“I want to believe it.”
“But you’re not sure. We’re back to that again, huh?”
Brooke didn’t answer. The truth was complicated and messy, and she didn’t know how to put it into words.
They walked in silence for a while.
“We’re not back to that,” she finally said. “I know you weren’t responsible for what happened to your wife. And I believe you about Sheila and Monique too.”
“Do I hear abutin your voice?” he asked.
“Not exactly, it’s just...Joe said there was a question about whether you actually played darts the night Sheila died. Plus, you didn’t go to The Watering Hole on Friday for darts. I thought you would. That’s why I went to the play with Steph.”
“I don’t know where your friend is getting his information, but Iwasplaying darts the night Sheila died. Not at the Watering Hole. I haven’t played there in months, not since they changed from Friday night darts to Thursday night darts. Bronco Willie’s has darts on Friday night.”
He reached for her arm, and they both came to a stop, eyes locking. “And I didn’t go this past Friday night because the guys I usually play with are gone hunting. It’s archery season, and they’re up at their elk camp.”
She held his gaze as she nodded. “That makes sense.” She almost reached for him, wanting that connection, but the moment passed and they started walking again, soon reaching the parking lot.
They stopped near Brooke’s SUV. The sun had dropped lower, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. It was a beautiful evening, but the wrong circumstances.
Brooke reached for Tyler’s hand.
His fingers closed around hers automatically before he seemed to realize what she’d done. “People will talk.”
“They’re already talking.”
“It’ll get worse.”
“Probably.” But she didn’t let go.
Tyler looked down at their joined hands, then back at her face. Something passed between them—understanding, maybe, or recognition of how complicated this had become.
Brooke liked him. Maybe more than liked him. Maybe loved him, though it was too soon to be certain of that. The connection she felt when they were together was real, the way he made her feel safe despite everything happening around them.
She wanted to believe him. Everything he said made sense. She wanted to choose trust over doubt, to prove that her judgment hadn’t been broken by Kelsey.
But what if she was wrong again?
Tyler’s thumb brushed across the back of her hand. “I should go.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
Neither of them moved.
The parking lot was emptying out as evening settled in. The lake reflected the sunset, all gold and pink and darkening blue. Somewhere, a dog barked. Normal sounds. Normal evening.
Nothing about this felt normal, and at the same time, it was completely normal. It felt comfortable.
“Brooke,” Tyler started, then stopped. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Me neither.”
He let go of her hand. The loss of contact felt more than physical, like something important slipping away.
“Be careful,” Tyler said. “Whoever’s doing this, they’re still out there.”
“You too.”
