Zoey: Ty, I’m freaking out that something has happened 2U. Please, if U get this, just let me know ur ok.
Nothing. After another fifteen minutes I got up and started pacing. If something had happened to him before I made it right, I’d never get over it. Taking a few deep breaths to try to calm down, I willed myself not to go there in my head. Just as I was about to send another message, I saw a text from Ty coming through.
Ty: I’m ok U should go.
Zoey: I don’t want to go, I miss you. Where did U go?
Ty: I had to take care of a few things, I’m at Jace’s house.
Zoey: I’ll wait.
Ty: It’s ok, Z. Just go.
His dismissive text made me angry, and frantically I gathered my things to leave. Then I reconsidered. To calm down, I let out big breaths and tried to regulate my breathing, so I could think straight.
All I could hear was Alex’s voice that said I needed to fight for him this time and show him that I wouldn’t leave him again. So what if he was testing me? It was time for me to be an adult and face the past and hopefully put it behind us. I knew one thing. I wasn’t going anywhere, if for nothing else but to prove it to Ty. Moving to the living room, I snuggled under a blanket and turned on Bravo to a marathon of Southern Charm.
I texted Ty again.
I’m not leaving.
Then I waited.
Chapter 16
TYSON
Throughout my grueling Saturday workout, my mind continued to whirl, and I found myself second-guessing all things Zoey. Every word, every kiss, and every gesture. When I finished punishing myself on the treadmill and weight bench, I was nowhere near right in the head to go home to an empty house after I told her to leave.
The only person who would give it to me straight was Jace. Despite my declarations that we would figure things out on our own, I found myself at his downtown high-rise condo, where he buzzed me up. Jace answered the door shirtless and rumpled but still invited me in. It was clear that he had someone there. I could hear her faintly in his bedroom, probably on the phone.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, my brother, I’ll leave.” I gestured to the voice.
“Nah, it’s cool. What’s up?” He went to the Sub-Zero fridge and grabbed a water, offering me one too.
“I’m fucked,” I said, gratefully taking the water and drinking it down in one gulp.
“But did you get fucked?” Jace waggled his eyebrows.
I gave him a dirty look, “Uh, well. Yeah. But we fought, and I told her to leave. Goddammit. I’m fucking still in love with her and I told her to leave.”
“Hmm.” He looked at me strangely, but I noticed he not so inconspicuously glanced at his bedroom door. The voice had stopped.
“Who’s here?” I nodded to the door.
“No one,” Jace said out loud then mouthed, “Alex.”
“Holy shit!”
Jace just shrugged and continued, “After all this time and all the drama, I’m not surprised you fought. Your past shit had to boil up at some point, better earlier than later.”
“I guess. I told her to leave because she’s probably taking a job in some other city.” I sank down in a chair.
“Well, we’re taking a year off, you could just go with her.” Jace leaned against the wall.
I hadn’t even thought of that, but still. “I didn’t hear an invite.”
“Fucking hell, Ty. Stop being such a dramatic baby-man.” Jace wrinkled his face in disgust. “You guys are your own worst fucking enemies.”
Just then a text from Zoey came in, and I glanced at the phone and held it up. “I guess she didn’t leave, she’s still at my place.”
“Then why the fuck are you here, you dickwad?”
“I’ve wanted this for so long.” I winced.
“Duh. You’ve got to stop with all of this, dude. Sort your shit out with her and live happily ever after or move the fuck on.” Jace shook his head at me.
I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. “I’m just not sure.”
“Um, Ty. Brother to brother, I’m kicking you out for your own good.” Jace got up and opened his front door, gesturing at me to get out. “She’s at your place. Go talk to her. I’m not sure why she still wants you when you act ridiculous like this, but she clearly does so will you go and make up with her and put us all out of your misery for once and for all?”
“Fine.” I stepped outside the door and turned around. “But—”
Jace slammed the door on me, his grin wide.
Chapter 17
ZOEY
The sound of the deadlock and the front door opening woke me up, and I heard Ty’s footsteps stop by the entryway and resume when he crossed the room over to where I was on the couch. Sitting down next to me, still in his gym clothes, Ty clasped his hands together, resting his elbows on his knees, staring at the ground and not at me. Sighing heavily, he finally looked up, his eyes tired. “Why are you still here, Zoey?”
“I told you I wasn’t leaving, and I didn’t leave.”
“I can’t do this.” He gestured between us. “I don’t think this thing between us is going to work.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, his words stabbing me deep in my heart.
“Call it self-preservation. In the light of today, I can’t go through this with you again. Because when you leave, and you will eventually, I won’t survive it this time.” Ty looked back down.
“But I’m not leaving. I told you that. Even when you told me to go, I stayed.”
“Ah, but you will leave. Either my past will come back and fuck you up or you’ll take a new job far away from me,” Ty spat out before stalking back to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and grabbed a small bottle of orange juice.
“That is not fair, Ty.” I
