He reached his free hand around me and shook Meredith’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Spice here talks about you a lot.”
“Spice?”
“Spice Girls reference,” I mumbled, elbowing Tyler in the gut. “Nevermind. Let’s go!” I circled my arm around Meredith’s, and we skipped towards the parking lot, leaving Tyler behind.
“It’s all right. I’ll just find my own way.”
“He’s so cute,” Meredith whispered, leaning her head in towards mine.
“I know,” I told her. “Stop being dramatic,” I yelled back to him. We slowed our pace so he could catch up.
“So, Meredith, will you be my getaway driver if things get crazy?” Tyler asked as we settled in Mer’s car.
“Of course.”
“Don’t encourage him,” I interjected.
“We’ll just have to come up with some kind of code,” she continued as if I hadn’t even spoken.
“How about I scratch my nose?”
“Amateur,” Meredith said. “What if you actually have an itch on your nose?”
“Hmm, good point. My nose does get itchy quite often.”
“You’re a dork,” I said.
“You love me anyway,” he said, and I caught the look Meredith gave me. I gave her a subtle shake of my head. Just a figure of speech, Mer.
“How about I drop my napkin?”
Meredith contemplated that for a moment, then agreed. “That works.”
“I’m a little insulted you’re trying to find ways to escape my family gathering.”
“You are not. Keith and I have an escape plan, too. So do you.”
“I do not,” I feigned shock, but I totally had a plan.
Meredith put her hand over her stomach, and in her most pathetic voice said “Oh, Mom. My cramps hurt so bad. I need to go lay down.”
“I don’t sound like that,” I said, lifting my chin and looking out the passenger window.
“Yeah, actually ya do.”
“Whatever. I can’t believe you left Keith at the house.”
“Oh, he didn’t come. He’s on call.”
“Dr. and Mrs. Rivers. Has a nice ring to it. You getting used to that?”
Meredith radiated joy. “I can’t wait. I think we’re close to setting a date.”
“Congratulations. Mel mentioned she was designing your wedding dress.” Tyler said from the back.
“Thanks. I couldn’t imagine anyone else making it for me. Melanie is an amazing designer.”
“I agree. I wish she’d put herself out there.”
“Me too,” Meredith said, nudging my elbow with hers.
Tyler asked questions about the area as we drove the short distance to my parents’ house. Melanie answered most of them, happy to play tour guide as she drove. And on your left, the house with all the ornaments in the front yard, known as the eyesore of the community. We turned onto my parents’ street and I felt a familiar wave of comfort roll over me. Right before the nerves set in.
My boyfriend was about to meet my parents.
“We’re here!” I said as we pulled up across the street from my parents’ home. I looked over my shoulder at Tyler. “You ready for this?”
15
Tyler
As we got out of the car, I took in the modest brick home in front of me. It was small with dark green shutters and dormer windows that suggested an upper floor. A full maple tree cast shade over one of the windows, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Melanie ever used the thick limbs of that tree to sneak out her bedroom window. Was she a rebellious teen or a good girl? I think she leaned towards the latter.
“Come on,” she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me across the quiet street. “Everyone is probably around back, but I’d bet anything Mom’s in the kitchen.”
We walked up three brick steps and through a screen door into the living room. There were two large, worn sofas facing each other with a coffee table in between, and a well-loved recliner in the corner facing a wall-mounted flat screen television. The TV was off, and all the sound was coming from the back of the house.
We followed the delicious aroma of various sweets through the house and stood at the perimeter of the kitchen for a moment before we were noticed. At least a dozen women, who each looked remarkably like Melanie at assorted ages, stood around talking at the same time. There must have been at least three different conversations going, but it seemed all the women were partaking in each one.
The noise level…
I unconsciously took a step back—I think it was survival instinct—and Melanie gave my hand a squeeze.
“Hello, Mom,” Melanie called over the ruckus.
Silence. Blessed, lovely silence.
Made awkward by the fact that all the women turned their attention to me.
Melanie tightened her grip on my hand, probably smelling my fear. I hadn’t been lying when I told her I never met a girl’s parents before. This encounter—an entire extended family—was brand new.
“This is my boyfriend, Tyler.” She tugged me into the room and right up to a short thin woman with Melanie’s eyes. “Hi, Mama,” she said, hugging the small lady. Melanie must have gotten her height from her father.
Her mother looked at her with adoration, in a way I’d guess my mother would have looked at me if she were still alive. When her attention turned to me, her expression was thoughtful.
“It’s lovely to finally meet you, Tyler.” She spoke perfect English. I’d wrongly assumed she’d have an accent, thanks to that movie. “Melanie has told me so little about you, but I was so pleased to hear she’d be bringing you to our little party today.”
“Mom,” Melanie whined, making the word several syllables long.
“What? I’m telling the truth.”
“You don’t always have to be so forthcoming with the info, Ma.”
She was blushing again, and I loved it. I thought I was even starting to love her, but aside from my sister and my parents I’d never loved anyone, so I wasn’t quite sure what it was supposed to be like. What it was supposed to feel like. I just wanted to be with her all the time. Talk to her. And when I couldn’t do either of those things, I thought about her. Was that what it meant to be in love?
Melanie nudged me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Katsaros. I can see where Melanie gets her good looks.”
Her mother laughed, not falling for my charm but still mildly entertained. “Aren’t you adorable? You can call me Kathy.”
“Thank you, Kathy.”
“Your father is at the grill. He’s been there all afternoon.”
“Come on,” Melanie said, tugging me along again. “Let’s get this out of the way.” She stopped by the refrigerator on the way to the back door and pulled out three amber bottles. She handed me two, which I held in my free hand.
“Sam Adams?” I was going to get along great with her dad.
“It’s his favorite.” She lowered her voice. “It’s a peace offering. You’re dating his little girl...his only child...you need all the help you can get.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” I groaned as we exited the house into a screened-in patio, then out to the yard. I spotted Meredith sitting at a table with a few younger women who may have been Mel’s cousins. They had the same dark hair and eyes as the older women in the kitchen. Meredith smirked and waved, then said something to the other girls at the table that had them turning to watch me and Melanie approach her dad.
Thanks, Meredith.
“Daddy,” Melanie said to the tallest, bulkiest man standing by the grill. Even I had to look up to him, so he was definitely six-five, at a minimum.
“Cupcake!” the big man said, enveloping Melanie into his arms and lifting her off the ground.
“Put me down,” she laughed, hitting him on the back. It was clear she was a daddy’s girl, and it was also easy to see how much her father adored her.
“Hi, Uncle James, Marty.” She nodded to the two other men. I picked out James
and his weak beard immediately. “Daddy,” she said in that same saccharine sweet voice she’d greeted him with, “this is my boyfriend, Tyler.”
Her father visibly stiffened and faced me straight on. Shit. He was intimidating.
I held out my hand and hoped my voice didn’t crack. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Katsaros.”
He took my hand and shook it. Quite possibly the most firm handshake I’d ever experienced. It also felt like twenty-five silent minutes had passed before he finally let go. “You planning on drinking both of those?” he asked, nodding to the beers in my other hand.
“Oh. No, not at all. This one's for you,” I handed him a bottle. “I’ll stick with one since I’ll be escorting Mel home later.”
“You driving?” he asked.
“No, sir. But I like to keep my wits about me when I’m out with your daughter.”
Melanie smiled and wrapped herself around my arm again. She made me feel one hundred feet tall, and I needed that in that moment.
Mr. Katsaros nodded. “Listen here, Tyler. I was just telling my brother about the benefits to adding butter to your steaks when you grill them. He doesn’t believe me. Melanie said you were some kind of whiz when it came to the grill, so what do you say?”
I let out a whoosh of air. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath. Steaks. Grilling. Those were things I could talk about.
“Do you mind?” I asked, gesturing to the stainless-steel lid of the impressive grill.
He took a step back, “Go right ahead.”
16
Melanie
“Tyler and your dad seemed to have hit it off.” Meredith noted as we watched the two men from across the yard.
“Yeah,” I said, pleased but also a little disappointed. I hadn’t gotten a second alone with Tyler since I’d introduced him to my dad at the grill and it had been hours. I ducked out to help my mother in the kitchen while he helped my father finish grilling the steaks, then they dominated the conversation as we sat at the table and ate said steaks. Now, who knew what they were talking about, but a few of my male cousins had joined them, as well as my Uncle David.
“What’s eating you?” Mer asked. “You jealous?”
“A little.” There was no use in lying to Meredith. “I would have liked to introduce him to some other people, but Dad’s monopolizing him.”
“Admit it, you wanted to show him off to your single cousins.”
I scanned the yard for Valerie and Simone. “Yeah, and the worst two already left.”
“Oh, don’t worry. All the ladies noticed him the moment you guys hit the backyard. That’s why I headed out here first. I wanted to see the look on Valerie’s face.”
Valerie was my cousin, so I loved her, but she was also a class A bitch. She always had a new guy on her arm and always flaunted him at family events. She was the first one with a snide remark about my singledom. Her father, my Uncle Gus, was probably rolling in his grave at the parade of men she flounced around with. Also, the fact that he was in his grave was the only reason Valerie got away with half the shit she pulled. There were no other male uncles on my mother’s side to take over the paternal role, and my Aunt Maria—Valerie’s mother—was still a grieving widow, so she didn’t know what to do with her. Or she didn’t care. Either way.
“What did Val say?”
“Not much. She just gaped when you walked outside hand-in-hand, then muttered something to Simone, but she must not have liked whatever Simone had to say because she flaked off shortly after that. Didn’t even last until dinner.” Simone was Valerie’s older, non-bitchy sister.
“Oh well. Her loss.”
“Damn straight. Those steaks were delicious.”
I rolled my eyes. If I didn’t hear about steaks again for a month, it would be too soon.
“Hey Spice,” Tyler said in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my middle from behind. “What are you two ladies talking about?”
“Not much. Just how you and my dad are BFFs.”
“He’s a really cool guy,” Tyler said, resting his chin on my shoulder. “I can’t believe we never talked about him being a cop.”
“Would it have made you any less nervous to meet him?”
“Hell no,” he laughed. “Good call.”
“I’m glad you two got along today. That’s important to me.”
“What’s important to you is important to me,” he said, then kissed my cheek.
“It is getting late, though, we’ll probably need to catch a train out soon.”
“No problem, Spice. Let’s say goodbye.”
This time Tyler took my hand and led me to each of the remaining party guests to say goodbye.
Just before he kissed me goodnight in front of my apartment door, he asked “Did I tell you today how beautiful you are?” I shook my head. “Well, you are. You look beautiful today, and every day for that matter. Just in case I ever forget to tell you again.”
He was just too good to be true.
***
“You have so much stamina,” I practically panted as Tyler rolled off me, taking the sheet with him. “Give that back,” I said, yanking it over my naked body.
He rolled so he was facing me and tugged me into him. “You know I’ll keep you warm.”
I smiled and looked him over, taking in his skin, dewy with sweat. He was so good looking, and he was mine.
I nestled my head into his chest and let my mind wander to the week ahead. I had tons of things to do in the office with Fashion Week coming up. Brianna was giving me more responsibilities this year, including attending some events with her, and I couldn’t wait. I lived for Fashion Week. I loved seeing what all the designers had prepared for their shows. I’d never attended before, only stalked everything online, so this was going to be a surreal experience for sure. I wondered if You’re the Man had any representation at the event, they had a couple pages of fashion.
“Will you be at Fashion Week with Roger?”
Tyler groaned and rolled away from me. “Don’t say his name.”
“Sorry. Will you be at Fashion Week with your boss?”
“Not even referrals.”
I laughed. “I’ll be there with Brianna,” I told him.
“I have no plans to be there. Hanging around with a bunch of pretentious-”
“A bunch of pretentious what?” I asked, sitting up. I held the sheet tightly against my chest and stared down at him. If that’s what he thought about people in the fashion industry…
He closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. “Shit. I didn’t mean you.”
“Uh huh.” I started reaching around for my discarded clothing. Sock, pants, bra, other sock...where the hell was my shirt?
Tyler grabbed my arm, halting my search. “I’m sorry, Mel. I wasn’t thinking. I’ve been to a few fashion things with Roger, and it’s his people...they’re all...I don’t even know what to call them. I didn’t mean to group you with them. I’m sorry.”
“You know this is my thing, right? This is what I want to do with the rest of my life?”
He shifted to face me and ran his hands up and down my arms. “I know it is, and I love seeing the sparkle in your eyes when you talk about it. The industry just hasn’t been as kind to me as it has been to you.”
“That’s because you’ve only been exposed to one small part,” I started, defending the fashion industry that I firmly believed was part of the fabric of my being. Pun intended.
“Babe, I know. Are we gonna argue about this?”
I sighed. I did not want to argue with Tyler. Unless we were arguing about the merits of our decades of choice, it just wasn’t fun.
“No, we’re not going to argue about this,” I finally said. “But it is going to take up a lot of my time for the next couple weeks. Brianna is entertaining a lot of designers to try to get an edge.”
“We’ll work it out,” he said, offering me a small smile. He laid back down and pulled me against his side.
I rested my hea
d on his bare chest and listened to the sound of his heartbeat. He said we’d work it out, but something about how he said it felt...off. I stared at the wall, stuck in my own head, until the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest helped me drift me off to sleep.
17
Tyler
“What’s Melanie up to?” Hannah asked over the low din of the restaurant. “I assumed she’d come with us.”
My sister stopped by my desk after a morning visit with Preston and asked me to lunch. Under normal circumstances, the big boss’s wife coming to see me at work would have sent me into a tailspin—sister or not—but seeing as though Roger was out of the office, a fact Hannah had apparently confirmed before coming down, I didn’t much care.
“Fashion Week stuff.”
“You don’t sound too happy about that.” She eyed me over her steaming mug of hot tea, perceptive as ever that sister of mine.
“Why are you drinking hot tea at lunch?” I wondered, attempting to change the subject.
“Because I like it. Don’t change the subject. What’s going on?”
I sighed. “Nothing is going on. She’s just busy helping her boss get ready for Fashion Week.”
“And again, I say...you don’t sound happy about that.”
“How do you want me to sound? I work in the fashion industry,” I droned on. “It hasn’t been kind to me.” I said, knowing I was echoing my conversation with Melanie, but Hannah didn’t know that. “I’m sorry I can’t show the proper level of enthusiasm.”
“You’re being such a baby,” Hannah said, shaking her head.
“Excuse me?”
“Just because you’re not happy with your job doesn’t mean you can’t be happy for Melanie.”
That wasn’t what I was doing.
Was that what I was doing?
And how did Hannah know I wasn’t happy with my job?
Hannah continued. “And before you deny it, I know you hate working for the magazine. Or for Roger. Whatever. It’s written all over your face any time I ask you about work and you immediately change the subject. I catch glimpses of you at your desk from the elevator sometimes, too. Jesus, Ty. You look miserable. If you hate it so much, why don’t you quit? You won’t hurt Preston’s feelings. Maybe he can even-”
Simply Irresistible: A Totally Sweet Love Story Page 7
