What I want is closure, not reconciliation.
I pull up to Rosie’s a few minutes early and place my usual order. Whatever Tyler has to say will go down much better with food. He’s bound to be late, anyway. Tyler hasn’tbeen on time for a single thing in all the years I’ve known him.
While I wait, my mind replays that night on the tailgate, as it has every day since. The truth about what happened five years ago, and Griffin’s impassioned declaration that he wants something more, something deeper than friendship, hasn’t strayed far from my thoughts.
I just don’t know if I’m ready for anything close to what he’s offering, and I’m certainly not while Tyler is still trying to worm his way back into my life. Maybe that’s why I agreed to meet with him today. I don’t need his permission to move on, but I need mine. The only way to get that is to find closure. I can’t think about the future when my past won’t leave me alone.
As predictable as the tides, he arrives five minutes past the hour, his sun-kissed skin accentuating his deep blue irises. Once upon a time, those eyes could’ve melted me with one look. Standing here now, I’m completely unaffected. I breathe a quiet sigh of relief at the realization.
I didn’t miss him; what I missed was the companionship. The house is lonely without him, but I could fill that loneliness with anyone and still feel as fulfilled. It has nothing to do with Tyler and everything to do with my fear of being alone.
“Hey, Ange.” He touches my lower back as he attempts to pull me in for a hug. The touch feels like a thousand needles prickling beneath my skin.
I push him away, crossing my arms. “Don’t. Whatever you think this is, you’re wrong. You wanted to talk, so talk.”
He reaches for me again, his hand hovering in the air between us before it drops. There’s genuine remorse written on his face, but I can’t discern if it’s for him or me. Does he regret what he did? Or is this something else?
He slides his hands into his pockets. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just got cold feet.”
I let out a humorless laugh, but I don’t have anything to say, so I wait for him to continue.
“I still love you. We can start over. I can give you the wedding you wanted. We can go to Greece and Italy together.”
“You think that’s what I want? That giving me everything I asked for will convince me to take you back?Youended this. You lost the best thing that’s ever happened to you.” I put my hand on my waist and pop my hip out. “Why the change of heart? Is it because I’m with Griffin now?”
An icy chill descends around us as his expression goes from contrition to something darker.
He sneers. “You justhadto bring him up.”
“He’s my husband now. Why wouldn’t I bring him up?”
It’s the first time I’ve referred to him as my husband to anyone but myself, and the intended effect is instantaneous. Where was this passion when we were together?
Tyler’s muscles coil as he glares at me with derision. “You were my fiancée. He’s my best friend. You don’t see how fucked up that is?” He shakes his head, his jaw ticking and nostrils flaring. “God, I bet this was his plan all along. Did you fuck him?”
I smile sweetly, my head tilted to the side. “Yeah. I did. Right on the balcony of the honeymoon suite. I screamed his name at the Las Vegas skyline. Best sex of my life.”
“I can’t believe you would do this to me.”
I step closer, jabbing my finger into his chest. “You don’t get to come in here and play the victim. Not after what you did.”
He holds up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m sorry. I know I fucked up, but you have to admit that whatyoudid is worse.”
I swipe at the single angry tear that escapes past my lashes.
Not now. Fuck.
“Worse than flying off on our honeymoon after you left me with nothing but a note? God, you’re such a loser. I can’t believe I ever agreed to marry you.”
I devoted three years of my life to this man. Three years I could’ve spent with someone who actually cared—someone like Griffin. The thought is fleeting, there one second and gone the next, but the sentiment rings true all the same.
The bell above the door chimes, drawing my attention to the six-foot-seven cowboy striding toward us. His expression is downright murderous as he stares at Tyler, but it softens the moment his eyes land on me.
When he’s close enough, he pulls me into his arms, and his sensual amber scent wraps around me. “Sorry, I’m late.”
Griffin
I haven’t heard from Angie since I dropped her off at home the other night. Between riding lessons and getting Sadie acclimated to her new surroundings, there hasn’t been much time for anything else, but Ty’s been back in town for a couple of days, and I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. No man could walk away from Angelina Rossi and not regret it.
