Green Eyed Daydream #Wattys2016

Chapter 17

Tyler's POV

I watch Tiffany as she is stirring some kind of sauce in the pan. The kitchen is dead, it's been hours since we closed for the night, and everyone has gone home, but the after hours is when my sister likes to experiment with new menu ideas.

"Here, take a taste," she extends a spoon with a red sauce covering the tip.

I taste it, and can't help but smile, "Damn, that's good."

"I think I will do spaghetti with this puttanesca sauce as the special tomorrow," she says.

"'Puttanesca', yes...speaking of 'whores', Nicole called me again when I was in Napa. She won't let up," I tell her, and sit up on the counter by the stove.

"God, why won't she just leave you alone? Doesn't she realize that it's over?"

"I've told her that many, many times. She's just very persistent."

"Well, I hope you're not entertaining the idea of a reconciliation," Tiffany stops stirring for a moment and holds my gaze.

"No. Definitely not," I quickly relieve her worry. "If anything, I think this experience has really shaken my trust in women in general," I confess.

"Ty, don't do that. Don't let one selfish slut ruin it for you. There are so many nice girls out there."

"Oh, yeah? Like who? I could use a distraction."

"Well, I practically threw Shelly in your lap, but you don't appear interested."

"She's not my type," I say, as I recall her blatant attempts at seduction.

I never like it when women are overly aggressive. Maybe that's why I gravitate towards someone more like... Carrie. Shy, sweet,...and completely unavailable. My mind conjures up an image of her wide hazel eyes as she looked at me for the first time.

"Okay, so 'drop dead gorgeous' is not your type...what is?" Tiffany asks, turning the stove off and taking a seat next to me on the counter.

"It's hard to explain exactly. I guess it's a feeling I get. I know when I'm into someone and when I'm not. It's not based on looks alone. If it's more than a hook up, that is."

Tiffany studies my face for a moment. "Alex came for lunch here while you were in Napa," she says, keeping her eyes on me.

"Oh yeah? I hope you're not leading up to a story that ends with you having sex with him on this counter," I say jokingly.

"He brought Carrie along," she says, and continues looking at me with curious eyes.

I can't help but smile. Damn it. I'm so transparent.

"Really? Does it bother you that he's hanging out with an ex?" I ask, trying to deflect the attention back onto Tiffany.

"No. I know they're just friends. And she's a cool girl," she says, and looks strangely at me. "A nice girl," she adds.

"What are you getting at, Tiff?" I ask her, folding my arms across my chest.

"Alex says that Carrie and her boyfriend are on the rocks," she continues. And my smile gets even bigger. I really can't contain myself.

"Oh really? Is that what she told him?" I ask.

Tiffany shrugs and looks away. "Carrie and Alex want to hang out with us this weekend."

I can't tell if my sister is fucking with me again. "Us? As in, you and me?" I want to make sure I got this right.

"Yeah, is that okay?"

Hell yeah, it's okay. "Yeah, whatever, I don't have any plans," I say coolly.

"We can walk around the Embarcadero," Tiffany offers.

"Okay, just let me know when," I say, and hop off the counter. "I think we should get out of here. Come on, I'll give you a ride home."