowl out of her hands, setting it on the table while I gently push her down to a sleeping position. As I’m laying a blanket over her, I hear a soft, “Thank you. Love you,kiddo.”

This woman means the world to me. She gives so much of herself to everyone at that hospital but always has a small bit left over to give to me when she comes home exhausted out of hermind.

“I love you more, AuntKass.”

As I pick up the cereal to take it into the kitchen, a soft knock sounds at thedoor.

“Come in,” Kassi sayssleepily.

Chuckling, I head to the front door to meetTucker.

I’m shocked again at the smile that’s plastered on my face when I open the door. A smile that slips when I take in the sight of him, because I realize then how handsome he is in the most effortlessway.

“Hey,” he says, giving me a lopsidedgrin.

“Hey,” I sayback.

“Is that for me?” he jokingly asks, motioning to thecereal.

Entering the world of sarcasm, I hand him the bowl with a straight face and say, “Yes. It’s the only thing I know how to cook. My way of saying thanks for theride.”

Tucker’s eyebrows shoot up instantly, and the most confused look I’ve ever seen crosses his face. “Um,thanks?”

“No problem. Anything for a friend. Let me grab Joey’s present and we’ll be on ourway.”

I quickly spin around and walk into the kitchen, doing everything in my power to hold in my laughter so that Tucker doesn’t hear me. Because really, who in the hell would accept a soggy bowl of cereal likethat?

Grabbing Joey’s gift, I make my way to Tucker, who is still standing at the front door and staring down at the bowl of cereal I handed him. Laughter threatens to bubble up again, but I manage to squish itdown.

“Ready?”

Tucker snaps his head up. “Um,” he starts, glancing back down at the bowl and then back up at me. “Yeah?”

“Why is that a question? Let’s go before we’re late,” I tell him as seriously as I can. As I walk past him, I finally give in to the grin that’s beenthreatening.

Tucker brushes past me, opening my door. I get in wordlessly, refusing to look at him, because I know I’ll lose it if I do since he’sstillcarrying the cereal. He rounds the car, only hesitating briefly before getting in and placing the bowl in hislap.

We ride in silence most of the waythere.

“You know, I uh, I used to see you a lot at Perk,” he says randomly as we pass the coffeeshop.

What? “Yeah?”

He gives a stiff nod. “Yep. It was last year around this time, the spring, I assume before class. Anyway, you’d go there each morning and order the same thing.” He smiles softly to himself. “You were hard not towatch.”

My blood starts pounding in my ears, making it difficult to hear anything around me. My breathing speeds up, causing Tucker to glance over atme.

“You never once noticed me,huh?”

I shake my head in the negative and swallow the lump in my throat, trying to get myself under control. “No. And I’m disappointed by that,” Iadmit.

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