One of Them Girls

Chapter 15

The late afternoon sun streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the room as you moved around, preparing dinner. The comforting sizzle of the pan and the aroma of freshly chopped herbs filled the air. It was a simple meal, but one you knew Tyler would love. As you stirred the sauce, you couldn't help but smile, the secret you'd been holding onto for weeks filling you with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

Tyler had been incredibly supportive of you going back to school, always encouraging you to pursue your dreams. But he didn't know yet that you'd made the decision—or that you'd applied to the University of Arkansas. And more important, that you'd been accepted.

As you set the table, your acceptance letter sat conspicuously on the counter, where you'd absentmindedly left it while getting out the ingredients earlier.

The front door creaked open, and you heard Tyler's familiar footsteps as he entered the house. He called out a greeting, his voice warm and familiar, and your heart fluttered in response.

"Hey, something smells amazing," Tyler said as he walked into the kitchen, a grin spreading across his face as he took in the sight of you bustling around the kitchen.

You smiled over your shoulder at him. "Just something simple. Hope you're hungry."

"Always," he replied, leaning in to kiss your cheek before moving toward the counter. His hand reached out to grab a snack, but he paused when his eyes landed on the envelope sitting there.

"What's this?" he asked, picking up the letter with a curious look on his face.

You froze for a moment, your heart skipping a beat as you turned to face him. Tyler's eyes were already scanning the letter, his expression shifting from curiosity to surprise as he realized what he was holding.

"You got accepted to the University of Arkansas?" he asked, looking up at you with wide eyes.

You nodded, unable to keep the smile from spreading across your face. "I did. I, um, took your advice and applied to a few schools. But when I got the acceptance from U of A... it just felt right."

Tyler's expression softened, a mixture of pride and happiness lighting up his features. "You're really going to do it? Go back to school?"

"I am," you confirmed, stepping closer to him. "And I'll be just thirty minutes away from you."

His eyes searched yours, and then a slow, delighted smile spread across his face. "You're moving to Arkansas? To be close to me?"

You nodded, your heart swelling with emotion. "Yes, Tyler. I want to be close to you. I want us to have this chance, to really build something together."

For a moment, Tyler just stared at you, as if trying to process the enormity of what you'd just told him. Then, in one swift motion, he dropped the letter on the counter, stepped forward, and scooped you up into his arms.

You let out a surprised laugh as he lifted you off the ground, his strong arms holding you securely. "Tyler!"

He spun you around once before setting you down, but his hands never left your waist. "You have no idea how happy this makes me," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. The moment your lips met, everything else faded away. The kiss was full of promise, of all the hopes and dreams you both shared. It was the beginning of something new, something beautiful.

When you finally pulled back, Tyler rested his forehead against yours, his eyes shining with happiness. "We're really doing this, aren't we?"

"Yeah," you whispered, your voice trembling with emotion. "We are."

He kissed you again, and this time it was slower, more tender, as if he were savoring the moment. When he finally pulled back, he smiled at you, his eyes full of love and certainty.

"Welcome to Arkansas, darlin'," he said, his voice a soft drawl that sent a shiver down your spine. "We're going to make this work. I know we will."

You smiled, your heart full as you gazed up at him. "I know we will too."

The two of you stood there in the kitchen, wrapped up in each other, the future full of possibilities stretching out before you. There were still challenges ahead, but with Tyler by your side, you knew you could face anything.

As the evening wore on, you and Tyler shared a quiet, intimate dinner, the acceptance letter still sitting on the counter—a symbol of the new beginning you were about to embark on together.

Later, as you sat on the couch, Tyler's arm wrapped around your shoulders, you leaned into him, feeling more at peace than you had in a long time. This was where you belonged—by his side, building a future together.

And as you drifted off to sleep that night, Tyler's arms wrapped around you, you knew with absolute certainty that this was just the beginning of a beautiful love story—one that would only grow stronger with time.