The Runaway Bride

Chapter 15 -- Fatherly Instincts

Pauwi na kamingManila when we were stuck on a traffic somewhere inSouthwoods Avenue. We sat there for a few moments, the only sound the soft ticking of the indicator. FinallyTyler took a deep breath and said quietly,

"You're unbelievable."

There was a strange sort of wonder in his voice that I didn't understand, so I thought it was best to point out,

"Actually, someone recently told me I'm awesome."

He let out a strangled sort of laugh. "What kind of idiot would've said that?"

I didn't say anything in response to that; maybe because I had so many ways to describe what kind of an idiot he was I was overwhelmed by the choices.

 

We spent so much time talking over the top of each other, it felt weird now we both seemed to be stumped about what to say next.







Tyler definitely seemed to be waiting for me to make the next move, a responsibility I wasn't sure I knew what to do with. I'd been the one to say that I didn't want to hate him anymore, after all, surely now it was his turn?

"You're going to have to take the lead on this one, Walton" I admitted after we'd sat there watching other cars streaming by for several long seconds. "Because I have no idea what to say."

He turned to look at me, a shaft of orange light from a street lamp cutting diagonally across his pretty, pretty face.

"Taking the lead I'm good at," he said and his voice was so cocky like the first time I met him before, but the swagger dropped almost instantly as he added, "knowing what to say, not so much."

"Oh well that's settled then," I said, releasing my grip on the seatbelt as I felt a little of the tension between us start to drain away, "we stay here sitting in silence forever."

"I could think of worse things," he remarked and I couldn't help but concur.

"Like being stuck in a room where Iñigo and Nina start making out," I suggested.

"Or dealing with the dickheads who tried to make a move on you" he rejoined.

"Or watching me as I pull your slut-ty secretary’s hair"

"Being stuck in the traffic"

I scoffed at this last example. "And whose fault was that?"

There were another couple of beats of silence and then he said quietly, "Dee?"

"Hmm?"

"I could think of some better things too."