Chapter 74: 12

Aster walked into the house and was met by a delicious smell. She knew Tyler was here. She saw his car outside. Aster made her way to the kitchen to find Tyler frying something in a pan. “Something smells good. What is that?”

“Frybread.” He said, pointing to a plate where a few were cooling. “Try it.”

Aster picked up a piece and took a bite. It was really good. “This is delicious. Where did you learn to make this?” Tyler gave her a funny look. Like he couldn’t believe she had asked him such a foolish question. “Right,” she blushed, “I just thought assuming you could make frybread because you are Indigenous would be racist.”

“It is.” He snarled. Aster was surprised. He seemed mad at her. Suddenly he smiled. “I’m just messing with you. Although it is racist to assume every Indigenous person in the world can make frybread, I can.

My mother taught me, and her mother taught her and so on.”

“Well, it’s very yummy, and I’m a baker. I know, yummy.” She kissed him. She said, opening the fridge to find a drink.

“How was your day?”

“It was alright. I got a lot done. It got a little weird at the end of the day. I had this one guy come.”

Suddenly Tyler’s undivided attention was fixated on Aster. “Guy, what guy?”

“Some guy came in for an anniversary cake. I got a really creepy vibe from him.”

“What did he look like?”

“Tall, bald, tattooed….”

“Offensive tattoos?”

“Yeah, how did you know that?” She asked “Lucky guess.” He said, coming to the table to sit with her. “I’m sure there is nothing to be worried about, but all the same, maybe I should go to work with you. Just for a few days.”

“I told you….”

“I know, there is not much room in the bakery, but I take up very little space, I promise. I’ll just sit in a corner out of the way.”

“What are you not telling me?” She asked. She could tell he was keeping something from her.

“Nothing.”

“Do you think I’m an idiot? Something is going on here. I know it is, and I demand that you tell me what is going on.”

He was reluctant at first. “The reason I got fired was that I attacked a perp. A skinhead that beat his wife. I lost my cool when he threatened to hurt…” It was like he didn’t want to worry her, “he threatened to hurt you. I believe the guy you met was the man I assaulted. I’m worried about your safety.”

Well, that answered a lot of questions. She thought it cute that he felt the need to protect her, but it was unfounded. Aster didn’t need Tyler to protect her. She was a Lycan. It didn’t matter how big and bad a man was. She would always be the stronger one in the fight. She didn’t need his protection.

“Tyler, I swear I am fine. I can handle this. I don’t need you to protect me.”

“You don’t understand. This dude is a really bad guy.”

“I’m not exactly a china doll. If you remember, I have teeth and claws. I can tear a man limb from limb by myself. I don’t need protecting.”

“All the same, I don’t want you to be alone.” He was so relentless on the issue. “Please, for the sake of my own sanity.”

Aster rolled her eyes. “Fine, but the first time you get in my way, I’m kicking you out of the bakers.”

“Fair enough.”

“Now, I’m going to go shower, and then we can decide what to do tonight.”

“I actually thought we would go into Aspin and have dinner at Rosa’s Table.” Rosa’s Table was a popular Italian restaurant that catered to wealthy tourists. Its menu was amazing but also extremely pricy. “I made a reservation for six.”

“I thought you lost your job?”

“I did.”

“Then isn’t dinner at Rosa’s Table a bit out of our price range.”

“Let me worry about that. You go get cleaned up.”

Giving up, Aster went to her room and stripped away her work clothes. She hopped into the shower and washed the day off her. When she was washed, Aster dressed for her evening. She fixed her hair and makeup. Looking herself over in the mirror, she was satisfied with her appearance.

Aster walked to the living room, where she saw Tyler waiting for her. He had changed into a pair of slack and a maroon dress shirt. Aster was unaware that he had clothes like that here. He had probably stopped at home and picked them up just for this evening’s plans. He looked stunning. Tyler was such a beautiful man inside and out. He was surprisingly accepting of things that would confuse and horrify most humans. Aster had never had a better connection with anyone, man.

They had been getting closer with every passing day, and if she were, to be honest with herself, it scared her. She did not exactly grow up with a healthy representation of a functional relationship between men and women. Her mother had scared her on so many levels. Aster never believed she would ever be able to form a healthy, lasting relationship with anyone. At some point, things with Tyler would end, but she would enjoy the time she had with him. When the moment passed, as it inevitably would, she would move on with her life. He would be nothing but a pleasant memory. Something to smile about in her old age.

“You look striking.” Tyler smiled at her.

“You don’t look bad yourself.”

“Shall we go?”

They got into Tyler’s car and head to the restaurant. Aster had never been to Rosa’s Table, but it was everything she had hoped it would be. The walls were dark warm colours, and the tables were small and intimate with white linen table cloths and candle centrepieces. Tyler pulled out her seat, and Aster sat down. The waiter brought over the wine menu, and they ordered a moderately priced bottle.

“This is a lovely place.” She smiled. “I’ve never been here before, but I have always wanted to.”

“Me too.” He seemed uneasy.

“Are you still hung up on what happened today?”

“No,” he said quickly, “well yeah, but that’s not bothering me right now. This moment is about you and me.”

“Ok.” She smiled, wondering what he was up to. Aster watched as he put his hand in his pocket and toyed with something. She was starting to get a very bad feeling. She watched as Tyler took a small ring from his pocket, and Aster felt her pulse skip a beat. “Aster, I was hopping….”

No please don’t, she thought with despair.

“Will you marry me?” He asked, waiting hopefully for her answer.

Aster was filled with the overwhelming desire to turn tail and run for the hill. She cared for Tyler, but she didn’t want to get married. She never wanted to get married. After watching her parent’s horrid marriage, Aster wanted nothing to do with marriage.

When she did not answer, Tyler sat back in his seat and sighed. “You’re going to say no, aren’t you?”

“Tyler, you must understand. It is not that I am not crazy about you because I am. It’s just that I don’t want to get married to anyone. I don’t believe in marriage. I’m sorry, Tyler. I hope you can understand.”

She said as she got up and walked out. She was certain he needed some time to think about whether or not he felt continuing their relationship was still worth pursuing. She wouldn’t blame him if he decided to cut his losses. Could a relationship really continue unchanged after a rejected marriage proposal?

***

Tyler paid for the wine and relinquished the table to someone who was looking to stay and eat. He wasn’t going to order a meal now that Aster walked out on him. He tucked the ring back into his pocket and drove home to his place. As he walked through the door, he tossed his keys on the kitchen counter and grabbed a beer from the fridge. He didn’t have much in his fridge. He had been spending all his time at Aster’s place.

He found a bag of chips in the cabinets and headed for the couch. Tyler sat down and put on a game.

He found it difficult to follow. His thoughts kept drifting off to Aster and her refusal to marry him. He didn’t understand why. He had been so sure she cared for him. Why wouldn’t she want to be with him?

His heart was broken. Tyler took the ring from his pocket and looked at it. Out of anger, he tossed it across the room.

Fuck it. He was getting shit-faced tonight.

***

“Aster.” Katelyn’s voice drew her from her thoughts. “Aster.” She turned to look at her friend. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, why do you ask?”

“Because you have been staring at that modelling chocolate for over an hour and haven’t done a thing.”

“Right, sorry, my head is elsewhere this morning.” She confessed as she picked up the modelling chocolate and began sculpting the topper for the cake they were working on. The chime from the front door rang, and Aster groaned. She didn’t want to deal with customers today. Aster turned to Katelyn.

“Would you please deal with that? I’m just not up to dealing with people right now.”

Katelyn stood up and wiped off her hands as she headed for the front of the house. Aster returned her attention to her work. Moments later, Katelyn came back, and she wasn’t alone. Right behind her was Tyler. Tyler looked at Katelyn. “Would you give us a moment alone?”

“Take your break,” Aster said. Katelyn nodded and left to take her half-hour break in the coffee house down the street. “I’m surprised to see you.”

“Why? I said I would be here with you.”

“That was before….”

“I know.” They were both quiet for a moment. “I have questions?”

She supposed that was fair. “Ask them.”

“Why? Why don’t you want to marry me?”

“I told you I don’t intend to ever marry anyone. It is nothing against you. I love the time we spend together. Why can’t we live in the moment?”

“I want more than moments. I want forever. I want a future with you. I love you, Aster. Can you say the same?”

She was speechless. Aster didn’t know how to reply because she didn’t know how she felt about him.

She liked him very much. She wanted to be with him, but she just couldn’t say she loved him. Hell, she didn’t even understand love. It had never been a part of her life.

“I love being with you.” She avoided the question. She could see the hurt on his face.

“But you are not in love with me.”

She cast her eyes down. “I am sorry… no. Does this mean we are over?”

“I want to be with you, even if you don’t love me. Who knows, maybe one day you will.” She doubted that very much, but she didn’t feel that it was a good idea to say so. He was already hurting enough at the moment. “I’m good to pretend last night didn’t happen if you are.”

Aster smiled. “Agreed.”

“I do have one more proposal, and hopefully, this one won’t end with you walking out on me.”

“What?” She asked leery.

“I spent most nights at your place and was thinking we might as well move some of my stuff into your place.”

“Hos much?”

“All of it.”

“You want to live together?”

She had never lived with anyone. “It’s as close to marriage as I’m going to get.”

Aster thought about it. He was right. He spent every night at her place. Why not just make it official and let him bring his own things into the house. “Alright.”

Tyler lit up. “Great.” It was nice to see him smiling again.

“Why don’t you go home and pack. I’ll come by after work to help you.”

“Oh no, I’m not leaving. I told you. This skinhead is dangerous, and I’m staying to watch over you.” He said, pulling a stool into a corner of the kitchen. “I’m just going to sit right here and watch.”

“I’ve told you; I don’t need protecting.”

“Humour me.”

Aster rolled her eyes. “Fine.”