Break In My Heart

Chapter 22.5: Tyler's Version (bonus chapter)

Excitement moved through me as I finished wrapping the final breakfast burrito that I was preparing. I was elated to finally pay Addi back for the countless times that he'd treated me with a delicious breakfast when I woke up.

The burritos were made of hash browns, eggs, sausage, and cheese, as well as a side of bacon that I'd already prepared. I just really hoped he liked it.

"Hey, son, what're you makin'?" My father asked me as he walked into the kitchen. Usually, I'd just be getting up for school as he was heading out of the door, however, this morning I wanted to have more than enough time to hang out with Addi before heading to school. He was dressed for work which consisted of a simple white button-up, slacks, and dress shoes. He worked for a home loan company, and though I didn't know exactly what he did, all I knew was that it was nothing to scoff at, but this crazy big city made his money look like chump change. A look of excitement replaced the tired look that usually decorated his face as he got closer. "Alright! Please tell me that one of those is for me." He motioned to one of the three burritos I'd made.

"Sure, you can be my guinea pig," I said as I offered one to him. I watched expectedly as he took a bite out of his food. He definitely took his sweet time chewing and debating if he enjoyed his food or not, but as a grin spread across his face, I caught myself letting out a sigh of relief.

"It's perfect, son. Thanks, I appreciate it."

"No problem," I nonchalantly said just as my phone vibrated with a text from Addison that simply said I can't wait <3 in response to an earlier text I'd sent him telling him I had a surprise for him.

"Why are you smiling so hard, boy? You textin' your li'l boyfriend again? You only smile like that when you're talking to him."

I felt my cheeks grow warm as I avoided eye contact with my father, though I could see an amused grin painted across his lips. "Dad, stop. Please."

I knew it had been a mistake to confide in my dad about my feelings for Addi purely because he loved making my life harder by making annoying comments such as the one he'd just made.

"Kidding. Kidding," he said with a laugh. "But I hope I get to see him again soon. I want to get the know the boy that has my son smiling so much."

"Yeah, yeah, dad. Maybe," I said as I packed the food. I really didn't want to have his conversation with him right then. The title of "boyfriend" was still relatively new, and it felt kind of weird to have my father refer to Addison that way. Besides, I really didn't want my dad to scare him off. My father was...intense at times, but I knew his heart was in the right place. He was just very protective over me, especially given the way my last relationship had turned out.

I instantly tried to push all thoughts of my past relationship in my past life away, but it persisted. I thought back to the pain and depression I felt all those years ago that felt like yesterday. I thought about how those same feelings came back when I had asked the terrifying question of if Addi wanted to be my boyfriend. And now those feelings were back and demanding to be felt.

"Ty, you okay?" My dad asked, thankfully pulling me out of the spiral of negative thoughts that were filling my skull like water in a glass.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I forced those dark thoughts back into the locked vault I kept them in, away from all of my happy memories and new life.

I forced a smile onto my lips as I looked at him and nodded. "Yeah. Just thinking about school stuff. I have a test coming up soon," I easily fibbed.

My father gave me the I'm not buying it look, and I sighed. If I knew one thing about my father was that he was nosy as hell, and if he even thought I was hiding something from him, he wouldn't stop until he uncovered what it was. "I was just thinking about mom and all that," I admitted. Not needing to go into any further detail, my father's demeanor softened up before he put a hand on my cheek.