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“Awful, as always.”

They were silent for what felt like eternity. He really needed to put on a shirt.

“May I?” he asked, pointing to the swing next to her.

Rory smirked. “If you can fit.”

He moved to the side and grabbed the chain of the swing. “You making fun of me, Ry?”

She smiled at the use of her nickname. That first day on the swings all those years ago, Tyler told her to call him Ty. As a joke, she told him to call her Ry—pronounced like “rye” to rhyme with Ty. They instantly became best friends, Ry and Ty. He never told anyone else in Haverport to call him Ty. Just Rory. A nickname only for her.

“Pretty sure your shoulders are wider than the swing,” she quipped.

He chuckled as he sat down, the swing hanging low to the ground under his weight.

She laughed at how absurd he looked. “I honestly think you’re going to break this thing.”

“If I did, Bea would probably kill me in my sleep. She’s been out here every day.”

Rory smiled, thinking how, just the day before, she saw Tyler’s little sister out here, swinging while she listened to music. “I know.”

Tyler glanced up at Rory, his expression soft and kind. Just like the boy she’d always known. Even if he was hidden behind a massive set of muscles now.

“I’ve missed you, Ry.”

Rory nodded, glancing down at her grubby sneakers. “Me too.”

They swung back and forth in silence for a few moments, listening to the trees as a cool breeze brushed past them, golden brown leaves falling off branches from the force of the wind.

She didn’t know where to go from here. She desperately wanted her friend back, especially now that she was going to be home alone even more. But how exactly were they supposed to go back to what they’d been before everything went down?

How do you win back your best friend when you know he may actually be in love with you?

Okay…love was a strong word. She actually had no idea if Tyler was in love with her. As far as she knew, it was just a crush. One he’d had for a very long time.

She looked up at Tyler, noticing that he was staring at her like he was trying to read what she was thinking.

He took a deep breath. “Ry, I—”

“Wait.”

He stopped, his mouth closing around unspoken words.

“Gabi took another job,” she confessed. “A bartending gig. She’s going to be working days and nights, and I’m just going to be alone. All the time.”

His face was now etched with concern. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t like not talking to you,” she continued. “I need my best friend in my life. These past few months have been torture.”

“I know,” he said, his voice lower than she’d ever heard it.

“Can we just…” She paused, hoping beyond all hope that he wouldn’t be offended by what she was about to say. “Can we just forget any of it happened and move on?”

Tyler looked down at his hands, thinking it through. The seconds ticked by slowly as she waited for him, wondering if she did the wrong thing by suggesting it.

“Is that what you want?” he asked gently.

She nodded. “Yes, that’s what I want.”