Chapter 8

TYLER

CHAPTER EIGHT

We've been in the truck for half an hour on our way to Long Island and my sister's wedding. Ariana is quiet in the passenger seat. Staring out the window and not looking in my direction since we got on the road.

Even though she looks beautiful in a pale-blue dress that matches her eyes, there's a distance from her that I haven't seen before.

I want to close the gap. "Um, I hope this is okay. I know I told you we'd be staying with my parents tonight, but I booked a hotel room. I didn't want to sleep in separate rooms."

With a hint of a smile, she nods. "That's fine."

My chest tightens as I reach across the center console and take her hand. "Hey, you alright?"

She stares at me as if deciphering what I'm saying. "I'm not injured or sick. Is that what you mean?"

I wish I wasn't driving so I could give her my full attention, but I'm in the middle of a busy road. "It's not what I meant. You seem preoccupied or troubled. Would like to talk about it?"

"I'm going to Houston on Monday." She blurts it out as if it left a bad taste in her mouth.

The ache in my chest intensifies. "You've accepted a job?"

"No." She stares out the window.

It takes me a few seconds to get my pulse under control. "Ariana?"

"Hmm?"

"I know we've only been dating for a short time. It's none of my business, but if you're leaving town, I'd like to know." It's getting harder to breathe.

"I just told you that I'm going to Houston." She's looking at me with a confused expression.

Even with my heart imploding, it's difficult to ignore how adorable she is. "You did, but you didn't say for how long. Are you moving to Houston to accept a job with the Space Agency?"

"I told them I would come and listen to what they have to say. I don't want to move to Houston. Roseville is where I'm happy." Again, her attention drifts out the window. "Still, the idea of calculating a historic mission is tempting."

In the span of a few seconds, she made me feel wonderful and then worried. I would never want to hold her back from anything. Not that I believe I could. For the next hour, I drive us through traffic until we arrive at my parents' house on the north shore.

Pulling past the house, I pull into the park several blocks away and put the truck in Park.

Looking around Ariana's expression is confused. "Where are we?"

"Near to the wedding." I take her hand. "Ariana?"

She faces me with wide beautiful eyes. "Yes, Tyler?"

I've lost my mind. Maybe that's not the part I lost. My heart would be more accurate. "I know this is too soon. You don't owe me anything, not even an explanation or a warning that you're leaving town to pursue something I'm sure will be incredible."

"Am I supposed to know what that means?"

The question is so sincere, that I can't help smiling. "No. I'll try to be clearer."

She raises her eyebrows and waits.

Lifting her hand, I kiss her fingers. "I'm in love with you. I've known it since the moment you came out of your house, screaming at me to turn your power back on. I've also known that I'm not nearly good enough for you. I'm just a blue-collar guy. I like what I do, and I'm not making any apologies for my chosen profession."

"That's good." She blinks and a soft smile pulls at her lips.

"Would you want me to go with you to Houston?" Way to blurt it out there, idiot.

"No. I don't know why you would want to go with me." Her eyes narrow, forming a crease at the center.

Maybe I buried the important part. "I'm in love with you."

"You said so. I liked it when you said it, both times." Her cheeks turn a slightly rosy shade. "I still don't know why you'd want to travel with me. I'll be back on Tuesday and we can talk about the offer."

Now I'm the one who's confused. "You didn't take a job in Houston?"

"No. I told you that I hadn't. They sent me some terms and salary information, but I said that wasn't going to tempt me away from what I have in New Jersey. Marshal asked me to come down to Houston to meet with the collective group to hear what they have to say."

Since she doesn't elaborate, I ask, "But this is an important job if you take it, right?"

"Yes." She looks around outside. "I think we're going to be late for your sister's wedding."

I check the time on the truck's clock, and she's right. "Maybe we can talk about this later." I put the truck in reverse, then pull out of the park and head back toward my parents' house.

A kid of maybe eighteen wearing a red jacket, runs out to meet the car. "Can I park that for you, sir?"

I hand over my keys, and he gives me a ticket before jumping in my truck and driving away.

Even though I picked her up and she took my breath away then, Ariana in heels and a formfitting dress makes it hard to think of anything else. I push aside the worries that she's going to Houston and I'll never see her again. Offering my arm, I say, "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

"Am I?" She takes my arm. "That makes me happy." Her comments seem to come with some internal thought processes about emotions and feelings.

I think that maybe I'm more than a number to this amazing woman and if that's the case, it's really something. "All I want is to make you happy."

A hint of a smile tugs at her lips.

The house I grew up in is a big colonial. Most of my childhood friends became lawyers, doctors, or financial experts. My sister is a lawyer, as is her groom. It just wasn't the kind of life I wanted. The first time I saw the lightning exhibit at the museum, I knew I wanted to command electricity. If my parents were disappointed, they never let on.

The door opens before we reach the front porch. My mother is wearing a lavender gown with her brown hair pulled up in a fancy bun. Her makeup is perfect and she smiles. "I was getting worried."

Giving her my best grin, I say, "I wouldn't miss this. Mom, this is Ariana Lane."

Mom offers Ariana her hand. "It's nice to meet you. Tyler has told us all about you. Welcome to our home."

There's a moment longer than is natural that Ariana pauses before she takes my mother's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Strand."

"You can call me Diane. Ariana is a beautiful name." Mom steps back to let us in the house. She pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek. "Your father is out back keeping everything in order. I have to go upstairs and check on your sister. The minister hasn't arrived yet and Kathy is about to turn into bridezilla."

Once my mom is running up the steps, I lead Ariana through the pristine halls and rooms of my childhood home, then out the French doors to the sprawling garden, now set up with a small stage and an awning covered with pink and white flowers. Rows of white chairs draped with gauze face the stage. Mom's roses are in full bloom at the back of the stage and other flowers that I don't know the names of are also blooming. It looks like a scene out of a movie.

"Do you think she liked me?" Ariana asks as we step onto the slate walkway.

"Mom is preoccupied with wedding stuff, but I do think she likes you." I thread Ariana's fingers through mine and head down the path toward my dad, who's corralling some of my cousins' kids while they run wild on the far lawn.

"But you said it's okay if your family doesn't like me, right?" It's rare for the confidence to wane from Ariana's voice. Even when the social customs don't come naturally to her, she knows who she is and doesn't concern herself with what other people might think.

I stop before we reach Dad and turn so I'm facing her. "Nothing will ever matter beyond how I feel about you." I take a deep breath. "And how you feel about me, Ariana."

"You always say nice things. I wish I knew how to do that." She flattens her lips. "I mean, for you, so I could make you feel as happy as you make me feel."

With my father watching from the edge of the lawn and all my relatives making their way to the chairs, I pull Ariana into a hug. "You make me happy every moment I'm with you."

Her hair smells like flowers and she's perfect in my arms. I wish I had her all to myself, but that's not going to happen for some time.

My father slaps me on the back. "Introduce me to your friend, Ty."

Ariana stiffens in my arms, but her expression is emotionless when she steps back and stares at my father.

"Dad, this is Ariana Lane."

"Nice to meet you. Ty tells us you're from New Jersey and that you're a genius." Dad shakes her hand.

"Hello. Those things are both true."

Dad smiles wide when Ariana does not attempt to give more information. "What kind of genius are you?"

She cocks her head. "Interesting question. I have had various IQ tests that were between 180 and 253. So, by that calculation, I'm a genius of all kinds, but I specialize in mathematics. Currently, I'm working as a forensic accountant, even though that's not much of a challenge for me."

"Is there something else you'd like to be doing?" Dad asks. He's thoroughly engaged with Ariana.

It's impressive that Dad managed to ask a question that intrigued Ariana enough to give him more than a short answer.

She purses her lips and her hands clench. "I'd like to calculate the necessary course, speed, impulse, and trajectory for a manned flight to Mars. I'd like to figure out how to keep humans alive during the trip, how long it would take, and what the vessel would look like. However, another team would design it. The size and shape of the craft would be vital to my work."

"Wow." Dad crosses his arms over his chest and places one fist under his chin. "I'd love to hear more about this." He looks at the back door of the house. "Will you two be staying for a while after the reception?" He points to a large white tent at the far side of the property that overlooks the beach.

Ariana looks at me.

"We'll see, Dad." At the moment, I'm desperate to have her all to myself.

He nods at me, then studies Ariana again. "You're a fascinating young woman. I hope we get a chance to talk when this circus is over."

The minister steps out of the house with a big smile. "The traffic held me up, but I made it."

Dad shakes his head and rushes over to greet him.

Once they make their way to the front, everyone takes their seats. My dad runs back toward the house.

I turn to Ariana. "How do I look?"

She brushes the shoulder of my tuxedo. "You look very handsome dressed like this."

"I'm glad you think so." I straighten my bow tie.

"I like you in coveralls and a hard hat too." She blushes.

The string quartet starts to play and Lance, my soon-to-be brother-in-law yells my name.

Taking her hand, I walk her to a seat near the front on the bride's side. I kiss her cheek. "Back soon." I take my place at the front behind Lance and two groomsmen.

My sister is a beautiful bride, and it's obvious that she and Lance are very much in love, but my gaze keeps shifting to the blonde in the blue dress who's captured my heart and soul.