“Yeah, true. I suppose things change when you get older.”
“But you love it here?” He cocked his head to the side and studied my face. “You really love it?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I like my friends.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Not technically.” Not technically? Where the hell had that come from? I should have said not at all. But for some reason I didn’t want Tyler to think I was a big loser. “What about you?”
“No, no boyfriend. I’m still straight.”
“That’s not what I mean.” I rolled my eyes. “Seeing anyone?”
“Not really. I’m a busy lawyer, remember?”
“Yeah, how could I forget?”
“You guys done yapping?” Derrick interrupted us. “I’m hungry and I’m ready to order.”
“Then let’s order boss. I’d hate for you to stay staaaarrrrving for even one second more. God knows you don’t have any fat to sustain you, while you wait for food.”
“Very funny, Olivia.” He shook his head and we all laughed as the waitress approached us again to take our orders. We all looked down at the menu to figure out what we wanted and as I sat back and looked around, I realized how nice it felt to have my brother and his best friend here. I missed our camaraderie. I missed the way we could tease each other so easily. And even more than that, I missed being able to look into Tyler’s handsome face and daydream about what it would feel like to kiss and touch him. Not that I would ever act on it. No way. No how. That would just be a disaster waiting to happen.
Chapter 4
Tyler
“So I have an idea. Why don’t we go to a bar?” We all walked out of the burger joint and I was loath to let the night end. And not just because neither Derrick nor I had asked Olivia if I could spend the night on her couch. Not that I really wanted to sleep on her couch. Though there was no way in hell that I’d let it slip that I wanted to sleep in her bed. Derrick would kill me. I snuck a look at the side of Olivia’s face and for the second time that night I was struck by how beautiful she was. She’d grown into a beautiful swan, even with her frizzy hair.
“I’m not sure.” Olivia made a face. “I have to work tomorrow.”
“Since when did you become such a bore?”
“Since when did you care?”
“I have an idea.” Tiffany started jumping up and down and for a few seconds I thought her breasts were going to pop out of her top.
“Oh yeah? What’s that?” I hid a smile as I saw Olivia rolling her eyes. I bet she thought she was being discrete, but her face gave awafy her every emotion.
“Why don’t we go to a karaoke club?” She turned around to face Derrick and kissed him on the lips. “Can we go singing honey?”
“Sure.” Derrick had a huge grin on his face and I knew that there was absolutely no chance that I’d be sleeping in the same hotel room tonight. “Olivia, do you know a place?”
“I guess there are some Japanese bars in the Tenderloin.” She nodded. “We can see if we can rent a room.”
“What will you sing?” I walked over to her. “Let me guess.”
“What’s your best guess?” Her brown eyes rested upon my face and she smiled, that sweet familiar smile that reminded me of summer picnics, skateboarding and sleepovers. It was strange to be looking at Olivia in a different city, as adults, as two people that could do whatever they wanted without anyone finding out. I had to get my mind out of the gutter though. She was still Derrick’s younger sister and still forbidden fruit.
“I want you to want me by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs?”
“More like the no, no, no’s.”
“Genie in a bottle then, I know how much you like to dance and sing at the same time.”
“I’m alright, maybe you can sing that. Or maybe you can sing Oops, I did it again. Like you did when we were kids.”
“I think I remember making fun of that song, not celebrating it. Though Britney Spears was hot.”
“You think anyone is hot.”
“Do I?”
“Guys, stop bickering.” Derrick’s hands were around Tiffany’s waist now and I could see her snuggling up to him. I could see that Olivia had noticed as well because she was shaking her head in that disapproving way that I knew so well. “Sis, where’s this karaoke bar. Drinks will be on me and we can sing a few songs.”
“We need to catch an Uber then.” Olivia stated. “It’s too far to walk to.”
“I’ll get the Uber.” I pulled out my phone and opened the app. “You can’t call me cheap now, can you?” Olivia just rolled her eyes and laughed without responding and I couldn’t stop myself from making another comment. “Though there are many other things I wouldn’t mind you calling me instead.”
“Like what?”
“Hot, handsome, unbelievably sexy, gorgeous, the wisest man you’ve ever met.”
“In your dreams, Tyler.”
“Are you psychic, do you live in my mind?”
“Are you ever serious?” She pressed her lips together. They were a light pinky purple. I wasn’t actually sure. Were they pink or purple? I didn’t think she’d be happy if I moved in closer to look at them.
“I’m a lawyer, so I think the answer is yes.” Most of my life is serious Olivia, let me enjoy these light moments with you. Let me laugh.
“I’d have to observe you in the office to see if that was true.”
“The Uber’s nearly here.” I held up my phone. “Come on guys, looks like he's going to meet us on the corner.” I let Derrick and Tiffany walk ahead of us and then turned to Olivia. “You’re welcome to come and observe me any time.” I shook my hips a little bit. “If you’re lucky, I’ll even put on a little show.”
“Uh huh, okay Tyler.”
“Or if you’d rather, you can put on a little show for me?”
“Never going to happen.” She looked me up and down and then started walking a little faster. Her long lithe legs teasing me as they hurried away from me. I could feel a tightening in my pants that needed to go away before I got into the car and anyone noticed. I couldn’t believe that I was almost thirty years old and still hadn’t gotten over my childhood crush on her. Not that she’d known. Not that anyone had known. At least I didn’t think so. And that was the way I was going to have to keep it.
“So my daddy was saying that when I get married, I better make sure that it’s nowhere near the date for the Alabama vs. Ole Miss game.” Tiffany was definitely drunk on the girly cocktails she was drinking and she was flirting up a storm with Derrick, myself and every other man in the bar. “I said daddy, I need to find me a husband first cos when I was in college I didn’t get the proper degree.”
“Proper degree?” Olivia asked as she sipped her rum and coke, a drink she seemed to be rather enjoying.
“I got my bachelors degree instead of my Mrs.” Tiffany threw her head back and laughed. “My mama was not happy.”