Page 59 of Relief Pitcher

Ty groaned. “What the hell is Austin doing here?” he asked Seth while glaring. “Don’t you have your own home?” He called toward the steps moving toward us.

Moments later, the other three brewery men strode into the dining room. Dom went to the fridge and pulled out three beers. Ethan placed a couple of to-go containers in the middle of the table while Austin mussed Ty’s hair.

“Why go home when I heard we have company?” Austin dodged Ty’s attempt to hit him in the leg and smiled at me. “Good to see you, Cooper.”

“That explains why Seth was grinning maniacally at his phone earlier.” He huffed and settled back in his chair but sent me a sweet, little smile. Pink colored his cheeks.

At that moment, I fell even deeper for him. He could’ve made a million excuses about why I was there. I was helping his parents out, or he needed my help with something at the house, or I asked to use his bathroom before driving back to the boonies. But he let them tease him. Did they know we were fooling around?

“Eat up. This is leftover charcuterie board stuff we couldn’t use,” Ethan said as he dumped a handful of forks next to the containers.

“How was the city council meeting?” Ty asked Dom after he’d finished half his beer in one gulp.

Dom and Austin filled him in on the latest drama. All six of us sat around the table chatting. They swapped stories about Mrs. Pullman’s city council gripes over the past couple of years. It was a great time, and they treated me like part of the group.

I was glad Ty had such wonderful people around him. While sitting in the cozy dining room, it finally sank in,reallysank in, that I’d been hermiting too much out in the forest. I missed bullshitting with people outside of work. Invites had come less and less frequently after Aleck died, and I couldn’t blame anyone but myself. After three years of turning them down, I wouldn’t invite me out either. But the grief wasn’t as debilitating as it had been. It was time I said yes more often. I could even find something to do between softball seasons. A bowling league would be fun.

“Do you remember that time Mrs. Pullman called the cops because someone drove an ATV in their own yard? The woman needs a hobby.” Austin shook his head.

Ty turned and swatted my arm with the back of his hand. “You still owe me an ATV lesson.”

The room went silent. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ethan mouth “ATV lesson” to Austin, but I ignored it and held Ty’s eye contact. His eyes widened momentarily, but he didn’t backtrack his comment. I wouldn’t let him flounder.

“Come over any time.”

Ty’s smile filled me like a solar charge.

We BS’d for a while longer, then Seth eventually peeled off to his room, and Austin said he should get home to Caleb.

“I should head out too. I’ve got an early day tomorrow,” I said.

Ty stood and offered to walk me out. When we reached the front door, Ty bit his lip and glanced back at the dining room. I could tell he was on the edge of something. When it came to the thing happening between us, it was like he was trying to move forward but kept stumbling back. Something had shifted tonight, and he had to feel it too. He’d let me in more than ever before. Dinner with his parents, hanging out with his brother, and letting his crew see us together. But I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d meant to do it, and if he hadn’t, would he pull back if I said anything?

I decided to keep things light and sexy. His safe space. I leaned in until my lips brushed his jaw beneath his ear. “Wear the green jock to the game this weekend for me.”

Ty’s breath hitched as I dragged my lips across the skin above his beard line on his cheek. I winked at him, then turned and strode to my car before I pulled him in for something more affectionate.

I spent the entire drive home thinking about how badly I wanted to be a part of Ty’s life, his friend group, and this town. Though with every part of me starting to crave more with Ty, the guilt grew. Starting something with Ty—if Ty ever became open to it—meant putting Aleck even more firmly in the past. How could I move on with someone new when I was still so intensely grieving someone else? I’d been told I had a big heart, but I wasn’t sure it was big enough for two without someone getting hurt.

CHAPTER28

TYLER

Ty: Thanks again for checking out my parents’ tree. I really appreciate it. They do too.

Coop: Happy to. I feel bad that it’s in such bad shape. I wish there was something more I could do.

Ty: You’ve done more than enough. They talked about taking some photos and getting them professionally framed.

Coop: That’s a great idea. Are you doing okay with it? I know the tree means a lot to you.

Ty: Yeah. I feel silly being upset over a tree, but if anyone understands, it’s a tree doctor. [wink emoji]

Ty: But seriously, I’m okay. Thanks for asking.

* * *

“Will you make me some nachos too?” I called to Seth in the kitchen from my comfy spot on the couch in the TV room.

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