He sits in one of the empty chairs. “I got some time before I have to leave. Talk to me.”
So, I do. I tell him everything Alek has said and done since the award show, how it all makes me feel, and where my head is at right now.
I’m wiped out after going over it for the second time.
“Look.” He sighs, snatching his hat off his head and flipping it around so the bill faces backwards. It’s a familiar move that lets me know he’s about to get serious as fuck. “Love is fucking scary, obviously. You gave him all of you before, and he ran from it, doing his best to keep a distance between you two. Now, he’s the one that’s all in, and you’re running scared.”
“No, I’m not,” I snap harshly.
Titan gives me a look that tells me I’m so full of shit he’s surprised I can still breathe.
“You are, Hayvin Marie, and you know it. You’re scared, and it’s understandable, but you can’t run forever, Love Bug. It isn’t the life you want, believe me.” He reaches over and grabs my hands. “It’s okay to be scared, but don’t let it control you. You said you think you want to give him a chance to see the man he’s refused to show you over the last three years. Take it slow. Let him prove it to you. From what I’ve seen and what you’ve told me, from a male’s perspective, Alek loves you. I don’t know his history or anything, but I can tell you that sometimes men struggle to show their emotions because the world around us doesn’t make it easy. They expect us to be tough and stoic and act like shit doesn’t affect us.”
“You were never afraid to show yours,” I point out.
“Because mom made sure I wasn’t. Our dad wasn’t exactly the best person. He considered emotions a weakness, but Mom always said they were our strengths and she never let us hide from them. It doesn’t mean we never did. It just means it was easier for us to accept them.”
“So, you think I should give him another chance?”
Titan tugs on a lock of my hair. “I think you should do what feels right in your heart, Vin. It’s your life. You’re the one who has to live it. We’re all just bystanders.”
I blow out a huge breath. “Thanks.”
He stands and opens his arms for a hug. I step in, holding him tight, not sure when I’ll see him next. Something tells me the next time, he’ll be changed—like there’s someone waiting for him back home he needs to make things right with.
Titan kisses me on the top of my head before stepping away and turning to tell his sister bye.
We follow him out to my porch, both of us lost in our thoughts as we watch him head towards his car.
“Hey, Tan,” I call out.
He turns around and lifts a brow.
“Maybe it’s time for you to stop running, too.”
His eyes widen, and even from here, I can see his jaw clenching. I lift a brow with a smirk, daring him to spew some bullshit.
Titan shakes his head with a small smile. “Yeah,” he says gruffly. “Suppose it is.”
The rest of the day, Everleigh and I do everything we can to distract ourselves from the mess our hearts are in.
But as I climb into bed, my mind can’t help but drift to Alek and then Titan’s words.
I think you should do what feels right in your heart, Vin.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I grab my phone and pull up the message thread between me and Alek.
Two simple words.
Yet, I have a feeling they’re about to change my life.
Prove it.
They're Nice Words
Alek
Mylifehasunraveledin ways I never imagined. I never thought I’d fuck things up badly enough to lose the woman I love. Still, I refuse to surrender my last hope that she’ll forgive me.
