Just Good Friends

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  Tiffany peered around Danielle again, not sure what to say. She knew Tyler worked out, but she hadn’t seen him without a shirt since five years ago when he volunteered to teach swimming at a pool where she had been a lifeguard. And he’d been toned back then, but he was nothing like he was now. She could see his six pack of abs this time. “He’s been exercising a lot over the past couple years.”

  “And it’s paying off. I had no idea he had any muscles at all. Sure, he’s a looker, but when he takes his clothes off, he’s an absolute hunk.”

  “I get it, Danielle. He’s hot.”

  And while Tiffany agreed, she couldn’t bring herself to tell Danielle anything else. Instead, she focused on slipping her sandals on and hurried to get her food. Afterwards, she found a spot to sit at one of the three round tables near the grill.

  Her parents joined her, and her mom put her phone next to her plate. “Tyler’s parents are such wonderful people,” her mom said. “They said I could upload their pictures to Facebook. Would that be okay?”

  Not sure she heard right, Tiffany picked up her cup of punch and studied her mom. “Are you asking for my permission?”

  “I don’t want to overstep my bounds. I know you don’t want me telling anyone else that you’re married or friending Tyler’s relatives on Facebook, but I was just going to put on my status that they are new friends your dad and I had the pleasure of meeting during our visit.”

  Tiffany glanced at her dad who added, “We never meant to make you uncomfortable, Tiffany. You never said anything, so we assumed what we were doing was okay.”

  “In the future, you need to tell us what’s bothering you so we know to stop,” her mom continued. “Will you do that?”

  “Yes, I will. And you’re right,” Tiffany replied. “I guess I haven’t been handling things well.”

  “You always had a tendency to bottle your emotions in,” she said. “I know it’s because you don’t want to rock the boat, but it’s okay to let us know when something bothers you.”

  “Well,” Tiffany began, lowering her gaze to the hamburger and chips on her plate, “I wasn’t thrilled with the way you decorated my room when I went to Montana.”

  “You didn’t like the cute little bears and hearts?”

  “No, and I didn’t like the book you put on the bed either.”

  “What book?”

  Lowering her voice, she answered, “The one on how to please a man in bed.”

  Her dad, who was ready to take a bite of his hot dog, looked at her mom in shock. “You did what?”

  “I never put a book like that on your bed,” her mom replied. “I just decorated your room with a romantic setting because I thought it’d bring you luck. My mom did that for me when I started dating your dad, and it worked for me so I thought it’d work for you.”

  “You didn’t put the book there?” Tiffany asked.

  “Of course not. That’s more of a gift for a bride on her wedding day,” her mom said.

  “Then who…?” Tiffany suddenly realized she didn’t need to finish the question. Zoe. It had to have been Zoe. Zoe knew it’d bother Tiffany, so she did it to mess with her.

  “I don’t know who did it, but it wasn’t me, and it wasn’t your father.” Her mom glanced at her dad. “You wouldn’t do that, would you?”

  “Certainly not,” he replied. “I’m shocked you’d think I’d give one our daughters something like that.”

  “I didn’t. But I had to ask so Tiffany knew,” her mom said.

  Tiffany wasn’t sure how much she should tell them but settled for saying, “I believe neither of you did it.”

  Her mother looked over at her father. “Do you have any idea who would do it?”

  “It’d have to be someone who was at the house after you fixed up the room.”

  “The only person who was there was Zoe, but surely, she had more important things to worry about. We were planning her wedding.”

  “There is no one else it could have been.”

  Tiffany watched as his words finally sank in, and her mom’s shoulders sagged. “But why?” She turned her gaze to Tiffany. “Why would Zoe do that?”

  “I don’t care if she did it,” Tiffany said. “I’m just glad neither of you did.” She drank her punch, hoping that would be the end of the conversation.

  But her mom let out a long sigh. “I’ll have a talk with Zoe when we get back to Montana.”

  Tiffany set her cup down. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because she’s Zoe, and she’s going to do what she wants.”

  “You two have always been so competitive.”

  “No, we haven’t. She’s competed with me. There’s a difference,” Tiffany said. “You can’t change someone simply by wishing it. All you can do is choose whether or not you’re going to let that person get to you, and I choose to ignore what she does. It’s easier this way.”

  After a long moment, her mom asked, “Have you talked to her about it?”

  “Several times in the past. Nothing changes. I’m sorry, Mom. I know she’s my sister, but we’re not friends.” Then, thinking to reassure her mom, she added, “Beth, Amy, and Danielle are my friends. And most of all, there’s Tyler.” She glanced to see where Tyler was and found him picking up a hamburger while Nathan was talking to him. He was, by far, the most important person in her life. Smiling, she turned her attention back to her parents. “I wouldn’t trade the life I have for anything. I’m happy here.”

  “We can tell that,” her dad replied. “And we’re glad you’re happy.”

  “I’ll try to be better about listening to you and what you want,” her mom added. “You’re an adult, and it’s time I treated you like one.”

  Surprised it’d been that easy, Tiffany smiled. “Thank you.” If she’d known they were going to take it so well, she would have talked to them sooner. But since talking to Zoe hadn’t worked, she expected them to blow off her wishes as well.

  Tyler came over to their table and sat down. “Did I miss anything good?”

  “Oh,” Tiffany began, “my parents were telling me they wanted to post a picture of their new friends on Facebook. Turns out our parents get along great.”

  “I was just going to put in that we made some friends in Omaha,” her mom added.

  Tyler’s eyes met Tiffany’s, secretly asking her if she was alright with that.

  It was just like Tyler to want to support whatever she preferred. Tiffany nodded and told her mom, “I think it’s a good idea. And,” she looked at her mom, “you can post a picture of Tyler and me on there, too.”

  “I can?” her mom asked, a spark of excitement in her eyes.

  Tiffany laughed. “Yeah, sure. Why not?”

  “Great!” She stood up with her phone. “Turn to me so I can get your picture.”

  “Uh, I meant a picture you already took,” Tiffany said.

  Danielle, who just happened to be walking by them, paused and mouthed, “He has no shirt. Take one,” to Tiffany. Then she continued on to her table to give one of her kids a soda.

  Tiffany glanced at Tyler to see if he’d seen what Danielle had done, but he put down his punch and turned toward the phone. “I’m ready,” he said.

  “Are you sure?” Tiffany asked, slowly following his lead.

  “Sure. It’ll be a good memory of the day.” He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close to him.

  Despite the heat rising in her cheeks, she slipped her arm around his waist and leaned into him. They’d taken pictures in this familiar pose in the past, and back then, she never thought anything of it. But she was thinking plenty of it now. It no longer seemed like the innocent action it used to be. This time, she was aware of the pleasant way he smelled, the warmth of his body, and—heaven help her—her attraction to him.

  “Smile,” her mom called out.

  Tiffany did, aware of the way her heartbeat increased. Since when did being with Tyler make her so nervous? It was crazy
. She knew him better than she knew anyone. This shouldn’t be happening. And yet, it was. Because no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to separate Tyler “the friend” from Tyler “the attractive hunk”.

  After her mom was done, she reluctantly turned back to the food. Even if she was hungry, the food wasn’t what occupied her thoughts. She glanced over at Tyler who didn’t seem to be acting any differently from what she was used to. He was the same person he’d always been. Kind, thoughtful, willing to do anything for her. But suddenly, he wasn’t exactly the same person. Choosing not to dwell on it, at least not at the moment, she focused on eating her meal while her mom rambled on about how thrilled she was to be able to put the picture on Facebook.

  When lunch was over, Tyler asked Tiffany if she wanted to swim, but she shook her head. “I promised Beth I’d spend a day with her and my parents at the zoo. I’m going to ask her what day works best.”

  “Okay.” He glanced at Ryan who was talking to his parents. “I think I’ll go tell my parents hi before they think I’m neglecting them.”

  Tiffany chuckled. “They were just giving you space and time to talk to mine during lunch. They probably figure they see you all the time, but my parents don’t have the same luxury.”

  He hesitated then said, “I know it’s not my place to ask, but I was wondering how things are going between you and your parents. I noticed you two seemed to be having a good conversation, so I didn’t come over right away.”

  “Actually, things are great. I guess my parents aren’t as bad as I thought they were.”

  Reaching for her hand, he squeezed it and smiled at her. “I’m glad.”

  Her skin tingled from where he touched her. He never took her hand and squeezed it in such a familiar way before. Was it possible he was beginning to feel things for her like she was for him? Could their friendship really be leading to more?

  “I’ll let you get to Beth,” he said then squeezed her hand again.

  She watched as he went over to his parents, who waved to her. Sure they could see her blushing, she waved in return and quickly headed for the kitchen. What was she doing, acting like a girl in junior high who’d recently discovered boys? It was crazy. This was Tyler. She’d known Tyler for years. It wasn’t like she just met him or something. And yet, that was how she was starting to feel whenever he was around.

  Just what happened to change everything? Was it the fact that they were pretending to be married? Was it the kiss they’d shared under the mistletoe at her parents’ insistence? Was it Beth and Danielle who seemed so sure that there was more to her friendship with Tyler than she admitted…even to herself?

  Pushing her whirling thoughts aside, she entered the kitchen and found that Beth was washing her children’s hands in the sink.

  “I know, I know,” Beth said, glancing over at her. “They aren’t that dirty, but I like making sure their hands are clean. It’s a thing I have. I like things clean. Ryan says I can go overboard, but I like to think of it as being sanitary.”

  “I think having your kids wash their hands after they eat is a good idea,” Tiffany assured her.

  “Really? You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”

  “Really.”

  Beth relaxed. “I shouldn’t worry so much about what people think, and usually, I don’t. But ever since I had kids I found out that strangers will come up to you and tell you what you should or shouldn’t do with them.”

  “That’s silly.”

  “Maybe, but it’s true. I guess it brings up the insecure part of me I pushed down long ago.”

  “Well, they are your children. It’s only logical you’ll be sensitive when it comes to them.”

  Beth finished washing her son’s hands and told her children, “You can go back to the pool, but make sure you go to your dad.” They squealed in delight and started running out of the room which earned them a firm, “Walk,” from Beth.

  They didn’t run, but they did walk as fast as their little feet could carry them. Tiffany couldn’t help but laugh.

  Beth sighed but grinned. “At least they slowed down. Somewhat.”

  “You’re a good mom, Beth. You shouldn’t worry about other people. Let them take care of their own kids.”

  “Yeah, I know. So,” she glanced at the kitchen doorway, “how have things been going during your parents’ visit?”

  “Surprisingly good. I thought for sure it was going to be a disaster.”

  Beth leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. “From what I see, it doesn’t seem like you and Tyler are having a hard time pretending to be married. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d say it was true.”

  “You really think he seems interested in me that way?”

  “I’d say the attraction is working both ways. You’re just as obvious as he is.”

  Tiffany didn’t know if it was good or not that she was so transparent. Did Tyler pick up on it?

  “Are you sure it’s all an act?”

  Noting the teasing tone in her friend’s voice, Tiffany’s lips curled up into a smile. “It was at first.”

  “Yeah, and now…?”

  “I don’t know. I mean, Tyler might be better at pretending than I am. I might be feeling something different than him.”

  “I doubt it.”

  After a moment, Tiffany decided to change topics. “You know how you wanted to spend the day with my parents at the zoo?”

  Beth nodded.

  “What day this week works best for you?”

  “Tomorrow, I’m taking the kids in for a well kid check at the doctor. So how about Tuesday?”

  “That works. I’ll tell my parents we have plans for Tuesday. Want to go back to the pool?”

  “I will in a moment. I need to visit the little girl’s room first.”

  Tiffany headed for the pool and saw that her parents were talking to Tyler’s parents. She shook her head in wonder. Never in a million years would she have believed they just recently met.

  Danielle and Amy were with their husbands, and Amber was taking a nap in the playpen nearby. Ryan and Tyler were in the water teaching Stacey Ann and Jacob how to swim while Danielle’s kids were splashing in the other side of the pool.

  Tyler glanced up and waved her over. “Help us teach these two how to swim,” he called out.

  Her heartbeat picking up at the idea of being with him, she hurried to do as he wished.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “You didn’t have to walk me in tonight,” Tiffany said as Tyler followed her into her apartment.

  “I don’t mind,” he replied.

  The afternoon had been better than Tyler expected. Not that he thought it was going to be a disaster. But he worried Tiffany might not enjoy the day. However, she seemed to have done just that, and better yet, she had a good conversation with her parents. In a way, it was a shame that he missed it, but it was something she probably needed to do without him being there. So he was happy for her. But he didn’t get to spend any time alone with her, and he found that’s what he wanted more than anything.

  As he shut the door, he put her beach bag down. “You kept the tree plugged in while you were gone?”

  “Yeah,” she said as she took off her coat. “Since my parents went through all the work of decorating it, I figured the least I could do was let it light up the apartment.”

  “I’m glad you kept the lights on. It’s nice.”

  “I suppose it is.” She came over to him and smiled. “I hate to say it, but I wish I’d decorated this place for the past couple years I’ve been living here.”

  “Well, you’re doing it now, and that’s what counts.”

  “I guess. Hey, do you want some eggnog? I actually bought some.”

  He glanced up, and as he hoped, they were standing at the perfect place. “We can’t go into the kitchen until we kiss. See?” He pointed to the mistletoe hanging over their heads.

  “We don’t have to kiss. My parents aren’t here.”r />
  Despite the sudden wave of shyness that came over him, he shrugged and, in the most nonchalant voice he could manage, said, “I know, but I hate to break a popular Christmas tradition.”

  She bit her lower lip in that apprehensive way of hers, and he could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she weighed the pros and cons of following through with it and kissing him.

  Hoping to persuade her, he brushed her cheek with his fingers, noting how soft her skin was. She really was beautiful, especially with the way the lights from the tree made her blonde hair glow and her blue eyes sparkle.

  Though she seemed hesitant, she offered a slight nod so he bowed his head and kissed her. The kiss in front of her parents had been awkward, simply because they were right there watching them. But this one wasn’t so awkward, and it allowed him to relax enough so he could enjoy it more.

  He let his lips linger longer than necessary, and as he hoped, she leaned into him. Good. She hadn’t ended the kiss or pushed him away. She was willing to continue it. Encouraged, he pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss. To further test the waters, he traced her lower lip with his tongue, wondering if she’d let him into her mouth. And she did.

  His pulse raced with a new kind of excitement. This felt right. Up to now, he hadn’t been curious about what kissing her would be like. It just hadn’t interested him as her friend. But the threshold into something more had been crossed at some point over the past week, and now it seemed like the most natural thing in the world. And better yet, she was responding to him.

  When the kiss came to an end, he kept his arms around her, his gaze meeting hers. “Do you mind if I kiss you again?” he whispered.

  A wide grin crossing her face, she said, “No.”

  Smiling in return, he kissed her again, this time not at all shy about interlacing his tongue with hers. In this moment, it was just the two of them, and he really couldn’t think of anything better than that.

  This time when the kiss ended, he asked, “Will you marry me? For real?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  She brought her mouth back to his, and he thought his heart might burst, both from the heady experience of simply kissing her and from knowing she returned his feelings. None of the women he’d dated in the past had had this affect on him. It’d been nice to be with them. He had enjoyed the times he’d shared with them. But none of them were Tiffany. And maybe that only went to show how different things were when he was with the right one.