Tyler's POV

I begin typing a text message to Carrie, and then erase it. I do this three or four times, write a lame greeting and delete it each time. What I want to say to her has to be done in person. There are no emojis that can fully express how I feel, and I need to be able to see her facial expressions to know that my words have the intended impact. It's too late in the night to have this conversation now, so I just turn on the TV and fall asleep on the couch watching a documentary about the mating habits of seahorses.

In the morning, I rush to the gym and spend a good hour working out, even fitting in a sparring session with my friend Mike. He used to box professionally, but has retired and settled down to start a family a couple of years ago.

"How's Lori and the kids?" I ask, putting a clean shirt over my head, and tossing the sweaty clothes into the gym bag.

"Good. I think we're gonna bite the bullet and do Disneyland this summer," he says.

"Nice. I still remember when our parents took Tiff and I for the first time. Pirates of the Caribbean was my favorite," I tell him, and can't help but smile remembering how Tiffany was clutching onto me during the entire boat ride.

"Yeah, I gotta admit, I'm a little excited myself," Mike confesses, a goofy grin plastered on his face.

"I can tell," I chuckle, as I imagine Mike, who at 6'3, 250 lbs, and is basically a giant mass of muscle, getting on It's a Small World, and smiling like a kid.

"Don't laugh. Some day you'll be just like me, standing in line for a Mickey Mouse meet and greet with two kids in tow."

"Nope, not me. I'm not getting into that trap."

"You say that now, but just you wait. Once your girl's biological clock starts clicking away..."

"I'm still working on getting the girl. And when I do get her, we'll just take it nice and easy... no big time commitments."

Mike looks at me with a wistful smile...or is it pity? "I used to be just like you. A big time player. Women were just part of the fun. Playtime. But then once you meet that special woman. Bang! You're dead, man. There ain't nothin you can do. There is no fighting it. You just gotta welcome it and be grateful."

"Well, if that ever happens, I'll let you know," I say, and sling my gym bag over my shoulder.

As I walk out to my car, I start thinking about the women I've been with in my life. The long term relationships. There are maybe a handful that I would consider serious. But even as I considered each one of my ex girlfriends, I realized that at no point did I imagine a lifetime with any of them. The idea of marriage has always been a sort of a terrifying concept for me. Certainly not a practical way to live--to spend your entire life with only one person sounds a bit unrealistic. And I think statistics on divorce can back up my logic.

It's hard enough to find a suitable partner and make it last for at least a couple of years, let alone decades of cohabitation. And kids? No thanks. I can't think of a bigger fucking relationship killer, not to mention a cock block. That's why I like to keep things simple. I don't mind a committed monogamous relationship, in fact, I prefer that to casual hook ups, but the idea of forever with someone seems way too complicated, not to mention completely insane. Take Nicole, for instance: I thought we had something special going, but clearly it wasn't special enough if she felt it was worth putting our relationship on the line to further her career. The truth is, it's hard to find anyone who's truly trustworthy. Come to think of it, my sister is really the only woman that I trust implicitly. In my experience most women have some sort of a hidden agenda or a game they're playing... I wonder if Carrie is like that too. If underneath the sweet, good girl image, she's really just like the rest of them. I cringe at the thought.

My phone rings as I get into my car. It's Tiffany.

"What's up?" I answer.

"Hey, Ty. Whatcha doing?"

"Nothing much. Was going to come by the restaurant in a little while. You there now?"

"Well, yeah, but I need to take off early today."

"Sure. Why, what do you have going on?"

Silence. "Hello? You there?"

"Alex and I are moving in together," she says. What the fuck!

"Um, no you're not," I tell her.

"Ty, please listen to me. I know you think it's too soon, and we've only just met--"

"Yeah, like two minutes ago!" I bark at her. "Forget it, Tiff. Ain't gonna happen. I don't know what kind of cool-aid he's got you on, but this shit is not going down on my watch!"

"It is happening, Tyler. I've already arranged for the movers, and--"

"You've what?! Are you nuts? Tiffany, you're my baby sister, and it is my job to protect you, even if it is from yourself, and I'm sorry, but this is not okay."

"Well, I appreciate your concern, and I know it's coming from a good place, but Tyler... I....I love him."

"Love him? So, fine, love him, and date him, and have a good time. Why do you need to move in with him? Next thing you know he'll want to share bank accounts, and then he's got you signing a lease on a car for him, and you're on a hook, sis. And I won't be there to bail you out this time."

"Are you always going to throw that in my face? John was a creep, okay? Alex is different. He would never use me that way. And I trust him."

"Well, you trusted John too. Why do you have to live together? I just don't get it. It only complicates everything."

"Because, Ty, when you find someone you love, you want to see them and spend time with them every second you get."

What can I say to this crazy stubborn girl right now? What can I do to make her see the error of her ways? "Tiffany, you have to understand. You're all the family I got. I have to keep you safe. Alex is a good guy, but I don't know him that well. Don't know if he's good enough. And now he's got you. And..."

"Ty, I'll always be your baby sister. No matter who is in my life, no man can take your place, you know that, right? And you just have to trust my judgement on this."

"If he hurts you in any way--"

"He won't. And if it doesn't work out, I promise, I'll be the first one to say 'you were right', but for now, could you please, just somehow try to be happy for me?"

I squeeze the phone in my hand, and close my eyes feeling resigned. "Yes," I say, hoping that in time I'll really mean it.