Admit It

Chapter 1

I fasten the last button on my shirt and steal a look at myself in the bathroom mirror. My loose fitting  white shirt looks like a skirt on my small frame, and I quickly move to tuck it into the front of my black skinny jeans, the way Tan France taught me.

The alarm on my phone goes off and I rush to brush my teeth and wrestle my shoes on, not wanting to be late. I feel my stomach tighten with nerves as I walk out my door and start down the street towards the pizza place I agreed to meet Tyler at.

Tyler was excited to meet me after we started chatting on Tinder a week and a half ago. I don't know much about him other than we both like pop and country music, and we have the same taste in pizza. His photos caught my eye too; his bright green eyes and dark complexion, short curly hair with chin scruff, and a contagious smile.

I catch myself grinning to myself, thinking about Tyler's photos, and soon I find myself at the door to the pizza joint.

I wander in, glancing at the tables and realizing I must have beat Tyler here, until a young man in the corner stands up and waves at me.

I try to keep the surprise off my face. He's got that smile, and the hair and scruff and bright green eyes. But his photos must be at least a few months old, because instead of the similar skinny body type that I have, he's filled out around the middle.

He walks over to me with an excited grin, and I quickly recover and paint one on too. I extend my hand, but Tyler opens his arms for a hug instead, and I wrap my arms around his shoulders for an embrace. I pull away first and flick my eyes over him up and down. He's wearing similar skinny jeans to mine, probably only a size larger, and a henley t-shirt with two buttons undone that stretches over his middle in the same place mine hangs loosely over baby abs.

"Good to meet you!" he says, his fingers still lingering on mine in a cute way, and I brush mine against his palm in return.

"You too," I reply, tugging his arm gently into the line to order food, suddenly realizing how hungry I am, the scent of tomatoes, melted cheese and pizza dough making my mouth water. "What kind do you want? You can go save the table," I offer.

Tyler shakes his head and grins. "I left my jacket and school stuff there, no one will take it."

"What are you studying? I'm in first year biology at the university," I say, realizing of all things we hadn't yet chatted about school.

"Social work at the college," he replies. "I really like psychology though, so I might transfer."

I nod with a grin, but before I can respond we've reached the front of the line, and I motion for Tyler to step up and order first. He smiles cutely and steps up to the counter. "Hi, could I have a slice of meat lovers and a deluxe calzone, with a bottle of coke please," he says politely, stepping back for me to put my order in and fumbling with his back pocket for his wallet.

I wave my hand at him and swiftly pull mine out, ordering a slice of veggie pizza and a Gatorade. After paying, we quickly receive our tray and head to the table in the corner where Tyler had set up.

Tyler slides into the booth first, clearing his school supplies into his bag and pulls his two plates and bottle off the tray. "Sorry, been here a while and worked up an appetite, it smells too good," he says with a chuckle.

"No I get it, I get hungry every time I walk by," I agree, cracking open my Gatorade and taking a sip.

He takes a big bite of his calzone and immediately makes a face, and I sputter, knowing it must be piping hot. Tyler spins the cap off his coke and takes a long chug, sighing with relief afterwards. "Probably should take it slower."

"Probably." I take a small bite of my pizza and almost roll my eyes at the taste. "Man, this is so good."

"Veggie though? Vegetarian or just watching calories?" I look at Tyler and he has a teasing glint in his eye, and I relax, worried for a moment he was judging my diet.

"Vegetarian, watching calories is just a bonus," I reply, watching him alternate bites between his calzone and his pizza slize. Our conversation ceases to a comfortable silence while we chow down on our pizza, and to my surprise Tyler finishes his before me.

He leans back and sighs comfortably, casually resting one of his hands on his small but protruding belly. "Thank you for suggesting this place, Jackson, it's delicious."

I grin and take a final bite of my pizza, feeling comfortably full and taking another sip of my Gatorade. "It's my favourite place to treat myself," I agree with a smile, wiping my fingers and the corners of my mouth with a napkin.

Tyler takes a final chug of his coke, downing the bottle, then holds his fist over his mouth and puffs out his cheeks. I feel my cheeks grow hot and fiddle with my napkin, avoiding his eyes and reaching for my own drink. It's embarrassing that I feel a warmth in my chest travel down my body and thank myself for wearing tight, restrictive jeans.

I finally look back at Tyler, and his eyes meet mine, head tilted a little to the size. "Want to wander and find an ice cream place or something? You treated me, I want to treat you too," he says with a grin.

"Oh, you don't have to," I say, but he's already standing up, stuffing his jacket into his backpack and packing up.

"There's one down the street," Tyler says, sliding his backpack on and walking to my side of the booth, hand extended. Before I can grab it, he pulls it away, rests one hand on his belly, and the other muffles an audible burp, short but deep and wet from the coke and pizza.

I gulp, feeling myself grow aroused, and try to push those thoughts away, standing up and reaching for his hand once again, heading out the door.