When I hear the front door shut, and a couple things knocked over, I know Tyler is home from out with Mike. It's been a routine lately. Him saying he'll be home at a decent hour, and then not coming home until 3 and 4 in the morning. The first few times, I would stay awake to make sure he got home alive - not in the ditch somewhere dead. Eventually, after it happened more times than I could count, I'd go to sleep and wake up the next morning to breakfast he made as an "apology".
Tonight was different though.
I was getting ready for bed, and checked twitter to find that he had posted all these pictures with some girl he must have met at the bar. He didn't kiss her in any of the pictures but he didn't look uncomfortable in the pictures either.
So here I am, not able to sleep because I can't get the pictures out of my head. He's such an idiot.
When I hear him come up the stairs and into the room, I resist the urge to shut the door.
"Hey," he says, slurring a little bit.
I watch as he stumbles in to the room and strips down to his boxers before somehow making it to the bed where he flops down, not even bothering to get under the covers.
I don't bother to answer him because I know that within seconds, he'll be out like a light.
***
I'm not surprised to wake up to an empty bed, nor am I surprised to smell bacon and eggs coming from the kitchen. I take my time walking downstairs, and when I come to the kitchen, I stop in the doorway. Ty looks fine, freshly showered, humming along to the radio. He looks up from the eggs he is cooking and smiles.
"Morning, beautiful."
I don't reply, and he frowns.
"I'm sorry I was late last night. I-"
"Lost track of time?" I ask, finishing his excuse. The exact same one he uses every single time.
"Yeah,"
I start walking towards the door, and his voice stops me.
"Wait - where are you going?" He asks, running over and tugging me back by my hand. When I turn around he's frowning even more like he doesn't have a damn clue why I'm angry.
"I can't do this anymore Tyler. I'm so sick of expecting you home every night and then being left disappointed all the time." I say.
"I said I am sorry! I can't help that I lost track of time."
"That's all I hear!" I yell. "I'm sorry or it won't happen again. Excuses Tyler, all I get are excuses."
His eyes cloud with fury and he takes a step back. "I'm doing my best okay? What do you want - for me not go out at all? Stay home every night and what - hang out and watch movies?"
My eyes fill with tears and I take a few steps back, putting some distance between us.
"Who was the girl?"
Confusion passes over his face. "What?"
"The girl. Who's the girl in the pictures you put up on twitter?"
His face pales slightly, and he takes his phone out of his pocket. I watch as his brows furrow together before he looks up at me.
"It was just a fan, she asked for a picture and I said yes."
I cross my arms over my chest. "That's all huh?"
"Uh - yeah. That's all." He says in a snobby tone.
"Well why don't you give her a call and ask her to come eat the breakfast you cooked." I say and turn around again to leave.
"Why don't you believe me?" He asks, obviously getting frustrated..
"Because I can't!" I yell, turning around to glare at him. "How can I believe you when you're out all night, and I have no idea what you're doing."
"You don't trust me." He says, and it's not a question - it's a statement.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't need to."
We don't say anything. We both stand there, daggers shooting out of our eyes. I don't know what to do anymore. I don't understand how he can be so careless, and inconsiderate of my feelings.
"I hate you right now." I say, "but I also love you so I guess that means I'm screwed huh?"
He frowns and looks away. "I'm sorry."
"You said that already."
"and I'll say it a million times if that's what it takes for you to forgive me." He says, looking back at me and I see his eyes looking glazed.
"I don't want apologizes. I want you to stop promising you'll be home if you can't."
He nods, and he slowly walks over so he's standing in front of me. "I can try harder. I'll try to be more considerate of your feelings if you'll give me a second chance."
"Okay." I say and a heartwarming smile comes on to Ty's face. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"Oh and Ty?" I say and he makes a hum noise in the back of his throat.
"The bacon is burning."
credit to @/letstalkabouthockey on tumblr