Page 70 of All Your Tomorrows

“Where will we go?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said.

“I like surprises,” I assured him.

The bell jingled again and another customer entered the café. “I should get back to work,” I whispered. “Are you picking me up here or at home?”

“I wish I could pick you up. But you’re gonna have to settle for me picking you up at your bedroom door.”

“What should I wear?”

“Something warm,” he said.

“I can do that.” I stood from the chair. “I’ll see you tonight.” I headed back to the counter. When I glanced over at Kyler’s table, he’d already disappeared.

CHAPTER 17

“Knock, knock,” Kyler said at my bedroom door. He hadn’t been in the living room when I got home from work. I wondered if he was trying to give the impression of him picking me up for a date.

I opened the door. His eyes moved over my green turtleneck sweater, jeans, and boots. “Will I be warm enough?” I asked.

“Yeah, but grab your coat, a hat, and a blanket,” he said.

“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I’m not an outdoorsy kind of girl.”

He laughed as he swept out his arm, gesturing for me to go down the stairs before him.

“Izzy was here earlier,” he said once we were downstairs. “She said to tell you she’d be home late.”

“She told you that?”

“Well, she shouted it back into the house before she left. I guess she thought it was worth trying,” he said.

I laughed as I grabbed my coat and hat from the living room closet and put them on. I reached back in and grabbed a red wool blanket and tucked it under my arm. “Are you gonna tell me where we’re going?” I asked as we stepped outside.

“It’s a surprise,” he said, taking my hand and leading me to my car.

Once we were on the road, I could sense Kyler’s eyes on me. “What?” I asked, my eyes jumping between him and the road.

“So, you caved and told Daci about me?”

“She saw Melanie leaving angry after her reading,” I explained. “I had to tell her something.”

“Does this make us official then?” he asked, his lips twitching wildly.

I shrugged. “Not sure. You haven’t taken me to your parents’ basement yet.”

His brows shot up. “I didn’t realize you were that kind of girl.”

“Well, if it was good enough for your high school girls, I’m thinking it’s good enough for me.”

He chuckled, and I liked knowing I could bring that out of him.

After driving for another few minutes with Kyler giving me directions, I realized where he was taking me. Where he had thenerveto take me.

My eyes shot to his. “We’re going to the beach?” I asked, unable to disguise my annoyance.

A smile slipped across his lips. “Turning a tragedy into a comedy?”