Upon arriving at our apartment building, I watched as Tyler folded the umbrella. That's when I noticed his right arm drenched from the rain. Droplets trickled down his white button-down shirt, soaking the fabric. I stood frozen for a moment.
Did he... Did he tilt the umbrella more toward my side to keep me dry?
There it was again, another quiet gesture from Tyler. Subtle. Unspoken. But his actions always spoke louder than words. The warmth of his quiet kindness spread through me, yet I couldn't find a way to put it into words.
As we made our way upstairs, he stopped in front of his apartment, keys jingling as he unlocked the door. Then, he turned to me.
"Hey. You need to dry off, or you'll catch a cold. You can use the bathroom first."
"Uh... Right. Thanks. But I should check on my dogs too. They'll be worried." I wanted to thank him properly, but the words stuck in my throat.
Without a word, he reached out his hand, palm up. I blinked at him, confused.
"I'll get your dogs for you," he said simply. "They can stay here, so you don't have to worry about them."
"Are you sure?" I hesitated, guilt creeping in. But then he nudged me lightly, a silent insistence.
Still unsure, I handed him my apartment key. He took it, then set down a set of his own clothes in front of me.
Is this really okay? I knew I had been such a bother, yet he was always so willing to help.
Without another word, I headed to his bathroom for a shower. The hot water melted away the chill, and when I changed into the clothes he lent me, his familiar scent lingered in the fabric. My face heated up, and I shook my head, trying to ignore it.
When I stepped out, Tyler was lounging on the sofa with the dogs. He stood and handed me a warm cup of tea.
"We can't have you getting sick now, right?" he said with a small smile.
I bowed slightly in gratitude and took a sip. Lemon and ginger. Each sip warmed me from the inside, soothing my tired body.
"It's my turn for a shower," he said, stretching before disappearing into the bathroom.
I curled up on the couch with Tequila, Lucky, and Cleo, snuggling into their warmth. The exhaustion from the long day weighed down on me, and my eyelids drooped.
Before I knew it, sleep pulled me under.
—
When I slowly came to, I wasn't on the sofa anymore.
I was sleeping comfortably in a bed.
My eyes snapped open.
Wait. This wasn't...
Panic surged through me as I shot up, my heart pounding.
"Ugh," I groaned, pressing my hands over my face before slowly dragging them down. Think. Think. I had been cuddling with the dogs... on the sofa. I was sure of it.
Did... Did he carry me to bed?!
I groaned again, muffling my embarrassment into my palms. I couldn't even begin to process the thought of facing him right now.
Taking a deep breath, I crept toward the door, gripping the handle carefully to avoid making a sound. Slowly, I peeked outside.
No one. Even the dogs were gone.
Stepping into the living room, my eyes landed on a note stuck to the fridge.
"Took the dogs out for a walk. We'll be back later."
I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding.
What... exactly was happening???
After a moment, I heard the sound of dogs panting and Tyler's voice softly calming them as they trotted into his apartment. I froze, my heart picking up speed, and hurriedly combed my fingers through my hair, trying to get rid of the mess. I quickly wiped away any lingering sleep from my eyes, making sure I looked at least presentable before he stepped inside.
When Tyler entered, I quickly turned around to greet them, a smile breaking out on my face as the furbabies rushed over to me.
"Heyyyyy..." I greeted in a soft, happy voice.
Tequila, Lucky, and Cleo all came up to me, wagging their tails excitedly. Even Tequila, who usually liked to keep her distance, nudged her way into my lap, asking to be petted and carried. I eagerly obliged, scooping her up while petting the others, completely lost in the love and joy they gave me.
But then, I felt a weight on me, as if someone was watching. I couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious as Tyler stood by the door, his gaze fixed on us. His presence made me fidget, and I wondered if I was overdoing it, too eager in my affection.
Am I doing something wrong? Or am I just being overly conscious?
I glanced at him, but Tyler just stood there with his usual calm expression, a slight smile tugging at his lips. He then knelt down and began preparing food for the dogs, setting out their bowls and filling them with the meal he had brought. Lucky and Cleo approached eagerly, sniffing the food before devouring it. Watching him care for my dogs, my chest tightened, and my heart seemed to race a little faster.
This was too much, I thought. He was doing everything... It felt so natural for him.
I watched as Tyler moved with ease, making sure each dog was comfortable and well-fed. The way he interacted with them, the calmness in his voice, the gentle way he handled each of them, was like he was already part of my little family. It sent a quiet, reassuring warmth through me, but at the same time, it made me painfully aware of the line I was crossing.
He's exactly the kind of person who would be great with us... with me. But then my heart stumbled. No, I shouldn't think like that. He was just being kind; it was nothing more than that. We were neighbors, and he was only helping because of my situation.
Tyler finished feeding the dogs and then turned to me.
"Hey... I bought some empanadas and made coffee. Breakfast?" He asked.
I nodded, following him to the small table where he had laid out the breakfast. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm, flaky empanadas made my stomach growl. I tried to focus on the food, but every time Tyler handed me something, our fingers brushed, sending a little jolt of electricity through me.
We sat down, and I took a sip of my coffee, trying not to linger too long on the sensation of him sitting across from me. He didn't say much at first, but his presence filled the space between us. The quiet was comfortable, and as I took a bite of the empanada, I couldn't help but notice how his gaze kept drifting toward me, making me feel warm in places I didn't expect. Every once in a while, our eyes would meet, though subtle, it was enough to make me feel a little flustered.
"You look better today," Tyler said out of nowhere, his voice a little warmer than usual.
I blinked, surprised by his words. "I do?"
He chuckled lightly, and I swear there was a hint of something more in his eyes. "Yeah. You seem more relaxed. I'm glad the dogs are making you feel better. You know... not doing anything..."
"Stupid?" I smiled, though pissed.
But then, as I picked at the empanada and watched the dogs happily munching their food, a heavy realization hit me.
I had been imposing on him for too long. I can't keep doing this. I don't want to keep being a burden on him.
I glanced at Tyler again, catching his eye as he reached for another sip of coffee. The warmth in his expression didn't escape me, but I knew I couldn't just stay in his apartment indefinitely. He had been kind enough, but I couldn't let myself take advantage of it.
"I really appreciate everything," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the lump that was forming in my throat. "But... I think I'll figure something out soon. I don't want to keep imposing on you."
Tyler raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my sudden shift in tone. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... I can't keep relying on you for everything," I continued, looking down at my coffee cup. "You've already helped so much, and I'm really grateful, but I should handle things on my own."
There was a pause, and Tyler's gaze softened at first, but then it quickly shifted. He leaned back in his chair, setting his coffee down with a little more force than usual, the cup clinking softly against the saucer. His posture became a bit more rigid, his fingers drumming lightly on the edge of the table.
He didn't answer immediately, but his silence felt heavy, like he was absorbing what I said. I could feel the shift in the air, the warmth between us momentarily gone.
The quiet stretched on, and Tyler just stared into his cup, his expression unreadable. His movements, though still polite, felt more deliberate now like he was keeping something guarded. He didn't make eye contact again, focusing instead on the dogs, who were still happily finishing their food.
For a moment, I wondered if I said too much. Maybe I expected him to argue or reassure me, but instead, it was like he retreated into himself.
"I guess I understand," Tyler said finally, his voice a little lower than usual. "If that's what you think is best."
He stood up slowly, picking up his empty coffee cup, not looking back at me as he moved to rinse it out. His actions were calm, almost routine, but there was something about the way he did it that felt... distant. The warmth that had been there before seemed to fade just a little.
I felt an unfamiliar pang of guilt, but I quickly dismissed it.
I couldn't keep depending on him. This was something I had to handle alone.
The dogs, sensing the tension, tucked themselves into their newfound spots in his apartment. Lucky curled up in a corner, her eyes barely open, while Cleo paced back and forth, her paws tapping softly against the floor. I rubbed my temples, fighting off the headache that was threatening to creep up.
Did I do the right thing? But I kept bothering him and it's been too much.
Then I saw Tyler move, almost imperceptibly. He hadn't said a word, but his hand reached out, toward Cleo. She had been circling him with the same uncertainty I felt, and for a moment, he hesitated, unsure of what to do. But then, without saying anything, he crouched down and gently ran his hand through Cleo's thick fur. My breath caught in my chest as I watched her lean into his touch, her body relaxing under his fingers. And for a fleeting second, Tyler's lips twitched upward just a faint smile.
Cleo nudged him with her nose, her tail swishing gently. Tyler scratched behind her ears, his focus solely on her now. I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling a surge of emotion that I wasn't prepared for.
He stood up after a few moments, brushing his shorts off before heading toward the kitchen. He grabbed the water bowl from the counter and filled it for the dogs without saying a word. My heart skipped in my chest as I watched him, something about his movements so familiar, but distant, all at once.
When he returned, Cleo padded over to her bowl, drinking quietly, and Tyler, still avoiding my gaze, placed a new towel by Lucky's spot on the carpet.
"Thanks," I said softly, breaking the silence.
Tyler nodded, lips pressed into a thin line. "It was nothing," he muttered, his voice low. "Just... making sure they were okay."
"We'd get going soon. Thanks again for everything, Tyler."
He nodded without turning, the silence still hanging in the room like an unspoken agreement between us. He didn't say anything else as I made my way to gather the dogs and my things, his back still turned, his focus on the sink, his movements mechanical.