Tristan shakes his head and then turns serious. “As for what Fallon said…she’s struggling with her grief. After I lost Emmy Jo, I was…not exactly someone anyone wanted to be around. I had this three-year-old girl who was without a mother becauseof a disease we couldn’t stop. I remember just wanting to burn the world down, but then Sadie would come, climb on my lap, and smile. It was…well, it was everything. It’s what kept me going. Then, I realized that the alternative would’ve been to never have Emmy Jo, love her, know her, and that was a worse fate than losing her. Fallon feels the same. She misses Carrick, but she knows that Knox is why she has to go on.”
My heart pounds against my ribs. “But if it weren’t for Maverick, she’d have them both.”
“In theory, that applies, but Carrick was just as guilty as your brother.”
I don’t believe that for a second. Yes, they were both drinking. Yes, they made bad choices, but Maverick—he’s who caused it. His choices are what caused Carrick to die.
It’s not the same guilt.
“Thank you for at least saying it.” My fingers play at that little dip on his chest. “You’re being very sweet.”
“I’ll deny it.”
I smile and laugh. “Well, considering the fact that no one can ever know we talk, the chances of this coming to light are slim to none.”
“That’s true.”
“So, I guess it’ll be another secret between us.”
“It seems so.”
Tristan kisses me softly. “Come on, let me take you back home.”
“I’m okay,” I assure him.
“I know you are, but I want to make sure. Humor me?”
I sigh and nod. “All right. It’s very sweet of you.”
Tristan stands, helping me to my feet, and then he tugs me to his chest, where I rest against his heartbeat. The silence is comforting, and I don’t know that I’ve ever felt this way withanother person. Where we can just be. No need to talk to fill up the space.
Maybe it’s because there are no expectations.
Maybe it’s because I know this will end here.
Either way, I know that this moment—his heartbeat against my ear, the warmth of his embrace, and the comfort he brings—is something I’ll never forget. And when he’s gone, I’ll miss him, but then again, I never really had him to begin with.
Chapter 31
Tristan
“Daddy!” Sadie smiles wide when she sees me standing by the truck.
It feels as though my world just righted itself when she comes barreling toward me. I pull her into my arms, my heart nearly bursting as I hold her.
She looks up at me, still hugging me tight.
I grin. “You got taller.”
Sadie huffs a laugh. “It’s been three weeks, Dad. Not possible.”
“And in those three weeks, you got taller.”
I release her, and she steps back. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe so, but you’re stuck with me.”
“That I am,” she agrees.
