She sat, then stood, then sat again. Her hands wouldn’t stay still. She smoothed her hair, checked her phone, and smoothed her hair again.
“You’re nervous,” Joe observed.
“I broke up with him yesterday. Via text. Now I’m showing up to tell him I was wrong. Of course I’m nervous.”
“He’ll be glad to see you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do, actually. We talked about you today. He asked how you were doing and if you were okay.” Joe’s expression was knowing. “That man is in love with you, Brooke. Even if he hasn’t said it yet.”
The words filled her with warmth and sent a smile across her face. “What if—”
A knock at the door cut her off.
Brooke’s heart jumped into her throat. Joe moved to answer it, and there was Tyler, standing in the doorway with exhaustion written across his face.
Then he saw her.
Everything about him changed. His expression shifted from tired to happy to something else. Something that made Brooke’s knees weak.
“Brooke,” he said, and just her name in his voice was enough to make her certain she’d made the right choice coming here.
“Hi.”
Tyler stepped inside, his eyes never leaving hers. Joe said something about getting drinks and giving them a minute, but Brooke barely heard him. Her entire world was Tyler.
The black eye Rusty had given him looked painful. And he looked like he hadn’t slept well, like maybe he’d been up all night thinking about her the same way she’d been thinking about him.
“I wasn’t sure you’d be here,” Tyler said.
“Joe called. Asked if I wanted to come.”
“Are you glad you did?”
Brooke took a step closer. “Yes.”
“I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to call earlier and tell you that the breakup was a mistake, that we’re better together.”
“I wanted to tell you the same thing.”
They stood there, three feet apart, the space between them charged with everything unsaid. Brooke wanted to close the distance, wanted to touch him, kiss him, make sure he was real and here and hers.
But she needed to say it first. Needed him to know.
“I love you,” Brooke said, the words tumbling out before she could second-guess them. “I don’t care what the town thinks. I don’t care about the danger or the gossip or any of it. I love you, and I want to be with you.”
“Brooke— ”
“Let me finish.” She took another step closer. “I was scared. Iamscared. But not of you. I’m scared of losing you. I’m scared of getting this wrong. Scared I’m going to mess things up. And I might. I’m a mess sometimes, and I do stupid things. But staying away from you isn’t the answer. Fighting for us is.”
“I love you too,” Tyler said, his voice rough with emotion. “Mess and all.”
The distance between them disappeared. Brooke wasn’t sure who moved first, but suddenly she was in his arms, and he was holding her like she was the only solid thing in a world gone sideways.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered against his chest. “For the text. For pulling away.”
“Don’t be sorry. You were trying to protect yourself.” Tyler pulled back enough to look at her. “But Joe’s right. We’re stronger together.”
