Going Full Throttle

Chapter 9

"Okay, Tyler I need you to go to the Callahan's and get extra chairs," Twyla demanded. We'd just told her we had added four boys to the guestlist. Her first reaction was to gush about seeing Ryan again then her face dropped and she started ordering us about.

I looked up from my place at the counter chopping vegetables when I heard my name.

"Pia, you can show him can't you?" Twyla raised her eyebrows expectantly at me.

I recognized the authoritative glint in her eye and decided not to argue. My sweet and generous aunt had a dark side I tried to avoid. She was like a gremlin after midnight when she was prepping for an event and felt unorganized. It didn't matter if that event was just a small family barbeque; she needed to have her ducks in a row.

"So," Tyler said conversationally as we walked to my cabin. "I heard you agreed to let us post the footage." He strode with his hands in his pocket and stared straight ahead. He jogged the last few feet to the door though and opened it for me to walk through.

"Well, honestly Scotty's video was so good, it felt wrong to say no," I said.

Tyler followed me towards the small door under the stairs. "Yeah, he's crazy talented. My views have flown up since I hired him."

I peeked over my shoulder as I opened the door and stretched in to pull the cord that turned the light on. "Is that weird for you? Like today, everyone already knew your name."

He shrugged and leaned against the wall, "You get used to it. Today was pretty mild though. They were all cool and didn't make it into a huge deal. It made it easier."

I moved aside and gestured to the row of fold-up chairs next to boxes of our old stuff. "Those are the ones she'll be wanting."

Tyler stepped forward to crouch into the small storage room and grab the chairs, but then he stopped. "Look," he said uneasily. "I hope you know that what happened with Finn—I never would have done anything if I thought it was really unsafe. I was in control the entire time."

I scuffed my foot across the carpet and avoided his direct gaze. "It's hard. I can't afford to make mistakes with him, you know?"

"I can imagine. Scotty really thinks we could get along this summer." he mused. There was a lilt to his voice, as though he didn't believe what he said.

"Scotty also thinks that his skin will turn blue if he eats too many blueberries," I sighed.

"Well, I'm getting deja vu but, is there any chance we can have a truce?" His southern accent came through thicker and I couldn't help but think he did it on purpose to sound more charming.

"I don't think I like you," I said flatly as I looked him directly in the eye.

A spark lit in his eyes, like a flame in the middle of a forest. Then he smiled slowly and drawled, "I don't think I like you either." He held out his hand for a shake as he added, "So can we hate each other but maybe try to get along?"

"Isn't that an oxymoron?"

"There's no need for name callin' Bambi," Tyler smirked.

"Don't call me that," I grumbled but a small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. "Okay, let's get going. Twyla is going to be angry we took so long."

"Yes, ma'am." Tyler somehow crammed his body into the small room and came out with five fold-up lawn chairs. He put two on one arm and three on the other then stood tall and looked at me expectantly.

"I feel like I should offer you help," I said as I led the way out of the cabin and held the door open for him.

"Is that you offering?" he said while he carefully stepped down to the gravel driveway.