My Bad Boy Best Friend

Chapter 31: Loose Ends And The Calm

Lexi's POV

Tytan looked distracted. His eyes had this distant glint to them, it's how he'd been for a few days, really, since we went to his parents place for dinner. A little far away. Not entirely present. But he was around...and smiling.

We weren't exactly dating. We were friends. We hung out with Hunter and his friends? Hunter had friends? I had seen him around people, I just never assumed they were his friends? I mean, I probably should have?

But things with Tytan were still waiting to happen. Our date was still a few days away and until then I wasn't sure if I wanted to think about things at all. Thinking was hard, being with Tytan wasn't, even though things were decidedly undefined.

It was the middle of the night and I couldn't sleep. Tytan had been tossing and turning and he was shaking my bed enough for it to keep me up, too. I didn't know what was bothering him and I didn't want to ask. I did want to know what it was but I was tired.

Ah, fuck it.

"Tytan, what's going on with you?"

"Shit, did I wake you?" His voice sounded tired.

"You're jumpy, what's wrong?"

He sat up and passed a hand through his hair, "I--I should go home, right?"

"I mean, you're welcome to stay as long as you need but if you think you're ready, you should go home."

"Lexi... Let's--Let's go on that date tomorrow."

"You sure you want to look that terrible on our first official date?" I joked, sitting up next to him. I touched his cheek gently and he flinched. "I'm not saying the bruise will heal by our date but it might look a little better."

"I had that one coming," he said, running his fingers over the newly formed bruise. I didn't know where it came from and he didn't want to talk about it. I could take a hint.

"You know, I worry about you sometimes." 

"Just sometimes? I'm offended." He laughed.

"Then remain offended," I glared at him playfully.

"What? I thought you cared all the time?" He frowned.

"Caring and worrying are different things."

"That hurts less." He nodded.

"So what's wrong with you?"

"I can't sleep."

"Why not?"

"I don't know, I just keep thinking, it makes sleeping hard."

"Tell me what you're thinking about, maybe then you'll be able to sleep?"

"Lexi, I don't know, I just--even when I'm with you, I feel like I'm missing something. Why are you with me? You shouldn't be and it's driving me crazy."

"Do you want me to make a joke right now or do you want me to be serious?"

"I'll take whatever you can give me."

"Tytan, as much as I want to say it's the promise of a great date, you look like you need something more. Look, I love you, okay? I'm here. We're both here. Because where else would we be? At least, this is where I choose to be. I mean, sure a lot of our lives are controlled by the things that are expected of us but of the things I can control, us is my easiest decision in my current reality."

"When you say it like that, it feels like it's going to end." He chuckled, in a sort of sad way.

"And it might, right?" I said, carefully, taking his hand.