I don’t even think who it could be, but as I open the door and see the man standing outside, I can’t help but feel the butterflies in my belly flutter again. He’s wearing a leather jacket over a button-down shirt and blue jeans. He's got a beard now, and it makes him look so sexy and so rugged, like the type of man who'd scale the highest mountain, hold me as we zip-line through a rainforest, or simply show up at my door.
I wheel backward, allowing Tyler to step inside. “But I thought the show was live.”
“It was filmed last week. There should have been a notice somewhere that it was pre-recorded, time differences and all.”
“What about the show? Camille?”
“Camille got an acting gig out of it, and Bianca ended up getting a job with some big-name shoe designer.”
“So what are you doing here?” I feel silly asking one question after another but I need to make sure I’m not imagining him at all. It’s all too good to be true. Did he really mean what he said on the show?
“My company has regional offices here. It was always the perfect excuse to come out here and climb Mount Rainier. Research.”
“So is that why you’re in the area?”
“No, it’s not,” he replies, looking sheepish as he runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m looking for a girl who lives nearby, a school teacher by the name of Daniela Simmons. According to directions given to me by a certain Tiffany and her mother, Daphne, she lives right here in this house.”
I stare at him. “My sister and my mother gave you our address? They knew?”
He doesn’t have to answer, not when behind me, at the end of the hall, everyone is watching us, crammed at the entrance to the living room and giggling excitedly among themselves. They’d probably rush out to get closer but Marilyn is blocking their way. She’s spread her arms out and looks like a certain cartoon starfish.
I can’t help but laugh at how funny she looks and Tyler does, too. But that’s Marilyn for you. Fate had thrown us together on that island for a reason.
“Alright, you two. Don’t let us interrupt you.” Marilyn gives him the thumbs-up sign and tells everyone to go back inside the living room and give us some privacy. Soon, we’re alone again.
It makes sense now—the secrecy and the impromptu party. “So everyone knew you were coming?”
“By the looks of it, yes, but it was only supposed to be your sister and your mother. Oh, and Marilyn, too,” Tyler replies. “They assured me that you wouldn’t mind.”
“Should I?” I remind myself to talk to have a serious, or maybe not so serious talk with them after this is over.
“I hope not,” Tyler says, getting down on one knee so his face is in line with mine and he pushes a lock of hair from my face. “When Les sent you home, I didn’t know what to do. I would have flown after you if I could… if I didn’t have obligations and contracts that I needed to uphold.”
“But what about now? Don’t you have obligations still?”
He shrugs. “That’s what lawyers are for. The show was a hybrid of sorts. It promoted the resort and was a springboard for Les and the first of his shows. There’ll be more although they’ll probably skip the Wild Card idea next time.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he says. “But I should have called you and let you know. I should have, at least, sent you a message and not show up like this.”
“I love it,” I reply. “You could say it’s better this way. Besides, a contract is a contract and I wouldn’t have been able to see you or be in contact with you anyway. I signed on the dotted line, too, remember?”
“True.” He takes my hand and squeezes it.”I fell for you back there, Daniella. Your smile. Your energy. Your laugh.”
I stare at him. Somehow this is all turning out to be too surreal. Tyler Drake, of all people, falling for me? These things didn’t happen to girls like me, definitely not one in a wheelchair “But, Tyler—”
“But what?” His face clouds with worry.
“I’m in a wheelchair,” I say. “I mean, look at me. I can’t walk and…”
He frowns even more, as if I’d just spoken in a foreign language. “And?”
I shrug, suddenly feeling foolish. “I can’t do many things that you like to do. Like… like climbing mountains.”
Tyler exhales and looks away for a few moments. I suddenly feel stupid, wondering why I have to let my past dictate my future. So what if Brad, my ex-boyfriend, dumped me because I could no longer do the things we used to do together?
And then there was the sex. Brad just couldn’t having sex with me after the accident even with doctors’ assurances that I could. Sure, it may not be the same as before but there were devices for that, adjustments to way things were done. But Brad hated the possibility that I may not feel him and because of that, he’d feel like a failure.
What if Tyler would feel the same way?
It’s weird to have such thoughts come to me now, yet it does, and maybe it’s because I do like Tyler, and I want him to be happy, even if it means he doesn’t end up with me. He deserves someone better, someone who could walk and do the things he loved to do.
“Just because I like to do certain things doesn’t mean I expect you to like or do them, too. Such differences can make the best relationships,” Tyler says, breaking through my thoughts. “Daniela, you more passion for life than anyone I know—and I love that. I fell in love with your enthusiasm, your… your lust for life, your happiness. I don’t want you to climb mountains with me, not unless you want to, and if you do, we’ll find a way to make it happen somehow. I just want you to be yourself, just the way you are. Wheelchair or no wheelchair.”
I peer at him. “Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m sure. I don’t know what’s going to happen from here, but maybe we can start over the old-fashioned way, without cameras this time. No rushing, no camera checks, or making sure they’ve got my best side in the best lighting.”
I grin. “No hair and makeup making sure nothing’s out of place or shining too much?”
“Yes,” he says, laughing before he pauses, his expression serious. “I’d like to take us… whatever happens, one day at a time. My company is right here and I have my own apartment in the city but I’ll only go as fast or slow as you want to. How does that sound?”
I process his words even as I remember my students assuring me that Tyler Drake would surely fall in love with me. Who knew they were right? “You really like me.”
Tyler chuckles. “Can’t you tell? I liked you then, and I haven’t stopped thinking about you since you left. But I’m not stalking you or anything. I just want us to start on the right foot this time.” He pauses, frowning. “That is, if you’d like to.”
I almost laugh out loud. Me? Not want to start on the right foot with Tyler Drake? Are you kidding? I could totally roll my eyes at myself right now if I could. Or if Marilyn could hear my thoughts, she would do it for me. “Sounds good to me.”
Inside the living room, the guests are busy talking and laughing. Marilyn has struck a lively tune with her violin and it sounds like an Irish jig. I can’t believe a night I just wanted to go by fast is now going too fast. I want to relish every moment.
“May I kiss you?”
The question surprises me, but only for a second. All the surrounding sounds fade away and all I hear is the sound of my heartbeat. I nod and Tyler kisses me softly. It’s a kiss that tells me more than he could ever say with words. One thing’s for sure—Tyler gives the best kisses.
I don’t know how long we kiss but somehow the music has stopped and I hear Marilyn clearing her throat at the end of the hall.
“There’s a party out here still waiting for you, guys,” she says as Tyler stands up. As he squeezes my hand and pushes my wheelchair toward the living room, I like the feeling that hits me then.
Tyler’s really here–with me. He sought me out, planned this whole thing with my family and Marilyn and he took a chance. If this is how starting on the right foot feels like, then I’m all for it.
This time, it’s real.