Alexis's alarm woke her at six. Tyler had sent her a text the night before, asking that she meet at his house bright and early the next morning. She wondered if this time he intended to take her fishing. Knowing Tyler, it was something completely unexpected. He never ceased to amaze her with his thoughtfulness and ingenuity.
She showered and dressed, choosing a simple cotton dress in emerald green that highlighted the flecks in her eyes. She closed the front door quietly on the way out, hoping not to disturb her parents. She wanted her father to get some much-needed rest.
When she arrived at his house, Tyler was perched on the front porch waiting for her. "Good morning, sunshine," he greeted her.
"No blindfolds today?" she teased.
"Maybe later," he winked. "This morning, we're hitting up Little Tuna."
"What's Little Tuna?" she asked, her face a blank.
"Your parents never took you there?" Tyler asked in amazement. "It's an island staple."
"I'm not even sure what it is," Alexis admitted. "Seafood restaurant?"
"Better," Tyler said, his blue eyes bright with excitement. "It's the fishmonger down by the harbor."
"Oh," Alexis said. "The MacAdams are a meat and potatoes family. My dad won't eat fish."
"Yet he lives on a tropical island." Tyler shook his head. "I feel sorry for him."
"Don't bother," Alexis said. "He thinks salmon is too exotic."
Tyler pointed to the shed. "Grab a set of wheels, my lady. I am going to show you what you've been missing all these years.
Alexis walked over to the shed and cautiously opened the door. She halfexpected to fight her way through cobwebs and dusty music gear.
"There's no monster in my closet," he called from the side of the house where his own bicycle rested against the exterior.
Alexis breathed a sigh of relief when she stepped inside and was met with neatly stacked boxes and a shiny red bicycle complete with a wicker basket on the handlebars.
"How perfect," she whispered to herself. She'd loved riding her bike all over the island as a child, yet she hadn't ridden one since then.
Tyler poked his head in the doorway. "All good?"
"Yes," she said, rolling the bike toward the door. Tyler took the bike by the handlebars and pulled it out of the shed in one swift movement.
"I hope red is to your liking," he said.
"Don't mind the color as long as the brakes work," she said.
Alexis could tell in a glance that the bike was in good shape and that Tyler took good care of his belongings as well as his house. She hadn't seen anything of his yet that looked unloved or unkempt and she realized how much she liked that about him.