[IC] City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

[Tyler Night]

"Probably head back to the water park for a while then head back home and then the resort."

He takes a bite of the burger again.

"I should probably swing by Tuma's Country Gourmet. Store has some amazing food, pick some up and cook it up later or snack on it."

[DELETED08735]

Nodding in agreement, Ele began forming a grocery list in her mind. She could claim it back from her company as business expenses, and it would cost less than eating out every month,

"I'll pick some groceries up too. The suite has a nice kitchen, so I should be able to cook for myself."

[Tyler Night]

"You will have a lot of fun shopping. They call it country gourmet cuz the place looks like a rustic shack. You get inside and you are bombarded with incredible smells. They carry truffles, truffle oil and butter, lots of organic food, they were doing organic before it was the in thing to do. They have more wine choices at low volume than what most super markets have at full volume. Think they have like 200 varieties at any given time that are guaranteed."

He bites into the burger, crunching through a piece of bacon. He smiles looking over at Ele.

"It is fairly inexpensive for most things fortunately."

[DELETED08735]

"Sounds like a mix between the Whole Foods across from my apartment and a BevMo."

She said, setting down her sandwich and leaning back. Taking her drink, Ele smiled at Tyler,

"I have a food baby now!"

Giggling, Ele, put her hand on her usually flat stomach, now there was a definite slight roundness to it,

"What should we name it?"

[Tyler Night]

"Clubber."

He chuckles.

"My grandpa had this one joke he would always start like that. He would put his hand on his stomach and say 'I'm pregnant with an elephant. You wanna see its trunk?'

He laughs.

"He died before I was born but heard so many stories about him."

[DELETED08735]

"Clubber it is! Clubber Casino."

Making a face at the rude joke, Ele rolled her eyes but smiled when Tyler mentioned the stories about his grandfather. Nodding, Ele set her mostly empty glass down,

"I never knew any of my relatives, Mom cut them all off and never told me their names or where they lived. I don't even know if there is anyone else."

[Tyler Night]

"I know a good portion of my family. My dads side has been mostly cut off, but I know many on my moms side. We have over 200 living relatives on my moms side. Lost my Grandma on my moms side back in 2014, she was 92 years old. She couldn't hardly see or hear but her mind was still sharp as a razor. 170 nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews. She remembered them all. Last few years she couldn't hear good enough to make the call but she would get my aunt who was her caretaker to call and wish us happy birthdays."

He smiles.

"Her birthday was July 4th. Most the family would get together and celebrate her birthday and independence day together. When she passed people were thinking that this would be the last time we got together cuz she wasn't around anymore but she told my aunt keep it going after she was gone. She wanted the family to stay close with or without her. So, we still get together every year. Grill out, drink it up, party down."

He smiles and finishes his burger and Dom.

"Most of the family lives in the area though we have some in Wisconsin and Florida as well. They still make it out, just once a year we usually get together and it turns into a blowout."

[DELETED08735]

Taking a sip of her Dom, Ele choked and sputtered when Tyler revealed the number of people in his family, just on his mom's side,

"200?!"

She whisper-screamed in shock, her eyes wide as she leaned forward to listen more closely to Tyler,

"That's insane! Where do you keep everyone?"

Ele asked, very curious to know. She also thought that Tyler was very lucky, to have so many people in his family AND to get to see them regularly. Ele only had he mother, and even then that relationship was so rocky and dysfunctional that Ele preferred to say she was alone.

[Tyler Night]

"Yeah, 200. It is pretty crazy. Most the family is within 3 hours of my home. They actually did a news story on my family based around my grandma. Did interviews with her and my aunt about the family, it was cool to get that kind of recognition."

The waiter walks up with the check, handing it to Tyler. He pulls out a $100 bill and puts it with the check, the waiter picks it up and goes to get his change. He comes back with a 50 and a 5 plus some small change. Tyler puts $10 down as a tip.

"Not a bad price with Dom."

[DELETED08735]

"No way, jose."

Ele said, shaking her head and pulling out her own wallet. Pushing the tip back to Tyler, Ele put down her own contribution to their meal, and even though it wasn't anywhere near what Tyler had provided, Ele was determined to pay something. Plus, she had decided she was going to bake him a dessert or two as thanks,

"Okay, now that I'm not hangry, let's get back to the pool!"

[Tyler Night]

He smirks.

"I think I am gonna put a bet down on a table really quick, I like to put down one bet, win or lose."

He says as he stands up. They start heading out, stopping at one of the high stake black jack tables. He puts down a 50 dollar bet, he see's a 10 pop up, causing him to smile and lick his lips, seeing a 5 for the dealer he smiles bigger yet. He waits for the next deal, with anticipation. The deal is made and he shouts.

"YES!"

Revealing black jack he smiles wide. He receives his payout and cashes out. Pocketing the cash, he smiles at Ele holding up $125.

"Black Jack pays out 2 and a half times the bet."

He says as he walks out with her.

[DELETED08735]

Watching the exchange, Ele smiled when Tyler won, clapping for him happily. As they were leaving, Ele shrugged,

"So that's how you have all the money!"

She teased, nudging Tyler playfully with her elbow as she felt more comfortable with him. The initiated contact was finished quickly though, and Ele drew her elbow in tight to her side.

Smiling again, Ele giggled,

"You're a gambling man with all the luck."

[Tyler Night]

"This is the first time I managed to get a black jack, normally it is a push or a bust."

He walks out with her, looking over at her and chuckles.

"Would you like to take the car for a spin?"

[DELETED08735]

Stopping in her tracks, Ele's eyes were wide. She so wanted to drive the car, it seemed so fun but at the same time...

"You do realize I drove a Ford Focus into a ditch right?"

Her eyes went to the car though, filled with wanting.

"I don't want to hurt it."

[Tyler Night]

"That was during a freak snow storm though. We are on dry pavement with nearly 2 foot wide tires."

He chuckles.

"Being pro charged, the charger kicks in at higher rpm's so you don't have to worry too much about overpowering it."

[DELETED08735]

"I definitely am not afraid of overpowering it... I'm afraid of it overpowering me."

Ele muttered as they approached the car. Hesitating for a moment, Ele went around to the driver side and got in. Tyler was a giant compared to Ele, so she adjusted the seat until it was at her height before she buckled in.

"Okay, walk me through this beast."

[Tyler Night]

"It has a safety feature in place. You gotta fully engage the brake before it will actually fire."

He hands her the keys.

"It is a 2 speed powerglide transmission with overdrive. It is one of the most simple transmissions to use. You will have no trouble with it. This thing will idle down the road at 35."

[DELETED08735]

Taking the keys, Ele blinked blankly at Tyler. It was like he was speaking a different language.

"Was that English?"

She asked, putting the key in the ignition and pressing down the brake. Turning the key, Ele closed her eyes in anticipation of the car not working, but was pleasantly surprised when the familiar bang of the engine exploded through the air.

"I did it!"

Ele cried happily, beaming a bright smile at Tyler before putting the car in gear and easing it forward. The power rumbling through her hands made Ele's heart flutter, and the blood rush in her ears.

[Tyler Night]

"If you really wanna get the blood pumping give it a little more gas when we get to the road. You will chirp the tires and that is a promise and guarantee."

He smiles and straps in.

"You will be able to say that you drove one of the most powerful street cars on the planet legitimately after today."

[DELETED08735]

"You are putting a lot of trust in a girl you met two days ago."

Ele pointed out as she steered the car onto the main road. As soon as they were clear though, Ele put a bit more pressure on the gas, and just like Tyler said, the tires squeaked but the car took off, pressing Ele back in the seat as she laughed. The drive was far too short though, as they were soon back at the water park and Ele was turning into a parking space.

"That was amazing!"

She said, unbuckling herself,

"Thank you!"