Page 44 of Wild About You
I walk over to the fridge and find the list. It’s long and contains everything from eggs to shaving cream.
“I don’t mind. I like grocery shopping.”
“Are you in the kitchen now?” he asks.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Walk over to the end of the counter by the coffee machine.”
“Okay,” I say as I do just that.
“Open the last drawer, next to the wall. I left an envelope of cash for you and keys.”
I take out the envelope first, balking at the amount of cash. It’s the weirdest rush of excitement mixed with panic. “Holy shit, Tyler.”
“We eat a lot,” he says. “Everly has my credit card, too, if you need it.” I count out at least a thousand dollars. Plus a card. Is he for real? They don’t eat that much.
Dropping the envelope back in the drawer, I pick up the keys. “What do I need keys for?”
“I rode to the arena with Ash so you could have my car for whatever you need.”
“My car works just fine.”
“Your tires are basically bald.”
When I don’t respond, he says, “I forgot how stubborn you are.”
“Very.”
He chuckles lightly. “Drive it, don’t, but it’s there for you.”
“Thank you,” I force the words out of my mouth. I am thankful, but this situation is already weird. I don’t want to feel like he’s looking out for me in a boyfriend type of way.
“What are you up to tonight?” he asks.
“You mean besides watching your sister?”
“Mm-hmm,” he says, and it sounds like he’s moving around. I try to picture him at the hotel or maybe out somewhere. Although the latter seems unlikely because it’s too quiet.
“I was Googling how much privacy to give a teenager.”
His laughter comes easier this time.
“My parents pretty much let me do whatever I wanted. Or at least that’s how I remember it.”
“You were a good kid,” he says.
“So is Everly.”
“She is, but she hasn’t had a lot of good role models. Our mom and Ev’s dad are too wrapped up in their own shit to notice unless she’s causing trouble.”
“That had to have been tough.” I fidget with his keys, spinning them around on my finger. “Was it like that for you, too?”
“They were happier then, I think. I don’t remember a lot. She met Ev’s dad when I was three.”
“And before then, was your dad ever in the picture?”
“Nah. My mom got pregnant with me at sixteen. According to her, his parents didn’t approve of her, and he was too chicken shit to go against them.”
