Page 79 of Cross My Heart

“Let’s go back to bed?” Ty asks me, and I smile. “It’s late.”

“We can’t go to bed together, Ty,” I tell him, setting the tea on the table once more. “Scarlett will be home soon.”

“I won’t stay long, I swear.”

I nod and because I’m weak, I already know I’m going to do whatever he wants. So I gather the comforter once more and wrap it tightly around my body, then make my way back to bed. Tyler follows closely behind me, and with the door open, we lie down. He’s the big spoon even though I’m larger than him, but it feels nice. It feels nice to have him hold me, to finally be in his arms the way I’ve been craving for years. The way I’ve craved for what practically has been half my life. And when he buries his face in the crook of my neck and inhales deeply, I close my eyes. I close my eyes and let sleep take me over. Slowly at first, then quickly.

Until everything goes black.

And I feel peace for once.

Chapter 40

TYLER

The sun streams in through the blinds, washing over my face. I’m still spooning Noah, his body tucked neatly against mine. I know I should get out of this bed. Scarlett will be getting home any minute now. But the thought of leaving him, of getting out of here before he wakes up, feels wrong. What if he thinks he means nothing to me? My arm tightens around his waist protectively at the thought, and he stirs.

It was probably wrong of me to come to his room and soothe him after his nightmare, and it was definitely wrong of me to stay the night with him, but I just can’t help it anymore. Everything about him calls to me, and I can’t ignore it. I’ve spent a decade trying, and now it’s as if I’ve snapped.

“Tyler?” Noah asks in a groggy voice, sleepy as hell. It brings a smile to my face. It’s been a really long fucking time since I woke up next to him—seven months to be exact. “What are you still doing here? It’s daytime.”

“I couldn’t leave you.” I press a kiss to the back of his head and inhale his scent. “But I do have to go soon.”

“You can’t do this again,” Noah murmurs under his breath. “What if?—”

Just then the front door opens, and I tense. “Fuck,” I mutter, jumping out of bed quickly. Noah buries his face into his pillow and punches the bed, and my stomach flips. But I get out of the room quickly, shutting the door behind me. Except there stands Scarlett, at the end of the hallway, staring right at me with a flushed face. Anger—that’s the reason behind it.

“I have so much to fucking say, Tyler.” Her voice comes out shaky, and I take a step toward her, but she halts me with a hand up in the air. “But what the actual fuck is wrong with you?”

“Scar—” I gulp, “It’s not what it looks like.”

“Oh?” Scar laughs, but it sounds maniacal. “Because to me, it looks like you just came out of Noah’s room in the goddamn morning.”

“We didn’t do anything—” I sigh, wiping a hand down my face. “He was just having nightmares, and I woke him up.”

“And you also had to sleep with him?” Her voice rises even more. “Tyler Levi Hayes, knight in shining motherfucking armor.”

“I’m so sorry, Scar,” I whisper.

Her features soften slightly as if remembering we all grew up together, but then they harden once more. “And let me guess? You’re gonna let him find solace in your ass?”

“No,” I beg her with my eyes. “That’s never happened.”

“I know exactly what’s going on here.”

“What’s happening?” My hands tremble as I ask her, and in this moment, I know she fuckingknows.

“You’re going from one best friend to the other.” She smirks.

I stay quiet, and she takes a step toward me with narrowed eyes.

“Admit it, Tyler,” she growls, her hazel eyes turning dark. “You’re in love with him too.”

Too.

No, babe, I’m only in love withhim.

“And if I am?” I ask her quietly. “I think you’ve known for a really long time.”

---