The Boyfriend Deal

by Charity West

  “An emergency kit for the truck?” he asked. “I’ve been meaning to put one together, especially with the snow that’s started falling this past week. I’ll have to thank your parents. This is great!”

  “Really?” I asked, unconvinced.

  His lips brushed my cheek. “Really, Red. Being a girl, I guess you can’t appreciate something like this, but it’s nice to know if something happens while I have you in the truck with me I’ll be prepared. I already stuck a blanket in the backseat in case the heater goes out or we get stalled on the side of the road.”

  “Did you discuss this with my dad?”

  “We may have talked about it a few weeks ago. He’d asked how prepared I was ,and I’d admitted I wasn’t. I have to say, I was rather embarrassed.”

  “Dad has that effect on people.”

  He laughed and wrapped an arm around my waist.

  “You know,” he said, “what I really wanted to get you was a puppy, but your parents said that probably wasn’t the best idea right now. They were worried that having something extra to take care of might upset you right now.”

  “You wanted to get me a puppy?” I asked softly.

  “Maybe after we’re settled in Jacksonville, we can look at getting a dog, or even a cat, if you’d prefer a kitten to a puppy. I just hate that you haven’t had a pet, and it’s a wish I had hoped to grant for you.”

  “Just knowing you thought about it is enough, Tyler.” I rested my head on his shoulder. “You really see us living in Jacksonville next fall?”

  “Well, I certainly hope so. I’ve already been browsing apartments online. Your dad contacted the police department down there to find out which parts of town aren’t as safe as others, so it’s been taking some time to look all of them up on a map. Finding something in our price range in a good neighborhood hasn’t been easy, but it’s doable. There were a few options.”

  “I haven’t been accepted yet, Tyler. What if they deny my application?”

  “Then I’ll look at apartments elsewhere. You were already accepted to UT Knoxville so that will be our back-up.”

  “But if we go to UT, we won’t be able to get an apartment.”

  “I know.” He laced our fingers together. “We’d have to stay in dorms and wouldn’t get to see each other quite as much, but it’s only four years, Red. We have our entire lives to be together. We can still date in college without living together.”

  I smiled. “My dad is pushing UT, isn’t he? I bet he isn’t too thrilled with the idea of us living together.”

  “Actually,” he said quietly, “your Dad would prefer that we live together. I think he’s nervous about you moving away from home and not having someone to watch over you. If you’re in a dorm, I won’t be able to help you when you need it. There’s no guarantee you’d get a sympathetic roommate.”

  Now I was getting nervous. I’d have to start praying extra hard and cross every finger and toe that I would be accepted to University of Florida. I knew we still had five months left of school, and graduation to get through, but the thought of starting a new chapter in life, of getting a fresh start, was rather exciting. I would always be the nearly blind girl, the girl who couldn’t dress herself without help, the girl who couldn’t shop without assistance. My glasses improved my vision a lot, but it was still a huge struggle.

  “Hadley, wherever we end up, the important thing is that we’re together. I don’t care which school we attend. Yes, it would be nice to play football on a scholarship, but it isn’t the end of the world if I don’t. What would be the end of the world would be attending a college hundreds of miles away from you, not getting to see your smiling face every morning, or getting to kiss you goodnight every night.”

  “So … one day at a time?” I asked.

  “One day at a time. Come on, I think the party is winding down. I should probably get you home.”

  I let him pull me up and I grabbed the gift box with my sweater and gloves. I said goodbye to his parents, and Tyler helped me put on my coat then led me out to his truck. It was cold; fresh snow was on the ground, and the vents blew cold air when he cranked the engine. He shut off the heat until the engine had time to warm up, which would pretty much be sometime on his way home, since I didn’t live that far away.

  I sat in the middle, snuggled against his side. He kept both hands on the wheel, but I laid my hand on his thigh, feeling the muscle tense beneath my fingers. Christmas music played softly on the radio, filling the silence around us. When he came to a stop in front of my house, he put the truck in park and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

  “I’m glad you came tonight.”

  “Thank you for inviting me,” I said. As his head lowered to mine, butterflies erupted in my stomach. Kissing Tyler was always amazing, and always as wonderful as it had been the first time. When he pulled away, he helped me out of the truck and walked me to the door.

  Dad was already there waiting for us.

  “Thanks for bringing her home safely, Tyler. Did you want to come in for some hot chocolate?” Dad asked.

  “Thank you, Mr. Ryan, but I’d better get back. Mom will need help cleaning up after the party.”

  Dad nodded and stepped back inside.

  Tyler kissed me twice more then went back to his truck. I stood on the front steps until his taillights disappeared. Snow started falling again and I shivered as a breeze blew. Something told me this would be the most magical Christmas of them all, despite everything I’d been through. Even if I didn’t get to see Tyler tomorrow, I would still feel warm and content knowing he loved me.

  Epilogue

  Hadley

  Tyler had accepted the scholarship to Florida State University, and we’d been living in a small apartment in Jacksonville for the past year. I’d found things to fill my days and had even discovered a way to continue playing my flute. Tyler had bought me a ton of flute audio files and all I had to do was listen to one in order to play the piece of music. Since music was a balm to my soul, I really loved him for it. There were a million reasons to love Tyler, and I discovered more every day.

  We’d decided we liked Jacksonville well enough to stay after graduation, even though that was still a few years off. Tyler was studying Fire Science and still planned to become a fireman. He’d even volunteered at the local station and was getting hands on knowledge along the way. As for me, I was studying Psychology at the college in hopes of being a school counselor one day. I had only signed up for two classes the first semester to make sure I could handle the work. I hadn’t wanted to get overwhelmed, but my parents had already offered to hire tutors if I needed them. Turned out I was pretty good at keeping up with my classwork and the following semester I’d taken a full load.

  My parents had recently sold our home in Tennessee and moved nearby. Dad had gotten a job with the Jacksonville police department and seemed to love it. Tyler’s parents had talked of moving, but hadn’t done it yet. I wasn’t sure if they were waiting to make sure we stayed here, or if Tyler’s mom was just trying to give him some space.

  The large digital display on the living room clock told me Tyler would be home any minute. I’d made his favorite—homemade meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and some yummy rolls my mother had taught me to make. The apartment smelled delicious.

  I heard the key in the lock and I rushed to the front door to greet him. When he saw me, a big smile wreathed his face.

  “Miss me?” he asked.

  “Always.”

  After a kiss that still had the power to melt my bones, he put his stuff aside and followed me into the kitchen. I’d already set the table, and he claimed his seat.

  “This looks great, Hadley. I didn’t realize how damn hungry I was until just now. I got busy with a study session at lunch and completely forgot to eat.”

  “Have as much as you want. There’s still some left over if you want seconds, or even thirds.”

  “Thirds?” He smiled. “Just how many people did you think you we
re feeding?”

  I felt my cheeks warm. “I had a little trouble reading Mom’s recipe and she didn’t answer, so … I made a little more than I intended.”

  “It looks great, Red,” he said softly. “I know you didn’t have class today, but I’m sure you still had work to do. You didn’t have to prepare a big meal. We could have ordered pizza or something.”

  “I like taking care of you. It’s not like you don’t take care of me every day. This is my way of giving back to you. The least I can do is cook.”

  “I just don’t want you to feel like you have to, but it’s definitely appreciated. You know I love your cooking. If I don’t watch it, you’ll pack the pounds on me and coach will have me running extra laps.”

  “Ready for the big game?” I asked.

  “Yeah. Nervous though.”

  “I’ll be in the stands cheering you on.” I smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

  “Your parents going too?”

  “Dad has to work, but Mom said she’d take me. She knew you wouldn’t be able to focus on the game if you were worried about me, so she’s babysitting.”

  “Red, no one needs to babysit you.”

  “I know.” I sighed. “She wants to see you play as much as I do. I’m just sorry your parents won’t be here.”

  “I talked to Dad this morning on my way to class. He said he might start looking for a job around this area. He didn’t make any promises, but at least he’s willing to look. And, if they decide to stay in Tennessee, we’ll just have to go visit. Or invite them here for the holidays. I don’t know, we’ll figure it out when the time comes.”

  “Did I ever tell you thank you?” I asked.

  “For what?”

  “That night in my kitchen, when I was falling apart and feeling sorry for myself. What you said really got to me, and it’s because of you that I’m here and taking classes. I was ready to give up and throw in the towel, but then I realized, if you weren’t giving up on me then maybe I shouldn’t either.”

  “Red, I…”

  “No, let me finish. I had thought you were a crutch and that I was depending on you too much. I couldn’t see you for the blessing you were. It never occurred to me that you were cheering me on, just like I do at your games. When we made that stupid boyfriend deal, I never realized what I would get from it. You’re my best friend, Tyler, and the man I love. You gave me all of yourself, completely and without reservation, and I can never thank you enough for that.”

  “Red, I’m the one who came out a winner. I only came up with that deal so you’d go out with me. You were everything I’d never thought to reach for, the unattainable good girl. I’m the one who’s thankful. You took a chance on me, the bad boy, the player, and you gave me the opportunity to show you that I could be more.”

  “I love you,” I said softly.

  Tyler rose from his chair and knelt beside me, wrapping a hand around the back of my neck.

  “Love you more.”

  I smiled as he kissed me silly. I’d never been more grateful to that ridiculous boyfriend deal. What I had once thought would be the worst mistake of my life had turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.

  The End

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