Chapter 7
"You'd better be careful Tyler Harland, keep this up and I just might fall madly in love with you!" I couldn't believe I said it and instantly regretted that I had.
"That is precisely what I am hoping for Olivia Reynolds!" he swung me down from the last of the steps and we lost ourselves for a moment in the beauty of the night and the sweetness of our kiss. When Tyler pulled back he took my face in my hands, "Do you, Livie? Do you think you could love me because I am almost certain that I am in love with you?"
"Almost?" I teased.
"Quite close," I could hear the smile in his voice. Then he grew completely serious again, "Please tell me you meant what you said. I need to know...I can't let myself fall any closer without knowing how you feel."
There was nothing I would have liked more than to tell him exactly how I felt about him. At first I wasn't sure what was holding me back. Somewhere in the back of my mind, though, I knew the words would be irretrievable and that they could never be unsaid. I told Mitch that I loved him but as I considered everything that had happened between us I realized that I had only said it because I was afraid of losing him if I didn't.
I was afraid of losing Mitch so I told him I loved him.
That wasn't the case now. I had no doubts about my feelings for Tyler. It was a different kind of fear I was suffering from; the fear that he was just too good to be true. He took my hand and I could feel his fingertips trembling in mine.
"He's just as worried and nervous as I am!" I thought. As soon as I realized it I threw my arms around him with reckless abandon and whispered the words, "I don't think I can fall in love with you, Tyler, because I am quite certain that I already am."
He hugged me off my feet, "Thank God!" he cried out then covered me in kisses. "You really had me worried for a second there!"
"Did I?" I teased as he put me back down. "I'm sorry," I gazed up at him, "but what was it you said? Things didn't go so well the last time..."
"Mmm, yeah. You're right," he took a deep breath and sighed. Tyler looked thoughtful for a moment, "We'll take our time," he stated, "and try not to make the same mistakes. Tonight was just the beginning, for us, and it meant a lot to me, especially knowing how much you enjoyed it, too."
I reached up and brushed his cheek, "Thank you," I said both for the memorable evening and for his understanding.
"Now then," Tyler abruptly changed gears, "how about that pizza?"
A few minutes later we were on our way back into town, silent but glowing with happiness from each of our separate revelations. It was nearly 10 o'clock by the time we got to the local pizza shop so it wasn't very busy. We placed our order and sat at a booth in the corner. While we waited for our pie we talked about our night, each other, school and so forth. In between sips of soda I learned that Tyler was hoping to get a football scholarship from one of the nearby colleges.
He told me that he had attended an open-tryout on a whim and said that most of the really good players are solicited to come and play for specific schools. Ours was a relatively small school and not well known for its athletic programs so Tyler was never scouted but he didn't see the harm in giving it a shot. He thought he might have done well enough to at least be considered and hoped to hear back any day.
He asked me what my plans were and I wasn't really sure how to answer. Of course I had considered where I would go and what I would study but other than that I had very little notion of what I wanted to do. "Teacher, maybe?" I shrugged. It always seemed like an enviable career since you got so many vacation days, not only over the summer but throughout the school year as well. I had thought about it more than once but never mentioned it to anyone until now.
