I relished the opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with her. There was so much I wanted to discuss with her.
Before I could open my mouth, Tinsley’s phone rang out.
“Oh crap,” Tinsley said. “It’s Lucas’ sitter. I better check to make sure everything is okay.”
I stopped and got my water bottle out as she took the call. I tried to give her some space, but I could tell that it was a bit stressful.
“What’s happening?” I asked as Tinsley made her way back towards me.
“I’ve got to run by the store on my way home. Apparently, Lucas came home not feeling great and now he has a fever. The sitter just gave him the last of what we had in the house to help but he’ll need something else tonight before bed.”
“Anything I can do?” I asked.
“Thank you but it’s probably just a little bug. I’m sure he’ll be better by the morning.”
“What’s Lucas’ favorite thing to eat when he’s sick?” I asked as I pulled out my phone.
“Hmm,” Tinsley thought aloud. “That would be Taco Bell, he’s a sucker for their nachos.”
“I’m going to have it sent over. What about you and the sitter?” I asked.
Tinsley rattled off her order and the one for the sitter. I loved that she had a “go-to” Taco Bell order. It just went to show that despite living the lifestyle of a hot Hollywood PR guru, she was still the same old Tinsley that I had looked up to in high school.
Man, I had the biggest crush on her in high school. We didn’t run in the same circles then, but I had idolized her. So many times, when you put someone up on a pedestal like that they end up letting you down when you get to know the real person. But not Tinsley. She was better in real life than she’d ever been in my dreams.
“Okay, it’s settled. Dinner is on me. One less thing to worry about and it should be there by the time you get home,” I said smiling at her.
“Kai, that is so thoughtful of you.”
“It is literally no problem. Although next time I treat you to dinner let’s make it a slightly nicer venue.”
“Deal,” she said giggling but there was a hint of worry in her beautiful green eyes.
“It must be tough when your kiddo is sick,” I said softly.
“It really is. I hate to see him suffer. He’s so miserable when he gets a head cold.”
“Is that all that is bothering you Tins?” I asked gently.
“Not exactly,” she admitted. “It’s the whole situation with Lucas’ father.”
“You mean, how you need to explain to Ryan that he is Lucas’ dad?” I asked, taking a chance that if I guessed at what we all thought was true, I could get her to own up to it.
She looked at me for a full thirty seconds and I could see a storm of emotion in her eyes. Then she said, “Yes.”
“I don’t know how you know,” she continued. “But you’re right. Ryan is his dad. I just haven't been able to work up the courage to tell him. Honestly, if I hadn’t been given this role with the studio, I don’t know if I ever would have told him.
“But here we are not only working together but the whole relationship with you guys. I know that I can’t keep it a secret any longer. I just don’t know how to get from here to there,” she said slightly defeated.
“Tinsley, I don’t think there is any right way to tell him. There’s only one right thing to do and that is to tell him. I can’t guarantee how he’ll react, but I can tell you one thing. As we all continue to grow closer, it only gets harder to defend why you’ve been keeping this secret.
“I mean, I understand why you might have felt that you needed to in the past. But now that you’re involved. You are out of reasons not to tell him,” I said hoping she wouldn't feel like I was overstepping.
She stopped walking to gaze up at me, tears threatening to fall from her brilliant green eyes. I scooped her quickly up into a bear hug. I felt her body slowly relax against me and I looked down and let my mouth brush hers. She ran her fingers through my hair and kissed her way over to my ear where she purred, “Thank you for the vote of confidence. I promise to do it soon.”
I released her body from my grasp and instead took her hand so we could make our way down the trail towards the guys waiting for us below.
—