Praise the Lloyd

4

"Tournament of Nations time." Mom says, handing me her phone as she gets up and leaves the living room. I was visiting her and Brian for the day, but Brian, the stepdad of the year that he is, is at the golf course, which is absolutely fine by me, because, let's face it. Even though my mom has been dating him since before I was even a twinkle in her eye, she loves me infinitely more than she'll ever love him. I sigh as I look at my mom's phone to see that there's still a call going on, with Jill, so I hold the phone up to my ear.

-

As I'm pulling up to Tyler's place after leaving early to get home before dark, I see my best friend sitting on her porch. I would've gone straight home, but she texted me as I was leaving my moms house saying that she wanted to talk to me. So, as I get out of my car after turning it off, Tyler looks up, and walks over to me after seeing me. When we meet each other half way between my car and her house, she hugs me tight, so I return the hug because it's been a while since we've been able to hang out. Tyler has spent most of her summer traveling for softball, and I've been working hard with my mom to stay in shape.

"Hey, Ty." I groan out, and Tyler sighs as she releases me.

"Hey, Y/N/N." She responds, and I smile at her.

"So what's up?" I ask, following my best friend into her house, and upstairs to her room. When we get there, I walk in, and sit on her bed.

"Okay, so, I'm gonna say something, and I need you to promise me that you won't say or do anything until I've said everything." Tyler says, standing in front of me, looking a little stressed, and I furrow my brow, but nod.

"Promise." I say, and Tyler nods, watching me as I lean back on my hands as I toss my right leg over my left. Tyler mumbles something to herself while shaking her head and running a hand through her hair, and I raise a brow.

"Alright. Here goes." Tyler says, sighing heavily before diving into whatever monologue she needs to go on. "Y/N, you're my best friend, you've been there for me since day one, and I can't imagine what my life would be if you weren't in it." Tyler says, and I smile at her, letting her take a moment. "But ever since maybe a week before you went off with the National Team for the first time, things have been different." Tyler says, and I furrow my brow. "I know that you remember me telling you about that time that I thought I was in love with you for like, a week, back in middle school, and this is kinda like that, except it's been months, and I just can't get you off my mind, Y/N. During softball, when I'm waking up, when I'm eating, driving, sleeping, sitting on the couch doing nothing." Ty says, and I stare at her. "I know me telling you this could ruin our friendship, but I'd rather you know, than you not know and get mad when you find out from someone that isn't me." Tyler rambles, and I get up, walking over to her, and pulling her close. I honestly had no idea what I was doing. This was my best friend, of ten years, and here I am, my arms wrapped around her neck as her hands caress my back ever so gently, which makes me melt. "I have feelings for you, Y/N." Ty says, and I look at her. I'm not going to lie, I have had moments where I've felt something for my best friend, but I usually just try to brush it off, but now, as I'm standing here, in her room with her, as she holds me close, I couldn't exactly ignore the swelling in my chest as Tyler looked at me with such panic and adoration, so, I don't say a word, I just gently take the back of her neck in my hands, and kiss her.

-

"Oh my god." My mom says after I tell her that Tyler and I have been dating for a week. I immediately think that she's upset. "Finally." She says, and I raise a brow. "I told her to grow a pair back in May." Mom says, and I gawk at her.

"Mom!" I say, and she smiles as I feel my face heat up. "I regret booking my seat beside yours now." I say, groaning as my mom hugs me tight. "You knew this whole time, and wouldn't tell me?"