Musically in Love

Chapter 18

McKinley's POV

When I opened my eyes the next morning, I first saw Tyler standing with his back to me as he pulled on clothes. I smiled, remembering last night. But then I panicked. This was his room, and he was getting dressed for work. What time was it?

I quickly sat up, making him turn to me. "Hey," he said. "I was just about to wake you."

"What time is it?"

"Just after eight. I need to go to work, unfortunately. Otherwise we could have slept later."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sleep this late." I didn't even mean to sleep over, but I really don't think he minded that.

He smiled, walking over to me before giving me a chaste kiss. "It's fine, honestly. I should have mentioned it to you last night."

I chuckled. "I don't think either of us thought about that before we got started. You wore me out." It didn't help that we did it twice in bed last night, then one more time in the shower before finally crawling back into bed to go to sleep around one in the morning.

He smirked. "That was the point."

I slid out from under the covers, grabbing my underwear off the floor and putting them on. "You know, I'm really sorry about knocking your hearing aid out last night. I don't know how that happened."

"Don't worry about it, honestly. I probably should have taken them out to begin with. They're pretty old and don't completely fit anymore, so sometimes they can come a bit loose. It's not your fault."

"I feel like that's not a good thing."

He shrugged. "Can't afford different ones, so I'm stuck with these. I can hear with them in and that's all that matters to me."

I didn't really know anything about hearing aids, so I dropped the subject. I didn't think it was my place to pry.

"Question," Tyler said once I had finished getting dressed in yesterday's clothes. "Do you always laugh while having sex?"

I burst out laughing. "Only when something funny happens. But you gotta admit, the timing of those fireworks were pretty great." During the second round, I kept laughing at the fireworks too, unable to help myself. By the time we made it into the shower, the fireworks had stopped, but the humor hadn't left me yet. I don't know why I found it so hilarious last night.

He kissed me again. "I think you were pretty great."

I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I think you were even better."

"As much as I'm enjoying this, McKinley," Tyler started, moving my arms off him. "I do need to go to work, unfortunately."

I sighed. "Right. I know." I had work too, but that wasn't until this afternoon, which gives me some time to go home, take an actual shower, and put on some fresh clothes. "Shit. Ben drove me last night. I don't have my car." I guess I can call Ben, see if he could pick me up. Did he even know I stayed here? I haven't seen him since we arrived here yesterday.

"I'll drop you off."

I smiled. "You are too good for me. But you don't have to do that. I live in the opposite direction. You'll be late." I walked into the bathroom before he could debate the issue any longer.

Downstairs a few minutes later, we found Casey sitting at the kitchen table, holding her head and nursing a cup of coffee. I was surprised she was even awake this early, but maybe she had somewhere to be too. She looked up at us when we entered. 

"Rough night?" Tyler asked, grabbing the coffee pot. "Want some, McKinley?"

I nodded, taking a mug from him. "Thanks."

"So that's where you wandered off to last night," Casey spoke up. Then her eyes landed on me. "Oh. It's you. Ben's friend."

I smiled. "Hi. I'm McKinley. Great party last night. I loved the fireworks."

"Alright..." Tyler said, obviously trying to steer the conversation away from anything having to do with what we were doing last night. He probably wasn't one to talk to his roommate about his sex-capades like I did. "Do you want something to eat? I don't know what we have..."

"There's a ton of leftover hotdogs in the fridge, no buns though, don't know where they wandered off to," Casey said. "And chips. Lots of chips."

"No thanks," I replied. "I'm not usually a breakfast person." The lie came out of my mouth so easily, I wasn't sure whether or not to be proud of myself. On one hand, I just lied to my boyfriend (boyfriend! I actually had a boyfriend! I still couldn't believe it!), but on the other hand, I did it so that he didn't have to worry himself over me eating and then getting me home before having to go to work. The coffee was already more than enough.

"So you two finally together?" Casey asked.

I looked at Tyler, who answered. "Yeah. You'll probably be seeing him around more often." Then he smiled at me.

I could have melted. Why does he have such a strong affect on me? I blinked a couple times, taking a sip of the hot coffee. "What time do you need to be at work?"

Tyler glanced at the clock. "Shit. We need to leave. Come on."

I went to pour the rest of the coffee down the sink, but he stopped me. "Take it with you. I don't mind."

"But-"

"It'll give you an excuse to come back."

"It's too early for that mushy crap," Casey muttered. "Just leave, will you?"

I'm not sure Tyler heard her at all as he headed for the door. Either that or he was good at ignoring her. But I heard it and, honestly, I found it a bit funny.

"Never too early for that," I said with a laugh.

Casey just narrowed her eyes at me. Maybe it's best if I don't joke around with her when she barely knows me and currently trying to get over what was probably a hangover. 

"It was nice meeting you," I said, hoping to get back on her good side (if I ever was there to begin with). "I'll see you around."

She nodded her head, going back to staring at her coffee. I took that as my cue to leave, hurrying after Tyler, who was practically out the door already. I didn't want to make him any later than he already was.

"You don't have to drive me home, honestly," I said as I climbed into the passenger seat of his car, being careful not to spill my coffee. A full mug of hot coffee was probably not the best thing to bring into a moving vehicle. "I can call Ben or someone to pick me up. Or I'll walk. It's not that far."

"I don't mind," he replied, turning on the car. "Besides, I think I have just enough time to drop you off and get to work on time. Don't worry about it."

"Are you sure? I feel like a bother." Not that it would matter now. We were already on the road.

"You're not."

"Really?"

"McKinley."

I looked at him. "What?"

He glanced at me for a second before looking back at the road. I couldn't read his expression. "You're doing that thing, I think. I have the time to drive my boyfriend back home before I need to be at work. Accept that I want to do this for you and let me drive you."

"Oh."

Neither of us said anything for the rest of the drive. I can't believe I did that. I mean, it wasn't me self-destructing this relationship when it's barely begun, but if I was annoying him, would that cause the downfall of us?

"I'm sorry," I said just as Tyler was pulling up in front of my place. "I didn't mean t-"

He leaned over and kissed me. "It's fine. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

I nodded before climbing out of the car. "Thanks, Tyler."