Page 53 of Cross My Heart

With love,

Ty.

My heart flutters in my chest as I read his email over and over, remembering the last night we spent together. The way he saw me off at the bus. The way he kissed me.

“What’s got that dopey look on your face?” Jeremiah asks me, and I startle.

“Huh?” I ask, confused.

“You look like you’re daydreaming, Noah.”

“Oh.” My cheeks heat. “Nothing.”

“It’s someone, isn’t it?”

I think about lying to him, but instead, I nod.

“Tyler?” he asks, staring right into my eyes as he says the name of the person I miss most. Guilt churns in my stomach at the hurt look in his eyes, and I look away. Hurting Jeremiah has been my worst mistake. There’s nothing I’ve regretted more in my entire life. But somehow we’ve remained friends—best friends even. “Right.”

“Jer—”

“Don’t.” He shakes his head. “But I’ll say this only once.”

“Okay.”

“They never leave their wives,” he says through gritted teeth. “Never.”

My stomach drops. But I know Tyler will. He has to. He promised.

“He will,” I assure him, reassuring myself in the process. “Before I come home.”

“If you say so.” He shrugs. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Thanks for the concern,” I reply. “But I’m a big boy. I can handle my feelings.”

It was an asshole thing to say, and I regret it immediately.

“I’ll shut up.” He nods once, then gets up and walks away.

“W-wait!” I yell after him.

But he doesn’t stop.

I run a hand down my face and look back at my computer screen.

Then I reply back to Tyler.

Chapter 28

TYLER

Dear Tyler,

I can’t imagine how hard it’s been with Scarlett since I left. Though I can understand why she’s angry. What we’ve been doing isn’t fair to her. Give her some time. It’s only been a few weeks since I left. As for the baby, I know you can’t give it to her but try to be understanding of her feelings.

I trust that you’ll keep your promise, Ty. Even if Jeremiah keeps telling me that you won’t. I don’t want to believe him, love. Please don’t prove him right. Please. I don’t know if I can survive the heartbreak this time. I’m counting on you, Tyler. You have a lot to get done before I come home, but I need you to get it done. Promise you’ll get it done. You have eight months. That’s a long time.

As for me, same old, same old.

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