Page 79 of Off Script

When she opened the door, the stony expression on his face, combined with him being drenched from the pouring rain outside, immediately clued her into his state of mind.

“Tristan? What’s wrong?” she asked. He answered in the only way he could think of, the only way to express everything he was feeling.

“I need you,” he said. At his distraught voice, she let him in and wrapped him in her arms.

“What happened?” she asked again as they made it to the couch.

“My mom . . . she came to my house. I got home from work and she was there. Appeared out of nowhere.”

“Oh my God! What did she want?”

“To apologize, I guess. Or rather, to make excuses.”

“What did she say exactly?”

“Does it matter? The point is she thinks she can waltz back into my life and erase everything that’s happened. Like the years without her never happened.”

“I get that, why you didn’t want to talk to her, but . . .” Jada bit her lip uncertainly.

“But what?” Tristan asked warily.

“I know I don’t know her, but I don’t think she’d come back unless she was being sincere. Unless she truly loves you and wants to make amends.”

“Oh yeah. She loved me just enough to leave without a trace. She made it perfectly clear that no one—not even my own mom—would ever love me enough to stick around.”

The heartbreaking words flew out of Tristan before he could stop them. He instantly regretted it as pity flooded Jada’s eyes. He knew if she prodded even the tiniest bit, he would end up pouring everything else out about the day his mother left. He rushed to cover his tracks.

“What I mean is, if that’s all that love is to people, I don’t want any part of it.”

Because how could he believe in love after watching his family fall apart? Tristan got up from the couch and turned away, hiding the tears that were starting to well in his eyes. He’d come here for comfort, but maybe it would have been better to go to Juan’s or call Rafe. People who already knew the depths of his damage. He didn’t want Jada to see that desperate hollowness or how weak he was. She didn’t let him hide for long, as she came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him in a light hug.

“Yes, some people take love for granted, Tristan. But the right kind of love does exist if you choose to believe in it,” she insisted.

Tristan laughed bitterly, turning back to her. “How can you not be cynical after Daniel?”

“Because he wasn’t the one. But when you find the right person, you open up to them. You fight for them, protect them, accept them for who they are. If they’re truly for you, then they do the same. When love between two people is beautiful like that, you put in the work. Youchooseto stay. And Tristan,youare worth sticking around for.”

Tristan could hardly breathe, let alone respond to Jada’s heartfelt speech. She’d struck him to the core and left his heart racing. All he could do was reach out and hold her hand. When he was finally able to speak, his voice was thick with emotion. “Thank you, Jada. For listening and being here like this.”

“Of course, but can I say one more thing?” she asked cautiously.

“Yes?”

“You’re dripping water all over my hardwood floor.” Jada pointed to their soggy feet.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry!” Tristan ran his fingers through his damp hair, frustrated with the night’s whole disaster.

“It’s okay. Why don’t you take a shower? We can dry your clothes.”

“Sounds good, on one condition.”

“What?” Now it was Jada’s turn to be wary.

“We finish what we started the last time I was in your bathroom.”

“Tristan!” Jada slapped him on the chest. “Mikayla is here!”

“In her room. She won’t hear us over the shower running.”

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