Finding Lost Dog Tags

Chapter 9

I had absolutely no idea what to wear to the concert. I imagined it would be inside because it was still winter and very cold. I ended up choosing a casual dress with a brown leather jacket. 

I finished my shift at the library and waited for Nate with Tyler. He looked very serious, leaning up against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. The librarian, Ms. Potts, sat next to me, and I shot her a questioning look.

She laughed a little before saying anything. "Well, with you looking all dolled up, I figured your hot date was coming. I think I want to meet this boy." I blushed a little.

Tyler snorted and rolled his eyes. This should be fun. 

Nate arrived a few minutes later. He jumped out of his truck in a black button down; his arms were filled with white flowers.

Ms. Potts' eyes widened as she leaned over to whisper in my ear. "We need to find another way to describe him because hot date is underestimating this young man's looks."

My face turned embarrassingly red and Nate laughed when he reached me. "What did you say to get her looking so red ma'am?"

"An old woman never tells." She rolled her eyes. "But let me just say, you are handsome."

"Ms. Potts!"

"Oh, hush dear! I used the adjective handsome to describe him. That's not inappropriate. I could've used words like-"

I cut her off and looked at Nate. "This is my brother, Tyler." I turned around to call Tyler over but he was already at my side.

Ms. Potts sent me one last smirk before leaving us.

Nate turned around and reached out his hand. "Nice to meet you Tyler. You and your sister really look alike."

Tyler remained serious. "Not something a man wants to hear. That he looks like his sister. Gross."

"Tyler!" I stared him down. Why was he acting like this? He seemed fine when we talked about Nate on Monday.

"It's alright, Ali. And I didn't mean it like that Tyler. Sorry to have offended you." Nate apologized. 

I sucked in a breath and waited for it. Tyler looked at me with fury in his eyes. "Your letting him call you Ali?" Every word that left his mouth was filled with spite.

I didn't let anyone call me Ali after the accident. But when Nate said it when we first met at the library, it felt right.

"Tyler not now. Go wait with Ms. Potts. Michael will be here any minute." Tyler sent me one last sad look that broke my heart before walking away. "I'm sorry Nate. He's overcompensating for my dad. Tyler's a good kid."

"I know he is. He has a wonderful sister to raise him." Nate sent me a charming smile before continuing. "I'll just have to think of a way for him warm up to me."

I wanted to drop the subject for now. I really wanted to just go out and have a goof time.

"Are those for me?" I gestured towards the flowers. They were beautiful and very unique. Clusters of white flowers huddled together in a tight bunch and were held together with pink ribbon.

"Yes, these are for you. But maybe I should have given them to Tyler?" Nate chuckled and handed me the flowers.

"What are they?" I asked curiously while smelling them.

"They are Angelica flowers. They symbolize pure intention because the petals look like angel wings. My mother told me to say that, by the way. I'm not usually cheesy." He sent me a playful look. "She grows them in her front yard."