The officer leans down to get a better look at the passenger seat and his jaw falls open before a wide smile takes over his face. “No way. Tyler? TylerReed?”
Ty studies the man for a second before recognition lights his eyes. “Hunter Erickson. You’re kidding me. How ya doin’, man?”
“Not bad. Can’t complain.” Hunter draws his eyebrows together and scrunches up his nose. “What are you even doing here? I thought you got free of Brookside and swore you’d never beback.”
“Believe me. I am very much free of Brookside. I’m only here because Paige had a baby, but I’m flying back out tomorrow.”
“Little Paigey is a mama.” Officer Erickson shakes his head. “I can’t believeit.”
The men chat for a while, tossing around high school memories while Hunter continues to be amazed that Tyler found anything important enough to make a return trip to Brookside. If he’s been that adamant about being rid of this place since high school, why in the world would he consider coming back to live here full time? Am I fooling myself by taking this extended vacation with him? Am I putting off our inevitable separation because my life is here and his is everywhere buthere?
I don’t have to follow that thought long before I realize that I don’t care. Maybe I am putting off the inevitable. Maybe we are fooling ourselves into thinking we can have any kind of life together, but right now, I don’t care. Whatever this is between us, it’s worth taking some time to figureout.