Hayli closed the door behind her quietly and put her wristlet on the kitchen counter before walking to her and Tyler's bedroom. Tyler was sound asleep on his stomach with the sheets hanging low on his waist.
Hayli tip-toed to the bed and pulled the sheet down and the blanket over him, kissing his cheek before going into the bathroom to take a shower. Throwing her dress into the hamper by the door, Hayli grabbed a towel from the cabinet below the sink. Looking into the mirror, Hayli saw the mascara tracks from her crying the whole way home in the cab.
Tyler didn't deserve this; he'd been the best thing that had ever happened to Hayli. The two of them met in high school, Tyler being the popular jock and Hayli the nerd.
Tyler never gave Hayli the time of day, until his parents bought a house that happened to be right next door to Hayli and her family. Their rooms were directly across from each other. Hayli was sitting next to the sliding door doing homework in her room when she saw the dark figure standing outside.
She screamed causing her books to fall on the floor when she heard someone laugh.
"I'm so sorry," Tyler said, "I didn't mean to scare you."
"Jesus Christ," she said, "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I needed help with my Physics homework," he smiled stepping into the room.
"If you'd stop staring at Susie Hoskank's tits for five minutes in class, maybe you would know what you're doing."
Tyler stood there like a statue not knowing what to say, Hayli had put him in his place and he was too stunned to say anything.
"Never mind," he said, "I'll do it myself or I'll just copy Tyler's tomorrow."
Tyler turned to leave and Hayli grabbed his arm, "Sit down," she demanded pointing to the floor. Tyler did as he was told and opened his book to the right page as Hayli took a seat across from him.
“Who discovered the modern day battery,” Tyler asked going through the review questions.
“Look on page 50, it’s on there,” Hayli replied growing irritated with Tyler who just wanted the answers and didn’t want to do any work.
“You’re not going to tell me the answer?”
“You don’t learn that way, you learn by challenging yourself and actually picking up the book every once and awhile.”
Tyler turned the page and read through page before writing down an answer, “Faraday,” he asked and Hayli nodded her head.
The two of them finished their homework in silence before Tyler stood up to leave, “Thanks for the help,” he replied smiling.
“You’re welcome, see you tomorrow.”
“Want a ride?”
“My mom usually drops me off before she leaves for work at 6.”
“I leave at 7:30, sleep in a little bit, I’ll drive you.”
“Tyler, don’t take this the wrong way but I am already picked on, showing up with you will just make it worse.”
Tyler reached out and hugged Hayli, “Just trust me,” he whispered before walking out of the door and across the lawn to his house.
Hayli snapped out of her thoughts and stared at the person in the mirror. Wiping her eyes of the tears before removing her make-up, she slipped into the shower and let the hot water relax her body. Hayli showered until the water went cold. When she slipped back into the room wearing a towel, she saw Tyler was still sleeping. Looking at the clock and noticing it was only eight o’clock in the morning; Hayli walked over to the dresser and grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt before heading into the living room.
Lying down on the couch, Hayli sighed as she fell asleep. She felt too guilty to crawl into bed next to Tyler after spending the night with Patrice. Tyler woke up to find an empty bed next to him, he wiped the sleep out of his eyes as he stood up and saw Hayli’s shoes. He walked down the hall to the living room and saw her on the couch. Tyler kissed her forehead before deciding to let her sleep. After he showered, he wrapped a towel around his waist and stood behind the couch gently shaking her awake.
“Hayli,” he whispered, “Baby, wake up.”
“Tyler,” she mumbled and he smiled before walking around the couch to sit down on the coffee table that was facing her.
“Happy birthday, baby,” he said as she sat up and he kissed her on the lips.
“Thank you.”
Hayli felt her stomach drop as Tyler smiled at her. Tyler sat down next to her on the couch and Hayli crawled into his lap wrapping her arms around his waist, and putting her head on his chest.
“Are you okay,” he asked.
“I’m fine,” she lied, “Just tired.”
Tyler kissed her forehead gently and Hayli kissed his jaw, “Are you still drunk,” he joked causing her to laugh.
“No, I’m fine, just hung over. I missed you so much last night.”
Tyler smiled, “I missed you too. I was lonely without you here.”
“I love you,” she whispered feeling the dagger go deeper in her heart.
“I love you too,” Tyler replied reaching underneath the couch cushion, pulling out a card envelope that he had hidden there that contained the spa package he had gotten her for her birthday.
“What’s this,” she asked.
“It’s your Birthday present.”
Hayli smiled as she ripped the envelope open and saw the gift certificate to the Bella Santé spa, the most expensive spa in Boston.
“Tyler,” she gasped.
“You deserved it, you work so hard with school and you are always home alone when I’m gone, I figured it’d be nice for you to escape for a day.”
“Thank you,” she replied giving him a kiss, “I love it.”
“Read the card,” he said as Hayli opened it.
Dear Hayli,
I love you with all of my heart; you are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I know I can’t give you the world but I’ll give you whatever I can to make your world perfect since you are my world. I know you hate it when I am gone but never once have you complained. You have supported me through everything and I just wanted you to know that I love you very much. I know we’re young, and we have a long road ahead of us, but look how long we’ve lasted. You are my everything, I know I’m not the easiest person to live with, and I don’t tell you how much you mean to me but just know you mean a lot and I love you more than anything in this entire world.
Love,
Tyler
Hayli looked up at Tyler and let the tears fall freely. The letter was the last nail in the coffin that Hayli had found herself in, and she buried her head in his chest and cried. Tyler rubbed her back soothingly and whispered how much he loved her in her ear.
Hayli decided to put on a mask, pretend like nothing was wrong, and enjoy the day that Tyler had planned for them. When they pulled apart, Tyler kissed her forehead and leaned his forehead against hers, “Brad and Jamie are joining us tonight, it was important to Jamie that she go with us because she didn’t get to go last night. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all, I’d like that,” Hayli smiled.
“Want to go get some lunch, just the two of us?”
“Sure,” Hayli smiled as she stood up from the couch and headed to their bedroom to get dressed. She noticed Tyler behind her in the mirror as she finished her mascara, “I still think you’re beautiful without it,” he smiled as Hayli set the tube down on her side of the sink.
Hayli looked up and smiled as she unscrewed the lid off of her lip gloss, “I think you’re beautiful too,” she said causing Tyler to laugh.
“Brad tells me all the time,” he joked causing Hayli to roll her eyes.
“I forgot, Jamie and I are in a relationship with the lovers of the Boston Bruins.”
“Bite me,” Tyler said wrapping his arms around her waist as he stared at her in the mirror.
“Maybe later,” Hayli replied leaning her head against his chest. Tyler kissed the side of her neck and Hayli smiled even though she wanted to cry as Tyler’s lips hit the make-up covered hickey from Patrice.
“I’m holding you to that,” he replied, “Are you ready?”
Hayli nodded her head and they left the apartment to head over to Caffé Vittoria, a small Italian café in Boston that Tyler knew was Hayli’s favorite restaurant, tonight he was taking her to L’Espalier, a small French restaurant in the city. Brad insisted on Tremont 647 but Tyler told him no because it was the restaurant where him and Brad were known as the shirtless drunks on the bar.
Tyler and Hayli made small talk over lunch and they walked around the city taking in the Boston fall in Boston Common.
“Let’s go on a boat ride,” Tyler said and Hayli nodded her head in agreement as Tyler lead her to the small bridge.
Tyler wrapped his arm around her waist and they were cuddled together on the small bench on the boat as they rowed down the small pond. Hayli forgot all about what had happened the night before as Tyler placed a kiss on her lips and they got lost in their own little world.
Tyler kept his arm around Hayli as they docked and headed to their car to head home. Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was time to go home and get changed to head out with Brad and Jamie.
“What’s up Ho-li,” Brad said as Hayli stepped into the living room.
“Don’t you look handsome,” she said complimenting Brad who was completely shocked that she didn’t fire back an insult.
“Aw, no comeback, princess?”
“Leave her alone before I slap the shit out of you,” Jamie said hugging Hayli, “Happy Birthday, sweetie.”
“Thanks,” Hayli smiled fixing the purple dress that she was wearing. Jamie was wearing a black dress with lace sleeves, both Brad and Tyler had on suits.
“They clean up nicely, don’t they,” Hayli said as Brad and Tyler argued in the mirror over who looked the hottest.
“You both look like tools,” Jamie snapped, “Let’s go.”
Tyler drove them to the restaurant in his Range Rover, “I was going to book a limo but not even Tyler Seguin can get a limo at the last minute. There isn’t enough glass seats in the world for the owner and his kids.”
“Oh, how tragic,” Brad said, “Strap the bitch to the roof.”
“We need two cars, one for you and one for your nose,” Hayli said and Brad kneed the back of her seat.
“Bradley,” Jamie snapped, “Act your fucking age for once in your life.”
Tyler laughed, reaching across the console, taking Hayli’s hand in his own. Hayli smiled slightly before staring out the window watching the skyline appear in the distance.
When they arrived to the restaurant, Hayli and Jamie went to the bathroom to fix their make-up. Tyler and Brad were seated at a table in the back; the restaurant was crowded on a Saturday night as usual. Patrice and his wife, Stephanie walked into the restaurant.
“Patrice,” Brad greeted standing up, “What’s up?”
“Not much, how are you guys,” Patrice asked shaking both of their hands.
“We’re great, just out celebrating my girl’s birthday,” Tyler replied and Patrice felt his palms go sweaty at the mention of Hayli.
“Tell her that I said Happy Birthday,” Patrice smiled.
“Why don’t you guys join us,” Brad said, “We have two extra chairs and Tyler doesn’t mind, the more, the merrier right?”
Patrice asked Stephanie if it was okay with her and she agreed. Patrice pulled out the chair for her and they sat down falling into conversation with both Tyler and Brad. Patrice was hoping that Stephanie would say no because he knew it would be awkward between him and Hayli.
Hayli and Jamie were walking back from the bathroom when Hayli stopped dead in her tracks as she noticed Patrice sitting at the table. He was talking to Brad when he looked up and caught her eye; he smiled slightly as Jamie turned around and asked her if she was okay. Hayli lied and said she was before she sat down next to Tyler giving him a kiss on his cheek feeling Patrice’s eyes on her.
The only open seat after Jamie sat down was in between Tyler and Patrice. Stephanie wished her a “Happy Birthday,” and Hayli felt the bile rise in her throat. After dinner was over and they fell into conversation about the parade, Hayli felt a hand brush her thigh repeatedly. She gasped as she felt the finger tips grace the inside of her thigh, looking over at Patrice who was smirking as the table wasn’t paying attention to him, she slapped his hand away and moved her chair closer to Tyler.
Tyler smiled at her as she leaned closer; he placed a kiss on her lips before the waiter brought a cake out to the table. The table quietly sang to Hayli. Hayli excused herself from the table to go to the bathroom after they finished the cake. Hayli was standing in the sink splashing her face with water when she felt someone come in behind her.
“It’s just me,” Patrice whispered.
“Get the hell out of here,” Hayli snapped, “I told you we were done this morning.”
“Hayli,” he whispered reaching out for her, “Don’t say that.”
Hayli left the bathroom and rejoined them at the table, “Are you ready to go,” Tyler asked as she came back to the table.
“I’m ready when you are,” she smiled fidgeting.
“Are you okay,” he asked.
“I’m fine, I promise,” she replied and Tyler took her word and they headed back to their apartment where Hayli was going to open her gift from Brad and Jamie.
As they drove back to the apartment, Hayli felt guilty. Tyler had made her birthday special, and she was grateful but she couldn’t enjoy it lying to him and to herself that she was done with Patrice.
I can’t laugh about it
It’s not worth my time
I can live without him
Just a beautiful liar
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