Musically in Love

Chapter 17

McKinley's POV

I didn't know what to say or how to start this conversation. He was waiting for me to say something, and I felt bad that all I seemed to be able to do was look at him.

"Tyler," I finally started. "My ideal boyfriend is probably the exact opposite of you. But you do got the height thing going for you - I like taller men."

He gave me a weird look and I sighed.

"Okay, that came out wrong." I stared at my hands, wondering if maybe they could help me. They couldn't. "What I'm trying to say is that I don't know why I like you, but I do. A lot, actually."

He grabbed hold of one of my hands, making me look back up into his face. "I like you too," he said.

"No, Tyler you don't understand."

"What's there to not get?"

I shook my head. "I'm not a good person. I'm... I'm self-obsessed. I consistently ruin my own happiness, even if I don't mean to. I don't... I can be controlling sometimes. I don't really know how to be a good boyfriend. I don't think I've ever been one, and I've been in quite a few relationships. I run when things get scary. And Tyler..." I sighed. "Tyler you're not who I wanted you to be. Instead you're so much more and that terrifies me, because I don't want to hurt you. And I know that doing this - us - is just going to end up with both of us hurt. I don't know if that's worth it."

Instead of answering me, Tyler leaned over and gently pressed his lips against mine. It was a quick kiss - over before I could really register it.

"McKinley," he said once he backed up slightly. "Will you be my boyfriend?"

I stared at him, shocked. "Are you deaf? Wait, don't answer that. Are those hearing aids turned on? Did you hear what I just said to you?"

He chuckled. "Yeah, but I don't care. McKinley, relationships are scary. No one ever knows when they enter one if it'll end in some pain or years of happiness. You just need to hope for the latter and make the best of it."

I shook my head. "This is exactly what I mean. You're too good for me."

"You're not the only one with issues." He sighed. "I'm just a dumb, deaf mechanic. I don't have a college degree and I never will. I don't have a family - it's basically just me, on my own. I have Casey, but she's just a friend and a housemate. I don't think I could ever really consider her family."

I slid closer to him. "You're not dumb. Just because you didn't go to college doesn't mean you're not smart. College is actually pretty pointless. The only classes I pay attention to are my music ones, and even then, sometimes it's iffy. But you... you know so much about cars and all that stuff. I even struggle pumping gas sometimes because cars hate me just as much as I hate them. It's pretty pathetic."

He laughed. "Okay, that is a little sad."

"And, Tyler... I may have a small family, but I'd say we're pretty close. You're more than welcome to share mine. I'm sure they'll love you." I wanted to ask why he didn't have one, but I figured that was probably a conversation for another day. For now, I'll stick with offering up mine.

"Does that mean you'll be my boyfriend?"

He was right. Relationships were scary. But if he was just as scared as I was about this, then we'd be okay, because we'd be doing it together.

I found myself nodding. "Yeah. I think I'd like that."

He smirked. "You think?"

I nodded again, trying to keep myself from laughing. "Yeah."