This is what’s been missing.
How did I ever think I could abandon what we share?
“I know I have work to do,” he says, resting his forehead against mine. “I’m beyond remorseful for what I did to Tremblay—”
“Tytus,” I gently correct.
If there’s a chance of any sort of group dynamic working here, the guys should at least be on a first name basis.
Swallowing, he nods once. “Tytus,” he repeats. “I’m willing to wait. To work for it. To grovel. I’ll do whatever it takes to make this up to you, and to him.”
My chest aches at the remorse radiating from him. I believe every word.
We’ve all made mistakes. Huge, damaging, almost irrevocable mistakes.
“Just make things right with Ty,” I say. “It doesn’t serve any of us for me to hold a grudge on his behalf. Being apart from you over the last few weeks was torture,” I admit. “But I think we’ve both suffered enough.”
He snickers. “On that point, I agree.” Then, quietly, he adds, “You’re sure? Because I’m deeply sorry, and I am fully aware that my actions that night were abhorrent.”
I peer up and nod. “I’m sure. Make things right with Ty. I just need you two to be okay.”
He presses his lips together, his eyes swimming with uncertainty. “Will you help me? I don’t know how I’ll even start to make amends.”
Head tilted, I lace my fingers with his.
“Ty is… intense.”
Mercer scoffs.
Okay.Intensemight be an understatement.
But for as delusional and unreasonable as he was weeks ago, he was calm and focused and agreeable this morning. I’m certain he took our earlier conversation to heart.
The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been. He knows what has to happen now, and I sincerely believe he’ll be amenable to finding common ground.
“Tytus and I talked this morning,” I share. “A lot of the things that went down between the two of us weren’t okay.”
Mercer stiffens beside me, leaning in like he wants to know more.
But if we really want this to work, we can’t keep harping on what happened in the past and who did what to whom.
“I’m choosing to forgive him so we can all move forward. He knows that I need you and Noah in my life and that I won’t give you up ever again.”
Those words are accompanied by a fear I wish I could put to rest, but my connection with Ty is volatile and precarious. Yes, he agreed to my ultimatum, but that doesn’t mean any of this will actually work out.
“I can’t speak on his behalf, but he’s promised that he’ll try to make this work. At some point, that’s going to have to involve forgiving you for what happened.”
Mercer is quiet, processing, his focus settled on our joined hands.
“Tytus will forgive you because he knows it’s important to me. While I don’t think it’ll happen overnight,” I hedge, “I have to believe it’s possible.”
Mercer kisses my forehead, leaving his lips pressed against my skin while he murmurs, “I hope like hell you’re right, LittleNuisance. I’m not giving you up for anything. Not now or ever again.”
Chapter thirty-one
Noah
Ihear Tytus coming when he’s halfway down the hall, but I don’t look up from the eggs I’m cooking when he steps into the kitchen. I don’t want to spook him or scare him off.
