Page 16 of Puck and Run

Ryan runs a hand through his hair, the frustration clear on his face. “Duke is a great guy, Tilly. I have no problem with the two of you dating and wouldn’t have if you had been honest with me from the beginning. You need to make this right with him.”

“I don’t know how,” I whisper, feeling lost. “He said he can’t keep hiding. He needs me to be ready to be honest about us.”

“You love him, right?”

I nod, the truth hitting me like a wave. “I do love him. But I don’t want to mess this up again. What if I fail?”

Ryan steps forward, his expression serious. “You won’t know unless you try. You can’t let fear hold you back. Duke deserves to know how you feel.”

I wipe my tears away, taking a deep breath. “But what if he doesn’t want me back?”

He will,” Ryan insists. “You need to talk to him. No more hiding.”

The weight of Ryan’s words settles in my chest. I don’t want to regret not fighting for Duke. He’s worth it. I take a deep breath, determination coursing through me.

“I’ll talk to him,” I say, my voice stronger.

Chapter Eleven

Duke

As I drive around empty streets, trying to clear my head, every thought circles back to her. I miss Tilly like crazy. The memories of our time together flood my mind —the laughter, the kisses, the way she lit up a room. I chose to put distance between us, thinking it would protect us both, but now it feels like I’m suffocating. I’ve lost something precious, something irreplaceable.

I pull into a small parking lot, leaning back in the driver’s seat, and stare out at the darkening sky. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over everything, but inside I’m cold.

Finally, I head home, the familiar sights of my neighborhood offering little comfort. As I pull into my driveway I notice a figure sitting on my porch. My heart skips a beat when I realize it’s Tilly, her sweet face lit by the glow of the light.

I park the car and step out, my heart racing. “Tilly?” I call out, disbelief washing over me. She looks up, and I can see the anxiety etched on her face.

“Hey,” she says, her voice barely about a whisper.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, moving closer.

“I wanted to talk,” she replies, taking a deep breath.

I can’t help but feel a surge of hope mixed with apprehension. “About what?”

“About us,” she says, her eyes locking onto mine. There’s a weight in her gaze, an urgency that sends my heart racing.

I nod, gesturing for her to sit. “Okay, let’s talk.”

She takes a set on the porch steps, and I follow suit, our knees almost touching. I can see the vulnerability in her expression, and it makes my chest tighten. “I’m sorry for keeping us a secret,” she begins, her voice trembling slightly. “I was scared, Duke. I didn’t trust that it would last and I didn’t want to risk your relationship with Ryan.”

I want to reach out, to hold her and tell her everything will be okay, but I hold back. I need to hear her out.

“I thought that if I kept it from him, I wouldn’t hurt anyone,” she continues, her eyes filling with tears. “But hiding it only made everything worse. I realize now that I don’t want to hide. I love you, Duke. I’ve loved you since the night of the party.”

Her words hit me and for a moment I can’t breathe. “Tilly…” I start, my heart swelling. “I—

“No, let me finish,” she interrupts, determination in her voice. “I’m done hiding. I’m done being scared. I want to be with you, no matter what.”

I can feel a smile breaking through the cloud of hurt that’s been hovering over me. “You mean that?”

“I do,” she insists, her voice steadying. “I love you, Duke. I should have trusted that we could make it work. Ryan knows everything. I want the world to know.”

The relief floods through me and I can’t help but pull her into my arms. “I love you too, Till. I’ve missed you every second we’ve been apart. I know I pushed you away, but it was the hardest fucking thing I’ve ever done.”

Tears spill down her cheeks, I wipe them away with my thumbs. “I didn’t realize how much I needed you until you weren’t there,” she admits, her voice cracking. “I was so scared of losing you, and now I see that I was just pushing you away.”