“You see,” Tyler says quiet
ly, “I came back to ask Ash’s forgiveness. I never hoped to see you again, much less be with you. I’m already grateful. I never thought…” He takes the photo from me and wipes his thumb over it in a gesture that looks touchingly familiar. “Never thought you’d want to see me ever again.”
I never needed a photo. Whenever I look at Jax, I see Tyler’s eyes looking back at me—although Jax’s are clear and innocent. Tyler’s have a hard layer of pain I want to erase.
He cups my head and touches our foreheads together. I throw my arm around him and hold on tight.
***
The next day, after breakfast, Tyler backs me up against the kitchen counter and kisses me breathless, then reveals he does website design on the side and says he has to go home and finish a work assignment.
So much I don’t know about him. I hope this time we’ll have time to learn about each other more.
The timing is good, because I can’t focus enough to even eat my breakfast when he’s around, and I need to grab a shower and rush off to college. It’s Thursday, which means a hectic day with many classes, including the hated economics. Before I run to my Spanish Literature course, Tessa joins me for a quick lunch at the main cafeteria on campus.
“There’s a glow in your eyes.” She nudges me with her elbow as we stand in line with our trays. “What did I miss? Did you go out with Tyler?”
“Maybe.” Heat floods my face, and I have to bite my lip not to blurt out everything. ‘Going out’ is too mild a term for what’s happening between us.
“Oh my God, I knew it. I just knew it!” Tessa does a funny little jig, silverware rattling on her tray, so that everyone turns to stare at us. “Love lost and found. Star-crossed lovers joined once more.”
“You’re such a romantic,” I mutter but can’t hide a smile.
She stills. “Did you tell him about Jax? How did Tyler take it?”
“I haven’t told him.” I take a step back at her incredulous expression. “I’m going to, okay? I have a plan.”
“You can’t hide this from him any longer, Erin. Or from the others. Everyone thinks Jax is your boyfriend.” She shakes her blond head. “This isn’t good. In the movies, this is—”
“This isn’t the movies!”
The whispers around us cease, and in the thundering silence, I can hear my racing heartbeat.
Tessa grabs my arm and tugs me to one of the tables, where we place our empty trays. She takes my hands.
“Look, girl, I mean this. You must tell Tyler. I know he left and never sent word, and I know you’re mad at him, but this is his kid. He has to know about Jax.”
“I know. You’re right.” I sigh. “And I’m not mad at him anymore. He explained things to me. I’m as much to blame for his silence over the years as he is. When I got pregnant… Well let’s just say my mood swings were horrible, okay? I wasn’t so nice to him.”
Tessa taps her fingers on the table. “And the reason you haven’t told Tyler yet?”
I shrug. “I don’t think he likes kids. I’m scared, Tess. That he’ll turn tail and run.”
She grips my hand and squeezes. Her blue eyes are full of sympathy. “Doesn’t he love you, like I said he does?”
I look away. “Yes, I think he does love me.”
“Then he won’t run.”
“But what if he stays because he feels he has to? I’d expect that of him. He’ll try to do right by me—but will he stay because he wants to? Will he like Jax? Will Jax like him?”
I don’t want to cry, I really don’t. It’s as if my hormones have gone crazy again, just by being with Tyler, and the whole mental turmoil isn’t helping.
“I get it. It’s tough, I’m not saying the contrary. But Erin…”
“I won’t keep it a secret any longer, okay? I plan on letting him know this week.”
She nods. “So what’s your amazing plan?”