"Not taking any chances. huh?"
"Not anymore."
He smiled. All that had happened appeared to
have freed him inside so that he wasn't as guarded
about his feelings and as afraid of trusting them. We went downstairs again. I saw how he was
hesitating.
"You don't have to hang around any longer.
Tyler. We'll be allright."
"If you don't mind. I'd like to," he replied. "It
helps me to feel better."
"Okay," I said. surprised.
We sat on the sofa in the living room and talked
about his new plans and mine. I tried to keep awake.
but after a while, my eyelids just shut down and I felt
myself leaning more and more against him. He rose
and fixed a pillow under my head and then he sat
across from me in Mrs. Westington's chair. When I
opened my eyes with the morning light streaking
through the window, he was still there, asleep himself. I sat up and he opened his eyes.
"Hey," he said, looking about. "What time is
it?" He checked his watch. "Wow. I guess I was more
tired than I thought, too."
"I've got to get Echo going. I'll get her some
breakfast and then we'll drive over to the hospital." "Right. I'll meet you there," he said. He rose
and stretched. Then he smiled. "Great show last
night."
"Thanks."
"See you soon." He hurried out.
I wondered what he would be telling his mother
when he got home or if that even mattered anymore. Echo and I showered and dressed. I made some