Tyler remembered every word.
You don’t want to be responsible for your mother’s pain, son. Be a man. Keep my secret.
“I don’t owe Savannah anything,” he said of his father’s current wife, although he did have a relationship with his half siblings. “But whatever I decide to do about this? It’ll be because I am a man who makes his own decisions.”
Robert narrowed his gaze. “You wouldn’t dare tell Savannah or the kids.”
Tyler shrugged. “You don’t know me well enough to know what I’d do, Dad. And whose fault is that?” he asked, not bothering to hide either his sarcasm or his disgust.
The man had done enough damage to Tyler’s mother and siblings that it was a wonder any of them had moved on and were engaged in healthy, permanent relationships. Of course, they all had except Tyler. And he was working on it.
“Come on, Ella.” He nudged her into motion, leaving his father standing with his mouth open and hopefully a very real fear in the pit of his stomach.
If he loved Savannah, he’d be in a full-blown panic. Although Tyler wondered if the man was capable of loving anyone but himself.
Before they walked away, Ella tugged at his hand. “Would you rather leave?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I’m finished letting him run my life in any way. We’ll stay.” He winked at her, intent on reassuring her he was okay.
Except, he realized as they walked away, his hands shook and his stomach was in knots, letting him know that despite wanting to be fine, Robert Dare had once again shaken him to his core. The only difference was, this time, he wasn’t about to let his father dictate how he’d deal with this newest revelation and betrayal.
* * *
Ella couldn’t believe what she’d seen or how well Tyler had handled his father. He put up a good front, but she knew he had to be affected by what he’d witnessed and the confrontation they’d had—heck, she was too upset to eat.
And if he wasn’t going to admit it, she was. “Tyler?”
“Yes?” He met her gaze, not bothering to hide the turmoil in his navy eyes.
She placed a comforting hand on his arm. “If you don’t mind, I think I’d like to leave anyway. I’ve … I sort of lost my appetite,” she murmured, giving him the out she sensed he needed.
He dropped his shoulders and groaned. “Can’t say I blame you,” he muttered. “Be right back.” He walked over to the hostess and explained they wouldn’t be staying, apologizing for holding her up and reserving a table they wouldn’t be using.
They drove the reverse trip back to the hotel in silence, Ella giving him the space she knew she’d need if the situation were reversed. Once they’d given the car to the valet, she turned to him.
“What do you say we go for gelato? There’s a place we passed on the corner. We can skip dinner and go right for dessert. I’d say you could use it.”
That got her a smile. “Why not?” Although he held her hand, he remained silent on the walk to the store.
She wanted him to open up, to know she’d be there for him the same way he was there for her, but she also knew he deserved privacy for the conversation. Coffee-flavored gelato for her and chocolate for him in hand, they walked back to the hotel. By the time they arrived, they’d each finished their dessert, and she was definitely indulging in a sugar rush from the treat.
“Want to head to the veranda?” she asked of the rooftop, which hosted a pool by day and a moonlit sky at night.
“Sure.”
She waited until they were alone, settled together in a double swing chair in a private corner, before broaching the subject. As promised in the hotel brochures, the moon shone overhead, the stars twinkling in the inky night sky as they rocked back and forth. If the mood weren’t so serious, she’d enjoy the scenery a lot more.
“You know you can talk to me. I won’t repeat anything and I won’t judge.”
He leaned forward and dipped his head, staring at his clenched hands. “It’s complicated.”
“Most families are.” She nudged him with her knee. “Mine isn’t exactly the poster child for stability, right? My dad’s in jail and we haven’t spoken in years,” she said, a lump forming in her throat. “Not to mention, I spent vacations with your sister. I know what you all went through.”
He kicked the ground, pushing the swing higher. “You don’t know what I went through,” he said, the pain in his voice as raw and tortured as his expression.
She grasped his hand. “Then tell me. You said something about walking in on your father and Savannah when you were fourteen?” she asked softly.
“I showed up at his office on a school holiday. I can’t even remember why I went there now, but … yeah. I caught them … more in the act than what we saw tonight.”