Long Way Home - Page 94/145

She cocked her head. "Let me guess, the janitor drinks at your bar."

Tyler grinned. "He does, but he also plays poker with me."

"High places, indeed."

Tyler turned the key in the lock and swung the door open with dramatic flair. He gestured for her to go first. Hesitantly, Alexis walked into the darkness. She felt Tyler's hand move to the small of her back and felt that electric current spread throughout her body. He filled the space behind her and closed the door. She couldn't see her hand in front of her face.

"These lights are here somewhere," he said, feeling along the wall.

Suddenly, Alexis saw a small circle of light appear beside her.

"What's that?" she asked with a start.

"Flashlight app." He swirled it around in the darkness. "Oooh, scary."

"You're ridiculous," she said, laughing.

"Ridiculously sexy." With that, the hallway lights were switched on and Alexis was transported back to high school.

"Holy crap," she breathed, taking in the entrance hall. She was instantly flooded by memories. "It looks the same."

"It does," he agreed.

"Have you been here since graduation?" she asked.

"I have. Sometimes they have evening classes here or charity events. It's used by the whole community."

"I never thought I'd see it again." She touched the light green walls and wondered which color-blind administrator thought light green was the right color for the school hallways.

"Welcome to Woodrow Wilson High School," Tyler said, imitating a tour guide. "Today you'll be learning how the most unique of humans, the teenager, eats, exercises and learns within these hallowed halls."

"You should've brought your guitar," Alexis said. "A musical guided tour would've been much cooler."

"I didn't want to cheat."

"Cheat?" She shook her head, confused. "What do you mean?"

"If I had strummed my guitar while making you feel seventeen again, your hormones would've raged. You wouldn't have been able to keep your hands off me."

He shrugged modestly. "Unfair advantage."

She broke into a wide smile. "You really think the ladies have a thing for musicians, don't you?"

He shrugged. "Years of hard evidence."

She raised an eyebrow. "Hard evidence, eh?"

"Let's start our tour, shall we?" He clasped her hand and began walking toward the gym.

"School dance memories," she said, as they pushed through the double doors.

The lights in the gym flickered on automatically.

"You went with that moron, Josh," Tyler grumbled.

Alexis glanced at him in amazement. "Tyler Barnes, are you still jealous of a boy who took me to the prom all those years ago?"

His blue eyes blazed. "Hell, yes." "Who did you take to the prom?" she asked.