One of Them Girls

Chapter 8

You stood by the window, glancing outside every few minutes, your nerves tingling with anticipation. Tyler had invited you to a get-together with his crew and some of his friends–a bonfire out by the lake. It was a casual invitation, but you couldn't shake the feeling that it meant something more. It was one thing to spend alone time with Tyler, but this was different. It felt like he was bringing you into his world, introducing you to the people who mattered to him.

A knock at the door snapped you out of your thoughts. You took a deep breath before heading to answer it. Tyler stood on the other side, leaning casually against the doorframe with that easy grin of his that always managed to make your heart skip a beat.

"Hey," he greeted, his eyes lighting up as they took in the sight of you. "Ready to go?"

You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through you at his presence. "Yeah, I'm ready. Just need to grab something."

He stepped inside the house as you went to pick up the sweatshirt draped over the back of the chair–Tyler's sweatshirt. It was the one he'd given you the first time you hung out. The fabric was soft and worn, and it still smelled faintly like him, a comforting mix of his cologne and something uniquely Tyler.

As you slipped it on, you noticed Tyler's gaze lingering on the sweatshirt, a slow smile spreading across his face. "You kept that?" he asked, his tone teasing.

You felt a blush creep up your neck as you nodded. "Yeah, of course I did. It's warm, and besides...it's yours."

Tyler's smile softened, a look of genuine affection in his eyes. He took a step closer to you, his fingers gently tugging at the hem of the sweatshirt. "It looks good on you," he said, his voice gentle. "Better than it ever did on me."

You couldn't help but smile back, feeling that familiar flutter in your chest. "Thanks, Tyler."

Once you were ready, Tyler led you outside to his truck. The evening air was cool, with a gentle breeze that hinted at the coming night. Tyler opened the passenger door for you, helping you inside before jogging around to the driver's side.

As he started the engine and pulled away from your house, a comfortable silence settled between you. The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink as the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the landscape.

After a few minutes, Tyler broke the silence. "So, Boone has been bugging me non-stop about when he can finally meet my girlfriend."

You felt your heart skip a beat at the casual way he dropped the word 'girlfriend'. Turning to look at him, you found his eyes fixed on the road, but there was a hint of a smile playing on his lips like he was waiting for your reaction.

"Your girlfriend, huh?" you echoed, your voice teasing but with a nervous edge.

Tyler glanced at you briefly, his smile growing more pronounced. "Well, yeah. I thought that's what you were. Unless you have any objections."

You bit your lower lip, trying to suppress the grin threatening to spread across your face. "No objections here."

He chuckled, reaching over to entwine his fingers with yours. The warmth of his hand was comforting, and the simple gesture made your stomach flutter.

The truck continued down the winding road, the scenery passing by as a pleasant blur. The simple acknowledgment of your relationship status added a new layer of warmth and intimacy between you.

After a moment, you glanced back up at him, mischief twinkling in your eyes. "So, what exactly has Boone been saying about me?"

Tyler laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "Oh, you know. He's been giving me a hard time ever since he found out I was seeing someone. Keeps asking when he's gonna meet the girl who's got me all distracted."