I was in the ornaments store. I didn't text Tyler where i was going to be but it wouldn't be terribly hard to find me if he was looking. I was trying to give him space to figure out how to be friends.

I had painted this room a rich red with a slight pink. It would compliment all the ornaments well. I had to restain the shelves but i grabbed lunch while it dried. Now it was just time to put all the ornaments on the shelves. The shelves went up pretty high so i had to climb up on a ladder. I'm the girl in the memes who's carrying seventeen bags of groceries to avoid extra trips.

I had four boxes in my hand and the ladder was wobbly. The door opened as i was all the way at the top. But he wouldn't scare me like last time. I held my breath. "Shoot. Gingerbread." Said Tyler. "What?" I asked. I set the third box on the shelf, one to go. As i reached out to put it on the shelf i felt the ladder wobbling. Tyler rushed over. "Be careful." He said.

"Waaah." I screamed trying to catch myself but down i went. Tyler caught me in his strong arms. His shaggy brown hair falling into his eyes. "Woah, are you okay?" He asked looking deep into my eyes. I never noticed before but his eyes were the most beautiful shade of green. "Uhm yea, thanks for catching me." I said. He still held me tightly in his arms. His gaze flicked to my lips. I knew that look. He wanted to kiss me. But he set me down respecting me.

"You used the code word." I said. He nodded sheepishly. "Yea, can you blame me? You were just...on that ladder." I was wearing a pair of shorts and a faded grey shirt. It showed a bit of my stomach. So I'm trying to understand. He walks in and sees me leaning over the shelves. Okay i get it. "I'm sorry." I said. "No it's...fine." I'm gonna go um see if my dad needs any help." He said. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Yep, sorry to bale on you but i feel like this is for the best." He waved.

I finished organizing everything. Feeling a little hurt. But i knew i had no right to be. He was processing this in his own way. I should have been relieved that he wanted space. I shouldn't have felt this hole in my heart like something was missing. But still i did. I took a step back. Finally i decided to just let it go for now. I'd figure everything out later. If it even mattered. I called my mom. "Where are you?" I asked.

"Checking up on the barn. Where are you?" "Well i finished up three shops i thought you could come take a look." I said. "Already? Wow, that's fast. I can't wait." I saw her walking over and waved. I unlocked the first room. "Oh i love the color you chose and the art is incredible where did you find the photos?" She asked.

"Oh, i took them." "Of course you did, my baby is so talented." My mom said ruffling my hair. "This looks amazing." She said spinning in a circle. I showed her the other two rooms. "I am blown away. I knew you were the right person for the job." She nodded.

The next store i was working on was the candy store. It had a bunch of old boards. "Don't worry I'll call Tyler. He can load them in his truck and toss them." She said. What did i say to that? She didn't know we were fighting. Whatever.

I had an idea. I'd sit on the chair while he worked and talk to Haylie. They picked up while Tyler moved the wood. The door was open and his truck was backed up to it. "So how's this thing with Marks cousin going?" I asked. "Can you believe it, he's gay!" She said. I quickly texted Mark. "Is your cousin gay?" "Why do you think he's gay?" I asked. "He told me he was." Said Haylie. "Right but how many gay guys are kissing girls?" I asked. "Good point." My phone went off with a text. "Not even a little bit." He said. "Look i asked Mark if he was gay and he said no." I said. Tyler snickered.

I turned the phone on speaker phone so i could help him. He was already sweating. "Then...why did he tell me that?" She asked. "Because he didn't want to commit." Tyler said. "What? Do guys do that?" Haylie shrieked. "Well the players do. He just wants to kiss more than one girl and that's how he does it with no commitment. I just can't believe you fell for it." He said.

"I'm so stupid. I deserve this. If he comes back I'm not going out with him! I think it's because of my lack of curves." Haylie mused. "Some guys don't like curves." I said. "Tyler do guys like curves?" Asked Haylie. "Gingerbread." Tyler said. "What? How?" I asked throwing my hands up. He leaned and whispered. "I like your curves." He shrugged throwing more wood into the back of his truck. Oh boy. "Okay fine, some guys do like curves but you have..." "No I'm flat as a board. And that's why he didn't touch me. Oh gosh." "What?" I asked confused.

"Oh i forget it's been a while since you've made out with anybody. You know when you're making out and it's getting hot. And you just get handsy? Well he never gets handsy." She said gasping. "Just stop the right guy won't care what your curves do or don't look like." "Yea only girls with curves say that. You curvy woman you!" She shot. "Wow you are loosing it. Look forget Marks looser cousin. There are plenty of fish in the sea. Find another one." I said throwing another piece of wood into the truck. "Fine but that's no fun." She pouted.

Tyler loaded the last piece of wood, waved and left. I wrapped up my conversation with Haylie. What were Tyler and i doing? Some days it was as if we needed to stay away to function other days it was as if he enjoyed the game. I shook my head. Next time we speak it'll be mean and avoiding since that was how things seemed to go. Good and then bad. The candy store was coming along. Right before we opened we'd be getting some candy and i could stock the shelves. I had some cardboard boxes left over. I'd go dump them in Tyler's truck.

I saw a big truck out in the square they were unloading vintage looking gas lamps. They would create a magical feel. It was warm outside. Tyler was shirtless, he was unloading the truck. He was sweating. I bit my lip and watched him for a bit. I only felt a smidge bad. I guess it was becoming easier not to feel guilty. I mean Mark and i had only talked a few times this week. We'd go days without talking and never even mentioned it. Somedays it was as if we were talking because we were supposed to. Wasn't that crazy?

Tyler's shaggy brown hair fell into his eyes. He grunted a bit. Okay boy!  Tyler turned around and caught my eye. He smiled. "Gingerbread." I called out. He smirked. "Oh yea?" He asked. "What? Am i not allowed to use the code word?" I asked. "No, i mean unless you want to give me a big head." He smiled biting his lip, his dimples popping out.

"Whatever i was just coming over to see if you need any help." I said. "Well i was just about to take a break." He said. He took a seat on the edge of the truck. I came and sat next to him. "Oh you smell. And you are drenched in sweat." I noted. "What can i say? This is what hard work looks like."  "Oh does it also including busting your head open?" I asked. "What?" He reached up. "Oh, i guess i banged it on the top of the truck. I have some napkins over there in my lunch bag." He pointed. I walked over and pulled one out.

I leaned into him to wipe the blood.  I dabbed at his forehead and he grabbed my hand stopping me. He was going to pull my hand back but i was leaned in and i knew he wanted to kiss me again. Why did i have to keep ruining this? "Now it's my turn, gingerbread." He said. "I'm sorry." I pulled away feeling bad. I mean guilt just wracked me. I couldn't keep doing this. Now i was the one who needed space.

"You always say that." He said. "I know I'm sorry." "There you go again. You have a boyfriend i got you. This is why i said i needed space from you. It's to hard to be around you some days." He said hurt laced through his voice. He stood up from the truck. His forehead still bleeding but that was long forgotten.

"Wait please let me explain." He turned walking backwards. "There's nothing to explain." He said putting his hands out. "I understand i do, it's my fault. I just have to learn to keep my hands to myself." He said. "You think this is easy for me? It's killing me inside to know that I'm hurting you. Part of me wishes things were different. Part of me wants this too. But i can't do anything about it." I said. "Can't or won't?" He asked. "Oh don't be a jerk. How could you ask me to choose. Why would you ask me to choose." "You're right, you already have. You're still with him." "You're really being mean right now." I said tears spilling from my eyes.

He shut his eyes tight and when he opened them he walked back over to wrap me in a hug but he stopped himself. "Look just forget everything i said. It was said in anger and hurt." He said. "I can't. Some part of you meant that. Maybe we should just both stay away from each other for a while. It's killing me knowing that I'm hurting you over and over again." I said. "Right, space. That's a good idea. I'll work in another part of the park. If i see you I'll wave but i won't stop to speak to you. "Okay that's fair." And with that he left.

And then i went back into the candy store and cried. Some stupid part of me needed him! I was mad at myself for it. Because he wasn't mine to have. I didn't deserve him. Even as a friend i guess.

The weeks went by. We didn't speak to each other. I kept finishing up all the shops and finally one day i was just done. It was the middle of July and we had all put in so much work. But there was still a good bit to do. I missed Tyler every day. I still thought about him and i realized i was thinking about him more than i was thinking about Mark.

I called the girls on video chat. "You look like someone ran over your dog." Haylie frowned. "Yea i miss Tyler. And I'm confused by that." I said. "I'm not, you know I've been telling you all along. It's okay if you like him." Said Jenna. "But that's just it. It's not! It feels like I'm cheating because in my heart it's wrong." I said wiping tears from my eyes. "Mark is being faithful and i got in to deep. Tyler wasn't wearing a shirt again. I'll blame it on that." I said.

"You should talk to Mark. Maybe he feels the same way." Said Haylie. My phone pinged with an incoming text. Mark was sitting next to Kiki Brown. He was leaned into her. And i didn't feel anything. Not anger, not jealousy not hurt, not anything. "I should be angry at that picture and I'm just not." I said. "Okay then, call Mark. And then go kiss that gorgeous man. Please i want all the dirty details." Said Jenna. I laughed. "I'll do my best." I said. "Play by play, please." Said Haylie. I laughed hanging up.

I called Mark. "Hey babe." He said in his usual greeting. "Can i ask you something?" I asked. "Sure thing babe." "Do you miss me?" "Well of course." "I know you miss me but i mean, okay Haylie sent me a picture of you and Kiki Brown. It looked like Ya'll were getting close." I said.

"If I'm being honest maybe we have been. I'm sorry. Nothing happened i swear. I think she would like something to happen." He said. "And how do you feel about that?" I asked. "Confused....i don't know. And the last thing i want to do is hurt you." He said. "No i know that. Maybe we just say we've had a good run. And we'll still be friends. It wasn't you it wasn't me kinda thing?" "You'd be okay with that?" "Yea, I'm not there she is i get it i do. And who knows maybe when i come back for school if were both single we'll see where things go." I said.

He breathed a sigh of relief. "I know i should have talked to you about this sooner but I felt bad knowing you had to move away to that awful place." He said. "Actually it's not that bad." I said. "Well I'm glad to hear that. We'll talk soon okay?" "Sounds good. Bye Mark." We had broken up just like that. I sent a text to the group with the girls. "We broke up." Was all i said. "I'm sorry. I love you. Are you sad?" Asked Haylie. "No it's just weird." I said. "And what about Tyler?" I asked. "Go for it." Said Jenna. "Isn't it kinda soon?" I asked. "I've seen the man. He's not gonna wait around forever." Said Jenna. "Yea i mean i don't think it's a rebound kinda thing. I mean maybe things with Mark were over for a while." Said Haylie. "Yes, i think they really were. How do i tell him though?" I asked.

"Just go with the truth? You and Mark broke up and you'd like to see where this goes." Said Haylie. "Eh wrong. You wear the sexiest thing you have. Invite him over saying you missed him then you jump him." Said Jenna. "Maybe I'll do a mix of both?" I sent back laughing. I slipped the phone into my shorts.

Then i pulled it back out. I shot a text to Tyler. "Hey can you come over?" I asked. "I don't think that's a good idea." "Please, i need to talk to you." I said. "Fine, I'll see you in ten minutes." I changed from my t-shirt into a tank top. Hint of cleavage. I mean it was better than a dress. I ran a brush through my hair. Put on a bit of makeup and added some perfume. Then i went outside to wait for him.

I was nervous and extremely anxious. I ran over what i was going to say in my head at least a thousand times. Nothing sounded right. I was sitting on the porch swing. I saw his headlights and then his truck pull into the drive he got out walking up the longish drive to me.

He was wearing a tight fitted t shirt and some cargo shorts. He looked so cute and yet sad at the same time. He took a seat next to me. "This is still really hard for me. I don't think it's been enough time and you need to know that it's killing me. I know I'm leaving you friendless. I just don't know where to go here. How do we both get what we want?" He asked.

I raised my eyebrow. "And how do you know what i want?" I asked. He blinked back at me. "Am i missing something?" He asked. I nodded. "Mark and i broke up." His eyes lit up. "You did? I'm so sorry." I shook my head. "I'm not. Things were over for a while. We just didn't want to admit it." I said. "No, I get it when you've been with somebody for so long you want to try to make it work even when it's hard.."
"So." I said. "So." He said back. "I don't even know what to say." He said. "You still like me?" I asked. "Oh absolutely. And you like me?" "Yea, it hit me when we spent all that time apart. I missed you like crazy." I said. "Me too, it sucked but i was preparing myself to get in the mindset of just being your friend you know?" He asked. "Yea i thought that was the right thing for everyone involved. I didn't want to hurt Mark." I said.

"Was he upset?" He asked. "No, i think we both knew it was over. It was a hard pill to swallow but now it's the same thing all over again." I said. "What do you mean?" He asked. "Well if we date then I'll be going back to Florida and we'll be doing the long distance thing. I don't want to do that. I had no plans of coming back here. How are we going to that?" I asked. "No plans, at all? Then i guess we don't." He said. "But i kind of want too." I said. "Why? Because I'm so irresistible?" He asked.

"Maybe." "You know what. I'm gonna take you up on that. We'll date and I'm gonna be the best boyfriend you've ever had. So when you leave you're gonna miss me like crazy." He said leaning in his eyes on my lips. "Well i look forward to you trying." I said leaning in as well. He closed the gap pressing his lips to mine. He kissed me until my insides were all gooey. "I just want to know one thing. What did you tell that girl at the bakery?" He laughed. "You didn't forget that did you? Okay, i told her i was trying to make you my girlfriend." He said. "Even then, you knew you wanted to date me?" I asked.

"Oh absolutely." He said nodding. I chuckled. "Okay, well i guess everything worked out." I said nodding. "Yea and now we can work together at the park again." Said Tyler. "I'm looking forward to it." I said.