The next day,
Lunch,
Brewed Cafe
"I'm sorry, did I hear you correctly?" Tyler frowned and opened his mouth to continue but he stopped himself and swept his eyes around before leaning to me for a whisper. "You want me to hack Mariano Il Volo's schedule? The Mariano Il Volo?" Tyler whisper-yelled and I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. Since River is abroad, this is the perfect time to execute my plan. I will try to behave and keep my promise on staying out of trouble. Hopefully.
"Yes, Tyler. You heard me correctly. Now go back to your seat because the waitress lady is looking scandalized. It's not as if we're eating each other's faces."
Tyler blushed and flicked my forehead with a huff. "You're not my type, Arden. I want someone who is a daddy material." Oh, yeah. Tyler is a little so I am very protective of him which explained why he never had a boyfriend. I don't want him to get hurt and I know jerks when I see one so I immediately shoo them away.
Well, that's what I thought, but Tyler found a douchebag; the one who cheated on him and broke up with him. I can't watch over him all the time and since he seemed happy with the dirtbag, I let him be. One month later, which was yesterday, he called me crying.
"Have you moved on from that scumbag?" I sipped on my iced coffee and took a bite of my chocolate cake. God. Coffee and chocolate? The best for me. This café has the best chocolate cake and iced coffee in town. Tyler and I have been eating here for who knows when and since we are regulars, they always reserved our favorite spot for us come lunch.
I don't work with Tyler in the same company but my workplace is just a block away from him and this cafe is located in the middle. I work as an art curator in a small but exclusive art gallery. River's acquaintance works there so River recommended me for the job. I love art so River made a good decision. Since I enjoy my job, it means that I would keep out of trouble and will not slack off.
I sometimes wonder what made River think that he couldn't trust me when I'm outside. Was it that time in senior year when I accidentally broke the glass window of the claw machine in the arcade center? In my defense, it was super rigged. I spent five dollars on that thing and I couldn't even get one toy out. It was at the heat of the moment and I only broke two, not the entire row of claw machines.
Maybe it was that time when I hit my guy classmate with a bat after we won the baseball championship during intramurals, junior year? That fucker tried to steal my first kiss and I was holding a bat. He was bound to get hit. What made him think that I was the least interested in him? "Hey, Ty. Remember that guy who tried to kiss me in junior high?"
Tyler's frown deepened and stuffed his face with baked mac and cheese, his favorite. He could eat it morning, noon, and night, and he will still ask for more for his snack. "Yeah. Good thing he didn't suffer a concussion. Why?"
"He tried to kiss me because he thought I like him. Why did he think that?"
Tyler blinked slowly and snapped his fingers. "It was because you kept staring at him! Kind of, because he was wearing a limited-edition t-shirt from your favorite band. You wanted so bad to get it."
My mood soured when an unpleasant memory flashed in my mind. "That fucker. I remember now. He was the one who bribed the security guard to let him inside the shop first. I was not staring at him; I was glaring. He should've known the difference."
Tyler nodded and reached for his salted caramel frappe. "Back to my question. Did you have sex with him and give him your virgini--"
Tyler's eyes widened and he covered my mouth with his hands. He looked around with a blush and sighed in relief when no one paid us any attention. I rolled my eyes and removed his hand. "Someone might hear us, Arden. Please, control your mouth."
"Fine. Did you?" I arched my brow and threw him a scrutinizing gaze.
"No. I was about to when I saw him humping another boy. I should've listened to you when you told me about watching out for those who only wants sex." Tyler gritted his teeth and blinked his tears away. He hid it by sipping on his drink but his lips and fingers were trembling. Tyler has soft features that will make you turn your head to look at him. He's gorgeous and innocent. Also, his naivete is what worries me but so far, he was able to survive without speed bumps, except when he met his scumbag ex.
I stood up and sat beside him, then offered him my shoulder. "No, I'm sorry, Tyler. I have been pushing my beliefs in you instead of letting you explore. You're my best friend and I don't want to see you hurt. Aunt Becca, you, and River are the only ones I consider family. I don't want my hatred towards men to rub off on you but I want you to be more careful in the future, okay?" I stroked his brown hair and gave his arm a comforting squeeze. Tyler nodded and nuzzled on my neck.
"Thank you for being my best friend, Arden. I promise to pick carefully when it comes to my future partner," he sniffled and I offered him a handkerchief. "I guess this means that I have to help you hack the schedule of a billionaire bachelor," Tyler added with a smile and I think the world lit up for a second.
"You're the best, Ty. I will make you a godfather of my child when my plan becomes a success." Tyler shook his head amusingly and we finished our lunch before we go back to our workplace.
****
After a few hours
6 pm
"Okay. What do you have for me?" I asked nervously and wiped the line of sweat pooling on my hairline. Tyler slid a manila folder across the table and looked around. We decided to do this exchange in the cafe, but in the corner part of the establishment where we cannot be easily seen.
I gulped hard and pulled a white envelope from my jacket and placed it on the table. Tyler was also looking at me nervously, his fingers on the manila folder. "In three, we exchange," Tyler said and I nodded. "One... two... thre--"
"Hey, guys. What do you want to order?" Pam, our favorite waitress who always gives us extra whip cream, extra gravy, and extra choco syrup, asked.
Tyler and I cleared our throats and we both exchanged envelopes. "I want the spicy chicken burger and a chocolate milkshake."
"I'll have one order of parmesan pasta and an iced coffee. Thanks, Pam."
Pam nodded with a small smile and when she left, Tyler and I heaved a sigh of relief. I opened the folder and Tyler printed out Mariano's schedule for the next five days. He has three major schedules for the week: having a meal at his favorite restaurant, visiting his favorite gallery, and having a private party at one of the most high-end clubs in New York. Okay. I think I can follow him to the first two but to an exclusive club?
"How can I enter the club--" Tyler slid a black and elegant envelope with gold lettering without taking his sparkly eyes off of the ticket I got him for a cosplay event. It's an exclusive event too and I spent a thousand dollars to buy him that ticket. Well, the intel he gave me is worth more than that ticket. "Thanks, Tyler. Did I mention how amazing you are?"
Tyler giggled and finally put the ticket away. "Always. Good luck tomorrow, Arden. Keep me posted, okay?"
"Sure."
"What's your plan, by the way? Talk to him and lay out your plan to get pregnant? Will he agree?"
I crossed my arms and sighed. "I'm not sure, but maybe, if I talk to him nicely, he'll see my point. It's worth a try."
He nodded and smiled. "Okay. Just don't get careless. River will have my head if he founds out that I'm supporting your crazy plan."
I grimaced when I heard River's name. "I will, Tyler. Now help me plan what to do tomorrow and how I can go to his favorite restaurant without acting like a stalker."
"You are becoming one, Arden," Arden deadpanned.
I dismissed his unnecessary remark and opened the map on my phone. "Yes! Only five blocks from here! How lucky am I? Right?"
Tyler sighed and nodded. "Sure. When will you go there? If it's morning, I won't be able to accompany you since I have work, and you have too, if you forgot." I returned to my seat and waved him dismissively.
"Not a problem. I will use my paid leave."
"Your boss might get suspicious and tell River." I have thought about that too but I have a plan.
"The Reapers are coming here in three days for a concert. They know how much I love them so I'll just make an excuse and tell them that I'll volunteer to help in the tour promotion."
Tyler gasped softly. "But you love them, Arden. Not love, that's not the correct term: you are obsessed with them. Remember? You hit our classmate with a bat because of a band shirt."
With a shrug, I sipped on my drink. "They can't give me a child, can they? Anyway, come to our house for a sleepover?"
"Why? A movie marathon?" Not only is Tyler a cosplayer and a Comic-Con enthusiast, but he's also a film lover.
I smiled a little. "Kinda. Bring some markers and a whiteboard."
Tyler looked at me in confusion. "Why? Are we going to take notes?"
"Hmm." Tyler frowned at my short reply and he narrowed his gaze at me.
"You look suspicious but since there will be a film marathon, I will ignore it." Tyler went back to his food while I jumped internally for a job well done.
Oh, Tyler. We will have to fix that gullibility of yours but before that, you are going to help me. Don't worry, River. I will try to keep myself away from trouble.
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