Page 91 of Tempting the Heart

“I don’t want to get out of anything.”

“My parents are living nightmares.”

“They’re not even here any longer. I’d have to go out of my way to see them. I’d physically need to ride a boat to get to them.” I couldn’t hide the panic in my voice.

He stretched his arm out and gently rubbed my cheek.

“If our relationship becomes more serious, there would be times you’d wind up in their world. It’s just how it is.”

“I don’t care. Whatever they have to say to me doesn’t matter. I know my worth.”

“I know your worth, too, which is why I can’t do this to you.” He shook his head, pulling his hand back. “And kids? Imagine having to put up with grandparents like that.”

“But imagine the amazing grandparents my mom and dad would be. Our kids would be so lucky.”

Our kids.

I couldn’t even believe we were having this kind of discussion, and he was already voiding out the possibilities.

Despair traded for anger, and I popped up to look at him. I crossed my legs and sat staring at the boy I’d always loved, who turned into the man I’d love forever.

“You can’t keep punishing yourself because of who your parents are.” I squeezed his hand. “You’re good enough to have everything and more. You have to believe that, Tyler.”

“Bethany told me what made her call APS.” His words hung in the air as awful possibilities wove through my mind.

“Tell me.”

He let out a deep sigh. “She asked him why he was so cruel, why he said so many mean things to people.”

My pulse thudded between my ears, and I felt woozy. “What was his answer?”

“He said it was fun.”

Shock registered through me as I stared at Tyler.

Tyler shook his head. “I’m not going to bring you into that world.”

“Then kiss me one more time and say goodbye.” Night blanketed the sky, and the stars twinkled above us as his mouth fell to mine, and I wondered if our time had just run out.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Tyler

And just like that, I let her slip away. I thought she’d go out kicking or something.

Or fight for me… but that’s when I realized she knew me better than I knew myself.

It was time I fought for myself. I’d spent my life running away or trying to escape something impossible to escape.

My past, present, and future.

It was up to me whether I would continue to let others dictate how, when, where, and with whom I wanted to be.

It hadn’t even been a conscious thing, but I lacked something, and that was belief.

Mae believed in me.

She believed in herself.

---