“What do you mean he didn’t run? He left me with a vague voicemail and then nothing for the last four years. If that isn’t running from someone…” My words trail off as I remember something Rylee said to me. “Ry, do you know where Tyler has been for the last four years.”
I wait a few moments for her to answer, but when I hear nothing, I turn in the direction she went. Rylee is leaning against the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest and a pained expression on her face. “Rylee?” I ask again.
“You’re not the only one who has a secret to tell. Tyler has his own reasons for being gone for so long. I suggest you ask him what they are.” I open my mouth to question her again, but she holds up her hand silencing me. “I promised him just like I promised you. The time you spent apart and the reasons why are his and his alone. If you want to know, ask him.”
“I will have to. I need to know his reasons, no matter what they are if I will ever let him go.” I grab another handful of popcorn before turning forward in my seat. “I thought we were watching a movie? I know we can’t have any wine but a good old-fashioned chick flick is what I need right now. Then I can get back to reality.”
Changing the subject so quickly must give them whiplash, but the idea of facing off with Tyler makes me feel nauseous. I know that when I ask Tyler questions about our time apart, he will dig deeper into figuring out who Colt’s father is. That is definitely a conversation I’m not ready to have.
Haddie and Rylee are silent for a few moments before one of them says, “Give me some Jake Ryan any day.” Rylee flops down on the couch on the other side of me and grips the remote. “Sixteen Candles solves all the world problems.”
I smile at my two friends before turning toward the television and watching the opening credits. I want to pretend for just a little while longer, pretend that everything in my life is perfect before I bring it all crumbling to the ground.
Chapter Thirteen
Tyler
“This back and forth with Lucy is for the birds. You need to man up and just tell her why you were gone for the last four years. I doubt she will hold your desire to make a better life for the two of you against you,” Kellan says as he dribbles in for a layup.
Coming to shoot hoops with Kellan and the boys at The House is the best way to blow off steam at the end of a long day. It helps that Rylee sent me a text telling me her and Lu were here for a miniature girl’s night. I’m sure Haddie is in there too.
“It’s not so simple, man.” Kellan throws the ball in my direction before I hand it off to Colt. “Alright, little man, I want you to aim for the basket.”
“I not big enuff.” Sadness fills his eyes as he pushes the ball back in my direction.
I bend down to his height and wink. “Just close your eyes and aim for the basket,” I whisper to him as I watch him turn back toward the basket and close his eyes. He pulls his little arms up behind his head, ready to throw the ball with all his might in the direction of the basket.
Before he lets the ball go, I lift him up and on to my shoulders. “Open your eyes, Colt,” I shout as I jog slowly toward the basket. Peals of laughter fill the air as Colt gets closer to the basket and lets the ball fly. It swirls around the hoop twice before dropping through the net. “I did it!” he shouts, throwing both arms up in the air in triumph.
“I told you,” I smile before pulling him off my shoulders and placing him back on the ground. He gives me a bright smile before grabbing the ball and taking off toward the other boys, all of them hooting and shouting their congratulations for their friend.
“You’re good with him.” I turn toward Kellan listening to what he’s saying. “He has had no one constant in his life other than Lucy. I think he may have taken a liking to you.”
I reach back and rub my neck. “You think? I know if I’m ever going to get back into Lucy’s good graces, I need to have Colt on my side. It’s obvious he is her entire world.”
“That he is.” I turn and notice Lucy strolling toward us with a bright smile on her face. I remember when she used to smile at me like that. Her entire face would light up whenever I walked into a room. What I wouldn’t give for her to only have eyes for me once again.
“Momma, I scored a basket,” Colt shouts jumping up and down while pointing toward the net at the opposite end of the court. “Tywer told me to close my eyes and then I was flying! Just like the guys on TV. It was awesome!”
I smile down at Colt as I rub my hands through his blond hair. “You can do anything you put your mind to, little man, anything at all.”
“Anything?” he questions as his head swivels between his mother and me.
“That’s right, little man. You just need to set your mind to it and make it happen.”
“I want to be a race car driver like Colton,” he shouts before running off toward the other boys. They chant in agreement about how awesome it would be to be just like Colton.
“Not what I was expecting, but it could be worse,” I mumble to myself before smiling at Lucy, “There are worse professions than a race car driver.”
“I was hoping he would want to do something a little less dangerous. Like maybe a doctor
