Page 125 of No Going Back

Her hands shook and she fisted them by her side. She was so relieved he was alright, but everything that had happened was flashing before her eyes and it was too much. She wanted to knock some sense into him and kiss him at the same time. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I was so worried! Goddammit, Tyler, what were you thinking?” She pushed at his chest.

Tyler stepped forward and cupped her face. “I’m so sorry, Mira. For everything.”

The feel of his hands released all her tension and she collapsed against him again, sobbing into his chest as his arms came around her.

“I’m sorry. So sorry.” He kept repeating it, over and over, as she let all the worry and fear of the past week come out.

She wasn't sure how much time passed before her tears subsided. Tyler still held her tight against his body, stroking her hair. Raising her head, she stepped back and Tyler let her go.

“Are you really OK?”

“Yes ba...Mira. I am. What about you?

She grabbed a tissue off the bedside table and wiped her eyes. “I’m fine. A medic and my boss saved my life.” She managed a weak smile.

“I’m sorry you were ever put in that position.”

She shook her head. “No one is to blame except Reborn. And I know Onyx will get payback. It’s what you do. Together as a team.” She poked him in the chest to make her point. “Not alone.”

“I have been made very aware of that.”

A small laugh escaped. She could imagine his team had given him quite the speech.

“Good. I missed you so much.”

Tyler pulled her back into his arms. “I missed you, too. I should never have left. I should have been there when you woke up. I won't ever forgive myself for that.”

Mira stepped back, shocked to see he had tears on his face.

“I’m so sorry. I don't expect you to ever forgive me.”

“What? Why would you say that? Yes, you were an ass, but it hasn't changed how I feel. Tyler, I love you.” She hadn't planned on saying that yet, even though she knew it was true. But he looked so lost, and she desperately wanted him to know what he meant to her.

Tyler turned away. Not the response she had been hoping for.

“Tyler?” She fought the urge to reach out to him. “Talk to me. You can’t stand there and say you don’t care about me because I won’t believe you.”

Tyler sighed, turning to face her. “That’s the problem, Mira. I do care. Too much.”

Mira smiled and reached for his hands. OK, it wasn’t I love you, but it was a start. “Then

what’s the problem?”

“You don’t understand. I’m not in a good place right now. I don’t even know if I have a place on Onyx. I fucked up, and I have to deal with what’s going on. I’m not sure how long it's going to take for me to sort myself out, and you’ve already been through so much. Perhaps when things settle down, if I’m still here, we can see if we still feel the same.”

Mira shook her head slowly. “No.”

Tyler frowned. “No?”

“Tyler Mason, I am not letting you walk away from me again. Whatever it is you’re dealing with, I’m here for you. There is nothing you can say that’s going to change how I feel about you.”

He sat on the bed and leaned forward, resting his head in his hands. She sat next to him and waited patiently for him to peek, sensing he was warring with what to say.

“I want to try and make this work. I’m just really scared of hurting you.” He finally admitted.

“The only way you would do that is by walking away from me again.”

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