The Boyfriend Deal (8 page)

Chapter Eight

Tyler

Hadley came home from the hospital that next day and a week later she had her glasses. I could tell she was self-conscious about them, but she was still every bit as beautiful to me now as she’d been before Alicia tried to kill her. As for my ex, Hadley’s dad had hauled her away in cuffs, and her trial was set for two weeks. I knew there was no way she’d get off unless she used the insanity plea. As crazy as she was, she might actually be able to pull that one off. Maybe she’d end up in the same prison as Hunter. He’d been arrested the day after he’d slashed my tire.

The halls had been empty without Hadley. She’d only been back at school for a few days, and I knew she was struggling. Everyone was going out of their way to be nice to her though, even Colin. The girls I’d dated and dropped over the years all flocked around her, but I noticed no one dared bring her baked goods unless they came from a shop. Hadley was taking all of her fame in stride, but it was making her uncomfortable. I think she preferred it when she was invisible.

The cafeteria was packed when I got there, and I saw Hadley was already at a table with Amber. I made my way over to them, wanting to make sure she had everything she needed before I went through the line. Ever since I’d uttered those freeing words—I love you—I’d taken the role of boyfriend rather seriously. Actually, I’d gotten so serious about it that unbeknownst to Hadley, I stopped at a jewelry story the other night and purchased something special for her. Something I was terrified to give her. I’d talked to my parents and hers before doing it, and thankfully, I had their support. If the circumstances were different, I imagine I’d have had a different outcome. But with Hadley needing constant care, I knew her parents were relieved she had me watching over her. And I did it gladly!

“Hadley, you aren’t eating?” I asked as I noticed she didn’t have a tray in front of her.

“The line was too crowded.”

I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I’ll get you something. Just sit here with Amber.”

She smiled up at me gratefully and I hurried off to get something for us to eat. When I got in the line, people ushered me ahead of them until I’d nearly reached the front. It didn’t take long to get two trays, one with everything I knew Hadley liked, check out, and return to the table where she was sitting. I put her tray down in front of her and claimed the seat beside her.

“Thank you, Tyler,” she said softly.

“You know I’d do anything for you.” I smiled and kissed her softly.

Amber made kissy noises. “You two should get a room.”

Hadley’s cheeks flushed and I just laughed, thinking I wouldn’t mind getting a room with her. When she was ready, we’d talk about it. If everything that was said was true, then she was still a virgin. No way was I going to fool around in the bed of my truck with her. She was special, unlike the girls who had come before her.

“Practice today was cancelled,” I told her. “Want to go somewhere after school?”

“I just need to text Mom so she won’t worry.”

“Tell her I’ll take extra special care of you.”

Hadley leaned her head against my shoulder. “If she knows I’m with you, she won’t worry. Both of my parents have seen how wonderful you are. I think they’d keep you forever if they could. Have you noticed they’ve been sending you home later and later? It wouldn’t surprise me if they ask if you want to camp out in the living room with me one night, or use the guest room.”

“Your parents may like me, but I don’t think they’re ready for you to be alone with me all night. They want to preserve your innocence.”

She made a face and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You should take her somewhere special today,” Amber said. “You know, she’s never been to Lookout Point.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Are you trying to tell us something?”

Amber shook her head. “I just meant no one ever took her up there to fool around. Even if you only kiss and hold hands, it will still be something she’ll remember fondly.”

“I’m right here,” Hadley said. “I’m going blind, not deaf.”

I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Would you like to go to Lookout Point with me? I promise to mind my manners.”

“Isn’t it getting kind of cool out for that?”

“There’s a blanket in my truck.”

She swung a narrow-eyed glare my way, and I held up a hand.

“It’s not what you think! I stuck in there the other day thinking I’d take you on a picnic if the weather didn’t get too cool or rainy.”

“Are you sure you’re not seeing someone else?”

It took me a minute to realize she was kidding. I tickled her, kissed her neck, and then wrapped my arms around her. She was the most precious thing in my life, and I couldn’t imagine spending a day without her by my side. We hadn’t talked more about the future, but I knew we would be soon. Maybe even today. Lookout Point was a great place to ask her the most important question I’d ever asked anyone in my life.

After lunch, the rest of the day flew by. Hadley was waiting at her locker when I walked up. Taking her bag from her, I walked her out to my truck and helped her inside. Once I’d stashed our bags in the backseat and climbed behind the wheel, I headed for Lookout Point and tried to still my racing heart. This wasn’t going to be just another day; this was going to be the day that decided whether or not Hadley was part of my future.

The Point was an isolated area off the Cumberland River, and the main make-out area for our small community. The fact Hadley had never been there thrilled me. It was something we should share, even though I’d been there with other girls. Now I wished I hadn’t. If I’d have known that one day Hadley would be mine, I never would have dated all those girls—especially Alicia.

I parked the truck, grabbed the blanket out of the backseat, and then spread it in the bed. I put my hands on Hadley’s waist and lifted her into the back then followed her in. As I laid down, I pulled her against my side and cuddled her close. Dappled sunshine filtered through the trees overhead as a cool breeze blew over us. Hadley shivered next to me, and I flipped the edge of the blanket over her.

“Thank you for bringing me out here,” she said.

“Hadley, where do you see us a few years from now?”

She snuggled closer and played with the front of my shirt. “I don’t know. I’m struggling with school because it’s so hard to read the words or notes on the page that I doubt I’ll go to college. Without a college degree, it isn’t like I’ll ever have a great job. I mean, if I could do something creative that would be different, but my only talent is playing the flute.”

“But you see us together, right?”

“I’d like to think we’ll still be together. But what if you get tired of me, Tyler? I’m not the same girl you started dating. Eventually, it’s going to get tiresome that I don’t see things very well. The doctor said there’s a chance my eyes will continue to worsen until I can’t see at all. Apparently, I ingested a lot of the poison.”

“Baby, you know I don’t care about any of that. I still see the same vibrant, sweet girl that kissed me in the hall that morning. When I look into our future, I see you going with me to college and us renting a small apartment, and then when I graduate, I see you planning our wedding.”

She giggled. “A wedding?”

Digging in my pocket, I pulled out the small jewelry box and clutched it in my fist. “Hadley, there’s something I need to ask you.”

I looked into her eyes and brought the box up for her inspection. When I popped the lid open, her eyes widened in surprise and her jaw dropped. She looked from the white gold ring to me and back again.

“Tyler … what? I… Are you for real?”

“Hadley, I told you I loved you, and I meant it then just as much as I do now. Would you consider wearing this ring until we’ve known each other well enough for me to exchange it for an engagement ring?”

Tears gathered in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. “A promise ring?”

“Yeah, Hads. It’s a promise ring. Because I promise to always love you, and one day I want us to join our lives together, at some point in the future after college and jobs. I know a lot could happen between now and then, but I want you to know how much you mean to me.”

She rose up and placed her hands on either side of my face before kissing me. Her lips and tongue teased and tormented me as I waited for her answer. Or was the kiss her answer? When she stopped kissing me, it took a minute for our racing heart to calm, and then I pulled the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger. She started crying again and threw her arms around me.

“I love you, Hadley.”

“I love you too, Tyler.” She kissed me again, softly this time, and then pulled away. “Make love to me?”

My heart nearly lurched out of my chest. “What?”

A smile played around the corners of her lips. “You heard me.”

“Hadley, I…”

Before I could utter another word, she’d pulled her shirt off and tossed it aside. She was beautiful and everything I’d ever wanted. In that moment, I made a decision to give her whatever she wanted, and to make sure I became the type of man who would deserve someone like her. As the dappled sunlight surrounded us, I made love to her, showing her just how much I loved and cherished her. It was the most magical moment of my life, and I knew nothing would ever compare to it.

Chapter Nine

Hadley

I’d been back at school for over a month and things had been going … well, I wouldn’t say they were great. I could barely read my textbooks and music. Tyler came over every day after school to help me with my homework, but I felt like I was being unfair to him. He should have been out with his friends and going to parties, not stuck at home helping his nearly blind girlfriend figure out her assignments. The ring on my finger felt heavier and heavier as each day passed. Had I been wrong to accept it? Was I ruining Tyler’s life by staying with him? I felt selfish.

“Are you staring at me?” I asked Amber.

“Maybe.”

“Whatever you’re thinking, you can say … you don’t have sit there and hold it in.”

“All right. Why have you been pushing Tyler away?”

I snorted. “I haven’t been pushing him away. He’s at my house every day. If you hadn’t promised to help me with my homework today, he’d be here right now.”

“Hadley, no one can deny that he helps you, but you’ve been distant with him lately. You hardly hold hands with him in the halls anymore, and I can’t remember the last time I saw you kiss him at lunch. What’s going on with you?”

I stared down at table. “I just think maybe he’d be better off without me.”

“Why would you think that?” Amber asked softly. “Can’t you tell he’s crazy about you?”

“What kind of future can I offer Tyler? He has two scholarship offers, and he’s going to turn down both of them because he feels like he needs to take care of me. I don’t want to be a responsibility to someone, Amber. I can’t go grocery shopping by myself; I can’t drive, and once this year is over, I don’t think I’ll be playing the flute anymore either. At least, not in an academic way. I’ll still play for me, because it’s something I love to do, but reading the music is just too damn hard.”

“Why do you think he feels you’re a responsibility?”

“He brings me home every afternoon and we do homework; he stays for dinner, and then goes home. I can’t remember the last time he asked me out on a date, or invited me to a party. I’m sure he doesn’t mean to, but he treats me differently now. It’s like he’s afraid I’ll break, or that I won’t be able to make it outside of school or this house.”

“Have you told him how you feel?” Amber asked.

“No. He says he loves me, and I believe him, but maybe he shouldn’t. If he didn’t love me, then he wouldn’t feel obligated to sit around the house with me. He’d go hang out with his friends and have fun.”

“Maybe he thinks hanging out with you is fun.”

Tears gathered in my eyes. “Did you know that the day he gave me this promise ring we made love? It was my first time, but he made it magical. And he hasn’t touched me since. Not once has he asked to take me to the Point, or anywhere we might be completely alone. He feels sorry for me, and I’m sure he regrets ever giving me this ring.”

“Hadley…”

“Just forget it. One day he’ll wake up and realize what a mistake I am.” Tears slipped down my cheeks.

I heard a noise behind me and stiffened. Had someone been listening to our conversation? I hastily wiped away my tears.

“Amber, would you excuse us?”

Tyler! Had he heard everything I’d said? Was this the moment he broke up with me and went back to his regular life? A life where he didn’t have a handicapped girlfriend.

A chair scraped against the floor and I watched as he took a seat next to me.

“How long have you felt that way?” he asked. “How long have you doubted my feelings for you?”

“Tyler, I…”

“No. I don’t want to hear an excuse, Hadley. I promised myself to you, promised to share a future with you, and I didn’t do it because I thought every day would be a party. I did it because I love you and want to spend time with you, whether that time is spent doing homework, having lunch at school, or going out somewhere … the point is that we’re together. I thought that was what mattered.”

Shame burned through me.

“If you weren’t with me, you’d be out having fun with your friends, Tyler. You’d be going to the basketball games, going to parties…”

“If I weren’t with you,” he said softly, “I’d be sitting at home in my room wondering what I’d done to screw it all up, causing me to lose the only girl I’ve ever loved. Do you really think so little of me that you think I want that party lifestyle more than I want to be with you?”

“I just…” I started sobbing. “I’m useless, Tyler. I can’t do anything anymore. If I can’t go to college, I won’t be able to get a good job. I don’t even know if I can get a job at all! You deserve so much better than me.”

Tyler stood and pulled me into his arms. “Hadley, you’re not useless. Do you need more help than you did before? Yes, but that doesn’t mean school is impossible. Your parents talked to the school, and they’ve offered you extra time to take tests and turn in assignments. I’m sure whatever college you decide to attend will offer you the help you need. Just because it’s become difficult, doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”

I sniffled. “You really think I can go to school?”

“I really do.”

“I won’t be able to study music, but I’d still really like to be a teacher.”

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “I’ve actually done a little research over the past month. What if you either became a teacher for kids with disabilities or maybe became a school counselor who helped set up programs for special needs kids? Just because your dream needs to change a little, it doesn’t mean you have to throw it away completely.”

“You really looked that up for me?”

“I did. And it just so happens, University of Florida has a program that I think would be ideal for you. Not that I’m pressuring you to choose that school, but my parents are pushing me to accept a scholarship so I can use the money saved toward living expenses.”

“I feel like I’m holding you back, Tyler.”

He kissed me softly. “You could never hold me back, Hadley. I want you with me when I go off to college, but if you feel like you need to go your own way, I’ll understand. It doesn’t mean we have to break up; it just means we won’t get to see each other every day.”

“I haven’t even applied to the schools offering you a scholarship.”

“Then I guess you’d better hurry and get your application turned in.”

I smiled. “You really want me to go with you to University of Florida?”

“I really do.”

Despite my tears and uncertainty, he still wanted me. He’d been willing to follow me so I could achieve my dream of becoming a music teacher, so why couldn’t I follow him? He was right. Just because my life had changed, it didn’t mean things were completely over for me. I would just have to work harder than I ever had before.

“Thank you, Tyler. Now … get out of here so I can go look up the application and get started.”

“Do you need any help?”

I bit my lip. “I think this is something I need to do on my own. I can’t rely on you to be there every second of every day for me. I need to learn to do some things on my own. My life changed, Tyler, but I’ve let everyone hold my hand and lead me along. Maybe … maybe I’m ready to stand on my own two feet now.”

He kissed me again, harder than before. “I’m so proud of you, Red. I love you.”

“I love you too,” I said softly.

“Call me before you go to bed tonight. I can’t sleep unless I hear your voice.”

With a goofy smile on my face, I walked him to the door and waited until I heard his truck door shut. Then I closed the door and went up to my room to find the application for University of Florida. I had to zoom my monitor to read the font on the school’s site, but I eventually located the application and printed off a copy. Using my special magnifier, I filled it out, pausing at the essay portion.
Why do you want to attend the University of Florida? What do you hope to achieve with your acceptance?

Thanks to Tyler and his little pep talk in the kitchen, I knew exactly what I would say. It took me the rest of the night to put my essay together, but when I stopped, I was happy with the results. I had talked about my disability and the changes it had brought to my life. Then I explained why I wanted to attend the university and what I hoped to achieve by going there. Tyler had opened my eyes and made me realize I was feeling sorry for myself. It was time to pull up my big girl panties and face life, no matter what that might entail.

Gathering my application, I took it downstairs, where Mom and Dad were sitting at the kitchen table. They’d been murmuring to one another, but it went silent once they realized I was there.

“What do you have there, Hads?” Dad asked.

“I want to apply to the University of Florida.”

Silence.

“That’s okay, isn’t it?” I asked.

“Is that one of the schools Tyler was accepted to?” Mom asked.

I nodded. “He has a full scholarship to go there and play football for them. We talked today, and since I’m not going to study music education anymore, there’s no point in my attending UT in the fall like I’d planned. But there’s no reason I can’t go with him. He’d been willing to walk away from his scholarships so he could be with me while I realized my dream, and now it’s time for me to do the same for him.”

“And what are you going to study?” Dad asked.

“I put down Psychology for my major. I think I’d like to learn how to help people with disabilities and become a school counselor. Tyler brought it up today and it feels right. I want to help people like me.”

“Are you sure you want to go so far from home?” Mom asked.

“Mom, you always knew there was a chance I’d leave home and move to another state. I may have lost my sight, but I’m not completely helpless. It’s time that I started living again and not just existing. Yes, something bad happened to me, but I can let it rule my life or I can learn to live each day with a disability and not let it ruin my future.”

“I’m real proud of you,” Dad said. “I think, if you want to apply to University of Florida, we can come up with the application fee. I’ll take it to the post office in the morning and ask them to send it priority.”

“Thanks, Daddy.” I threw my arms around him. “I should go call Tyler and let him know. We have some plans to make.”

Mom laughed. “You still have six months left of school, Hadley. I think that’s plenty of time to figure everything out.”

Dad was flipping through the pages of the application. “Hads, you didn’t mark that you would be interested in student housing.”

I felt my cheeks warm. “Thing is … Tyler and I had talked before about sharing an apartment off campus. His parents are giving him some money, and we were going to use that for rent, utilities, and whatever else we need. I have some money in savings too.”

“Should we ask if you’re being careful?” Mom asked. “You aren’t going to make me a grandma early, are you?”

Now I knew my face was on fire. “Mom!”

“We just want to make sure you’re being responsible,” Dad said. “Living with a disability isn’t going to be easy, Hadley. I think you need to get college out of the way, find a job, and once you’ve established yourself, you can think about having kids. Until then, I want to know you’re taking every precaution.”

“I promise.”

“All right. Go call that boyfriend of yours before he storms the castle. I’m sure he’s wondering what’s up since it’s nearing nine o’clock and you haven’t called yet.”

With a huge smile on my face, I hurried upstairs and called Tyler. I shared my news with him, and told him about my conversation with my parents, which just made him laugh. He did agree with them though, about waiting until after college to start a family. He said we’d be as careful as we could until we were married.

I still couldn’t believe he’d said we were getting married. I knew what the promise ring on my finger meant, but hearing him say the words was different. Oh, it was years into the future, but just knowing he intended for me to be at his side, for the rest of high school and all of college, was enough to make me glow with happiness. It just proved that despite tragedy, I still had a bright future ahead of me.