A Life More Complete(51)

I feel a twinge of sadness rush through me. I still miss Ben and the hole is open again. It’s like pulling a scab off before it’s healed. I want it not to hurt, but it still does. Tyler has been the Band-Aid, but when I peel it back just a little, it’s still there.

“You okay?” Tyler asks.

“Yes. I’m fine,” I say trying to smile, but it’s forced. I wouldn’t dare bring up Ben with Tyler, at least not in this regard. Things are good and I want them to remain that way. “We should probably head back. I need to shower.”

“Okay. You sure nothing’s wrong?” He eyes me doubtfully.

“I’m fine. You ready?” He takes my hand and we walk back to the car.

“Really, what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours? Is this still about the house?”

“No. It’s not,” I smile a genuine smile at him. “Just a lot on my mind. Work, you know.” He grabs my hand and presses it to his lips and my thoughts slowly dissipate.

“Stop. I don’t like to see you stressed. I know something we can do that’s proven to eliminate stress,” he says. We try his stress-relieving method when we get home. He collapses on top of me breathing heavy and whispers, “Better?”

“Completely,” I answer.

I shower and change quickly into a pair of jeans and a low cut black top adding a pair of red ballet flats. I pull my hair back and put on a little makeup. Tyler is sitting on the couch waiting when I emerge from my bedroom. His hair is wet and beginning to curl the way it always does. When we met his hair had been longer, disheveled and messy. I loved it. It’s getting longer now, but not near what it was. His dirty blonde hair set his blue eyes off like they were backed against a light. And when he’s tan, the whole package is heart-stoppingly beautiful.

“I like your hair longer,” I say.

“So do I, but it doesn’t really say ‘professional’ when it falls in my face. The court frowns upon it being held back with a bandana, so I keep it short.”

“You ready?” I ask. He stands and heads toward the door with me. “I’m going to grab my mail. I’ll meet you in the car.”

I flip through the useless mailers and credit card application until I come across a large white envelope. I climb into the passenger seat and tear it open. It’s an invitation to my sister’s wedding that is happening next Saturday. So typical of Rachel, but still surprising. I knew she had been dating the sous chef at one of the restaurants in the hotel. I had no idea it was this serious, which tells me that our relationship is the same as it has always been. Although we are sisters, we don’t share that bond that people so warmly discuss. But I can’t expect much, we were raised to keep feelings to ourselves and to expect her to suddenly change would have been odd considering I share so little with her, too.

“My sister’s getting married,” I mutter.

“Seriously? Which one?”

“Rachel.”

“No f*cking way. Someone’s marrying Rachel?” he says sounding far more appalled than necessary.

“Be nice,” I scold. “They’ve been together for a long time now, but I never thought it was very serious. The wedding is next weekend in Carmel.”

“Nothing like wasting time,” he says sarcastically.

“Will you be my date?” I ask in a sweet voice.

“I wouldn’t dare let you attend it alone. I’ve seen what happens when the two of you drink and dance.”

I pull a small note from the envelope addressed with just my first name on it. Rachel had added a note to me that says our mother will not be there, but Maizey will. She booked rooms at the Carmel Lodge for us since it is such short notice. But it’s what the note says at the end that causes me to stop breathing. It says, “Can’t wait to see you and Ben. Miss you.” No matter what I do I can’t get rid of him. I quickly send her a text letting her know that I wouldn’t miss her wedding for the world, but that Ben won’t be coming with me. I’m vague with details of our breakup and I’m also ambiguous in my choice of date I’ll be bringing. I figure it’s too much work to explain my reconciliation with Tyler in a text. She replies immediately baiting me to tell her about Ben, but I blow her off. It needs to be simpler to forget him. It’s not, though.

We arrive at Tyler’s hotel room and he changes quickly into a gray t-shirt and pair of jeans.

“Ready?” he asks and I take his outstretched hand and follow him out of the room and down to the car.