Page 78 of I Knew He Was Trouble
“Please don’t tell me there’s a dead animal inside my house.”
“No, nothing like that.” I cross my arms. “It’s a candle.”
“A candle.” He says the word slowly. “I don’t know where you buy your candles from, but you should find a new candle shop.”
I clear my throat, ignoring the way it still feels raw. “Well, you see, it’s calledSwamp Tush.”
“Swamp Tush.”
“Are you just going to keep repeating everything I say?”
“No, I’m just trying to understand.” He crosses his arms, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You hid a candle somewhere in my house that smells like literal butthole?”
“If I tell you where it is, can we call a truce on the prank war?” I shoot him my best pleading eyes, trying to look like Winston when he wants something.
“You mean the one you started and want to end on a win?”
“I only started it because I thought you were an evil jerk who thrived on waking me up before sunrise every morning and who hated dogs.”
“So, you’re saying the reason I had to change my phone number and need to air out my entire house is because I didn’t wear headphones because I thought I soundproofed the room?”
I shift on my feet, wishing I was wearing my fuzzy slippers and not knowing what to say.
His lips tilt into a playful grin. “Relax, Anderson. I’m just messing with you.” He shrugs into his coat. “I’ll agree to your truce on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“Go on a date with me.”
My eyes shoot up to his. I’m expecting to find the same playful expression there, but instead, he looks nervous and vulnerable. Like he just laid his heart on the line, and I have the power to crush it with one single word.
I hold up one hand. “Get pranked again.” I hold up the other at the same height. “Go on a date with you.”
I move my hands up and down like they’re a scale and I’m weighing the pros and cons of each. Really, I’m trying to casually play off the whole thing while I’m freaking out inside at the fact that Tyler wants to take me on anactualdate.
“I guess I can agree to your terms.”
His face floods with relief. “Great.” His smile is so bright it should be assigned wattage. “Once you feel better, we’ll find a time that works.”
“Sounds good,” I manage to say, but the crack in my voice exposes me. I clear my scratchy throat and swallow carefully to collect myself. “Good night. And…thank you. For everything.”For taking care of me today.
The tender way he’s looking at me can melt me into a puddle if I’m not careful.
Tyler reaches out and gives my arm a squeeze. “Like I said, anytime. Sleep well.” He leaves with Evie.
To hold up my other end of the bargain, I call after him, "By the way, you might want to look above your fridge."
Tyler looks back at me with a small smirk. "Abovethe fridge. Genius." With that, he shakes his head and continues his short walk home with Evie.
I shut the door and fall back against it, breathing heavily.
My talk with Darla might’ve convinced me not to fully close off my heart to love, but I’m still not sure it lasts. At least, I’m not sure there’s a love out in the world that will lastfor me. And I don’t want to risk hurting Tyler in the process of figuring out what I want for my future.
Although, I might already be in a position to hurt him. Tyler has been looking at me differently. I’ve tried to ignore it, but I can’t anymore. Not with the gentle way he cared for me today, how he called me sweetheart, and brought me my favorite comfort food.
I sit on the ground. Winston bounds over, carrying the stuffed duck in his mouth. Tyler’s even trying to get in the good graces of my dog. I groan.
I thought Tyler was trouble from the beginning, but—whether I like it or not—now I feel like I’m the one in trouble…of losing my heart.
