Page 19 of Heartstring

Wait. Meal?

“Um…what exactly is this place?” I ask.

Toby and Geoff exchange a look. “If you want to be technical, this is a soup kitchen. Or you can call it a community center. Both work.”

I cringe inside. How do I tell them I don’t need food. All I wanted was shelter from the rain.

Hold on.

Do I look like I need food?

I check my clothes. Okay, so I’m not wearing designer clothes or anything. Stone is the one who won’t be seen in off-brand underwear, let alone clothes. But seriously? Do I look like I need a good meal?

Then I remember the guys’ comments when they visited. With unpacking the house and trying to fix a few things, I haven’t really bothered with my appearance. My usual scruff is now a beard, and my hair is longer than usual, but it’s hidden under my baseball cap.

Shit. Maybe I need to look after myself.

Someone rings a bell, and everyone stands.

“What’s happening?” I ask.

“It’s food time,” Sandra says.

“Oh, okay. I’ll just stay here,” I say.

“Nonsense. You’re coming with us,” Toby says, and I find myself dragged into the line.

Since there’s no point in arguing against my new-found friends, I join the line for the food. It does smell amazing. There are a few food stations with a group of people serving everyone with a smile. It looks a lot more like a community than charity.

I like it. I need to know more about this place. Maybe I can make an anonymous donation.

“Guys, who runs this place?” I ask.

“Oh, that would be Tyler. He’s an angel. You’ll see him. He’s always around.”

My stomach does a little jump, as it always does when I hear that name. There must be a million Tylers on the planet, but I will always react to hearing it.

The line moves quickly, and soon we’re at the front. I get a better view of the team working tirelessly to help these people. They all make conversation and smile.

Everyone calls out Tyler's name, so I figure he’s the guy who runs the place.

I step forward to talk to him until he turns to speak to someone, and my whole world stops.

He’s older, as am I. His brown hair is now streaked with silver. His bright eyes look weary and tired, but it’s undoubtedly him.

Tyler.TheTyler.MyTyler.

7

TYLER

NOW

I hate letting people down.

The first time someone depended on me, I was sixteen. A sticky hot summer day that should have been spent swimming with my best friend turned into one of the worst days of my life.

We’d been waiting for the adoption hearing date, and I’d wondered if that was why my dad was home early.