Chapter 6
After that day, Tyler kept “bumping” into me. He tried to start a conversation each time, but I always dodged him. It lasted until Philip’s birthday, when we all sat down for a meal as a family.
Ruth sat beside Tyler, but he didn’t take his eyes off me from the moment I took my seat.
Skyler noticed this and moved so he was keeping me from Tyler’s view. He snorted, and Tyler finally went back to normal.
I didn’t know who had arranged the seats, but mine was diagonally opposite Tyler’s. This meant he could put food on my plate.
He got me a chicken wing and said, “This is your favorite, Rory. It’s fresh out of the oven, so hurry up and try it.”
I looked at him like he was a fool. We were eating with the rest of the family-Skyler and my in-laws were around! Was he trying to embarrass me?
Sure enough, Philip’s expression darkened.
I threw the chicken wing onto the table and gave Tyler a warning look. “I don’t like chicken at all. You must’ve remembered wrongly.”
He lowered his eyes, looking like a hurt puppy. Then, he turned to Calvin and tried to ingratiate himself with him. “Do you remember me, Calvin? I’m your cousin Tyler. I bought you a motorcycle model. See whether you like it.”
Someone brought over a miniature motorcycle as soon as the words were out of his mouth. It was finely crafted and clearly of high quality.
It was too bad the memory of his hysteria the other day was already etched into Calvin’s mind. Calvin pouted and ignored him. Then, he turned to me and said, “Mommy, I don’t want to be cousins with a bad guy.”
Skyler rubbed his head indulgently. Then, he turned to Tyler and said, “That’s enough. Can’t you settle down just for one meal? Or do you need me to get someone to teach you some manners?”
Tyler looked upset at being told off. Mary hurriedly stepped in and switched the subject. “The food’s getting cold. Let’s dig in, everyone.”
I developed an admiration for Ruth during the meal. Everyone ignored her, and the household staff had even placed her cutlery at the wrong spot. She was furious when she saw Tyler sucking up to me and my family, but there was nothing she could do.
The meal passed awkwardly. When it was over, Calvin dragged Skyler away so they could skateboard together. They headed back to our annex to get their things, and they moved so quickly that I couldn’t keep up.
I decided not to hurry when I lost sight of them. Instead, I strolled through the yard.
Suddenly, Tyler shot out in front of me and stopped me. “Rory.”
I had a bad feeling about this and frowned. “What do you want?”
He stepped forward to grab my hand, and I hastily backed away.
Had he actually lost his mind? It was broad daylight! Was he seriously trying to get me in trouble? My reputation would be ruined if people were to see us like this!
Tyler laughed bitterly when he saw me avoiding him like he was the plague. “Why are you hiding from me, Rory? We used to be so close. Don’t you even want to see me now?”
I looked at him with exasperation. “There’s nothing between us anymore, Tyler. Please respect my boundaries and leave me alone.”
I wanted to sidestep him and leave, but he stretched out an arm to stop me again. Tears filled his eyes as he gazed at me. “I didn’t want to leave you jilted, Rory. I just felt lost and wanted to clear my mind. You said you wouldn’t marry anyone but me,
and I thought you wouldn’t leave me. I thought you would wait for me to come back.”
What made him think I would wait for him for seven years? Years, not days.
Did he think my feelings for him gave him the right to trample all over my dignity and abandon me on our wedding day?
He could’ve just been frank with me if he didn’t like me. He shouldn’t have made me think I stood a chance each time I wanted to give up on him.
Tyler had never rejected me, yet he’d also never done anything for me. He’d strung me along and enjoyed the satisfaction that my beggar-like behavior had brought him.
“I’ve thought things over, Rory. I think I love you. I can’t stand seeing you being intimate with someone else-that makes me feel worse than if someone were to kill me. I can’t accept it! Give me another chance, please!” he cried.
