43

Wednesday morning, we were sitting on the couch listening to Tyler playing guitar. Sierra was almost done with Tyeshia's hair, and both of them were tired of it. Dad was on the phone, arguing with my mom. As usual.

"Has that gotten any better?"

Sierra shook her head. "You'd think it would be better since she's two states away now, but no. It's worse. I think she calls just to scream at him all the time. Probably about how disappointed she is in his daughters," she said, rolling her eyes.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

Tyeshia: Have you told Tyler you love him yet?

I gave her a look, and she ignored me.

Me: No. What if he doesn't feel the same way?

I looked up at Tyler, and he winked at me. I looked back to Tyeshia, and she shrugged.

"Will you stop moving? These braids are not going to be even, Ty."

Tyeshia sighed and put her phone down. "How many more do you have? I'm bored."

"You forget I'm doing this for free. I have nothing else to do today."

"Oh, I'm sure I'll pay for this later," Tyeshia muttered.

Sierra gently yanked on the braid that she was working on, and Tyeshia audibly complained.

I looked away to keep from laughing. I glanced up at Tyler, and he was also struggling to keep a straight face. Once we made eye contact, neither of us could hold it in anymore. We started giggling, and, soon, all four of us were doubled over laughing.

My phone lit up in my hand with a message from Everly.

Everly: Have you told Tyler that you love him yet?

Me: No. We aren't even "official" yet

Me: Tyler and I are fine with how things are. Why are you and my family so obsessed with changing it?

Everly: You haven't seen the way that you both look at each other.

Everly: I haven't seen you this happy in a long time

Everly: I'm not trying to be pushy

Everly: I just think you deserve something good to happen.

I knew she was right, but taking the leap from friends to being in a serious relationship was big. And, scary. And, we hadn't taken the time to talk about it. I knew what I wanted, but I needed to respect his space.

Me: I'll call you later. Sierra is doing Tyeshia's hair. It's so entertaining.

Everly: She bored yet?

Me: Of course she is. Sierra's almost done though. It's not like she doesn't know how long this takes.

After Sierra finally finished with Tyeshia's hair and lunch, we started playing UNO. It was clear that I was keeping my mean cards to play on my sister and not when Tyler was after me. Tyeshia accused me of cheating, but it was obvious that she was doing the same thing with the rest of us.

After two games, we started getting rowdier and more decided to start playing teams. Naturally, it was Tyeshia and Sierra against Tyler and me. Before we started, Sierra stood to make popcorn.

Tyler stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. He kissed me on the cheek as Tyeshia snapped a picture.

Before we started our next game, Dad got called into work.

"Have a good night!" He kissed me on the forehead, as he started to leave.

"Love you all." He kissed Sierra's forehead.

"I'll see you tonight." He kissed Tyeshia's forehead.

"Don't have too much fun." He patted Tyler on the shoulder and headed toward the door.

"Stay safe, Dad," I said.

He turned around, hand on the door and smiled at us. "I always am."

Sierra and Tyeshia started watching a movie, and I went outside. I leaned against the railing of the wrap-around porch and watched the sunset. Tyler came outside a few minutes later and stood next to me, not saying anything.

"We used to do this all the time. Before Brock and Tyeshia. Before mom and dad divorced. The four of us would just sit out here and watch the sunset."

He stepped closer to me, our arms brushing. He stood at an angle, so he could see me and the sunset at the same time. "What's their story?"

I looked up at him. "Sierra and Tyeshia?"

He nodded.

"It was the beginning of senior year of high school. Tyeshia and her mom had just moved to town a few months before and didn't really know anyone. They played volleyball together and became really good friends. Then, at the end of the school year, they just got together."

"Was that weird for you?"

"No." I thought for a minute. "It just seemed right, you know? Like it made sense. They're good for each other."

Like us.

"No hesitation?"

"No hesitation." I shook my head again smiling at the memory. "They went to prom together. Sierra wore a silver dress, and Tye's was gold. They both looked stunning."

"As stunning as you?"

I glanced up at him and quickly looked away. The sun was almost completely behind the mountains, casting long shadows. I was glad for the twilight so he couldn't see how badly I was blushing.

"Ali."

I looked up at him, and he tucked hair behind my ear. He didn't say anything, just stood studying my face. He didn't move his hand.

My heart started racing, and neither of us looked away.

"Tell me about the talking thing," I blurted.

"I…What do you mean?"

I gave him a look, stepping closer. "Sierra. Tyeshia. My dad."

"You brought me out of my shell, darling. You trust them. Which makes me trust them. Because I love you."

"Oh, I love you, too." I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him into a tight hug. "I think I've loved you for a long time."

He loves me.

Neither of us said anything, just stood there for a few minutes, listening to the crickets outside and the TV inside.

"I love you, darling," he said.

"I love you, too." We pulled apart, and he kissed me on the nose. I took his hand, and we turned to go back inside the house.

Before I had a chance to change my mind, I grabbed his hand and pulled him back toward me. He looked at me a little startled and almost lost his footing. I stepped closer to him, stood on my tiptoes, and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me back.

When we separated, he asked. "What was that for?"

I winked at him and started to go back into the house.

He laced his fingers through mine and pulled me back against his chest. He leaned down to kiss me again, but I turned so he only got my cheek.

Later, I was laying in bed, and I heard a knock on my door. Tyler gently opened it and quietly slipped inside my room.

"What time is your dad going to be home tonight?"

"Probably like eleven."

He crawled into bed next to me, and I rested my head against my pillow, looking at him.

"It's going to be a long night for me, I think. I'm not going to be able to get to sleep," he said after a while.

"Did you take your sleeping medicine?"

He shrugged. "No. It doesn't help most of the time."

"Probably because you don't take it like you're supposed to. It's not going to work if you don't take it."

He let out a long sigh, getting up. "Forget it. I'm not having this fight with you right now."

He left my door open when he left my room.