Page 18 of She is the Darke

“Whoa,” she murmured. “Why didn’t you get married?”

“I backed out.”

“God, you are a walking red flag.”

“Well, I never tried to sell myself as a green flag. You asked a question, and I’m answering.”

“Holy shit, Tyler. What did you do? Leave her at the altar?”

“No. Geez. I broke it off right after we found the venue. She asked if I was excited, and I should’ve been, you know? Getting married is a big deal. And we had been engaged for so long, and both of us kept putting it off. I was the right age, I was making the right income, I was at the right phase of my life, so the woman I was dating was supposed to be it, right? But when I looked around the venue, I knew I couldn’t go through with it.”

“Why not?”

“Because she wasn’t it. And if she wasn’t it for me, I wasn’t ever going to be it for her. Don’t feel bad for her. She found herMr. Right within a year. She got married and has a beautiful baby girl with him now.”

“Ouch,” she said softly.

Tyler shook his head. “It was supposed to work out like that. Can’t hold on to things that aren’t yours to hold onto.”

His words felt big, and important, especially with him looking so deeply into her eyes while he said them.

“Rachel never told me you were engaged.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not the best at updating the family.”

“Why not?”

“Because…have you seen my relationship with my dad? It’s a shit-show on a good day.”

“Maybe that’s because you two are so alike. Did you ever consider that?”

“Hell no. He’s stubborn.”

“Mmm,” she said sarcastically.

“He’s infuriating, and opinionated, and nothing he says is supposed to be questioned, and he has favorites.”

She could see that. Rachel was definitely Mac Durock’s favorite kid.

“It was really fuckin’ hard growing up his son,” he said so low, she almost missed it.

“Daddy issues?” she asked lightly.

He cracked a smile, but she noticed it didn’t reach his eyes. “Totally. Anyway, do you think I should go out with Erin? I’ve had a bad week. She could be a good distraction.”

Nothing in her wanted to tell him yes, but he was studying her face for a reaction. “I need more pizza.”

“I’ll get it. Sit tight.” He patted her covered ankle and stood, made his way into the kitchen and plated up another slice of pizza while she contemplated an answer. “What’s your phone password?”

“Ten-ten-ten,” he told her.

“I need to see how you responded to Erin to come up with an answer. I need to see if you’re interested.”

She typed in his password, and read his response to her offer to go out tonight.I am meeting up with a friend tonight, but if that falls through, maybe.

“Who was the friend you were meeting up with?” she asked as he set the plate of pizza in her lap.

“You.”

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