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“Oh, I don't know,” I teased. “Beer and pizza?”
Laughing, he opened the door for me so we could leave his apartment. “Can I let you in on a secret?” He seemed to sober at the end, like there wasn’t another joke or small talk coming next.
“Sure,” I replied, making sure to let him go down the stairs first this time.
He glanced back up at me as he easily took the stairs. “My grandpa moved into senior apartments, and he’s having a really hard time with it.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, you remember me mentioning I grew up outside of Fort Worth?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“It's a really small town, and there isn't much for older people there. At a certain age, their homes are too much to take care of, but even assisted living is a little too much. Most people put their relatives in homes in Fort Worth or Dallas and have to drive a long way to see them or they keep them at home with them. But it makes it kind of hard for the family. I know it’s been hard on my mom as my grandpa got to that age.”
I nodded as we reached the bottom steps and went outside.
“I keep thinking there has to be something to make the assisted living where he is better, so I’ve been doing some research to pitch to the building’s owners.”
I couldn't quite find something to say because, honestly, I was breathless. Most men didn't really give two cares about what happened to their grandparents, or their parents for that matter, but here Tyler was reading research books on his time off to make a better home for his grandpa and everyone else. It was incredible.
He held up his keys and said, “Mind if I drive?”
Looking at his pickup compared to my rickety red car, I grinned. “Of course not.”
6
Tyler
Henrietta put directions into her phone and told me we were going to an Italian place. It had been a long time since I’d been to a nicer restaurant, usually opting to have food delivered, so I was excited. But to be fair, I was more excited for her company than anything.
Being on the road all the time got lonely. Most of the guys I worked with had families, lives, and not a lot of time to hang out with someone who’d be leaving in a few months. But conversation flowed easily between Hen and me, and I never felt her coming on to me like Janessa had earlier. Even when I went home, it felt like everyone was pressuring me to couple up.
Back in Cottonwood Falls, most people thought marriage and family were the biggest success you could have. So the fact that I was over thirty without so much as a divorce or an illegitimate child under my belt made me the number one bachelor in town, aside from my brothers. The youngest, Rhett, was a perpetual playboy, and my older brother cared more about his Dallas-based business than dating.
And me? I had my job. I could hardly imagine a serious relationship with how much I traveled, and if I was promoted to Jim’s position, I’d have more work than free time.
Henrietta pointed at a restaurant with twinkle lights under an awning. “That’s it.”
I looked at the red sign with swirling white letters spelling La Belle.
Hen said, “Don’t ask for pizza or the waiters will laugh at you.”
I chuckled. “Thanks for the warning.”
We pulled alongside the building, and I gave my keys to the valet driver. As I got out and met her on the sidewalk, she said, “The food really is amazing here. I think you’ll like it.”
“As long as they serve beer on draft, I'm not too picky,” I admitted.
“Not a wine guy?” she asked.
I pulled the hat off as we walked into the building. “I do drink wine from time to time. Just don't tell my dad.”
We fell into line behind other parties waiting to talk with the hostess.
“I’m guessing he’s a real meat and potatoes kind of guy?”
“Oh yeah. If the food doesn’t come off his grill, it’s already at a disadvantage.”