Page 78 of A Love Song for Dreamers

“Wasn’t that Jennifer LoveHewitt?”

He shrugs and settles his hands on my temples while Tyler looks entertained. “I see you going home with me tonight,gorgeous.”

“Stick to acting.” Tyler grabs Beck’s arms and shoves themaway.

Beck’s eyes dance, and he looks past us. “Oh. No, I’m going home withhim.”

He takes off, and Tyler turns toward me, stepping close enough his jacket brushes my bare arm. “How are you? We haven’t had a chance to talk alone since you met yourmom.”

I eye him in the twilight. “She was perfectlynice.”

“But.”

“But she wanted things other thanme.”

His expression clouds. “I’msorry.”

“I should’ve known. You were right. I thought she’d be good in all the ways he’s not. Patient. Easygoing. Flexible. But it’s easy to forget your parents’pluses.”

Like that my dad cares about family way more thanmoney.

The band plays Sinatra, and Tyler glances toward the half-full dance floor. He shifts so the railing is at his back, the soft lights playing over his handsomefeatures.

“I want to ask you to dance. But if we do, everyone in here is going to know we’re together. They’ll be like, ‘Who’s that handsome asshole with AnnieJamieson?’”

I throw my head back and laugh. “No, they’ll be like ‘Who’s that bitch with TylerAdams?’”

He shakes his head. “He’s probably in love with her,” he continues in a mimickingvoice.

I snort champagne up my nose, and the bubbles sting. “He’s probably using her to get to Jax,” I say in the same gossipy tone, searching out my dad and Shay oninstinct.

“Except we know thetruth.”

I arch a brow,waiting.

“Her dad’s not the prize. It’s always beenher.”

My body tingles. He’s watching me intently,intensely.

We’re standing on the edge of the world, and it has nothing to do with the balcony or the view or thepeople.

My heart’s telling me this moment is right—he’s right. That in all the times I lost faith, I always came back to him. I love him. Not then. Now. Always. Tyler’s the dream I never gave up on, and I never want to leave hisside.

I thought my dream was this musical—it was the final way to cement my belonging in this industry in a way that felt right tome.

But I know I belong. Tyler helped me seethat.

And listening to my heart, I know I have anotherdream.

Him.Us.

Maybe I couldstay.

I take a slow breath, my heartpounding.

But before I can respond, my phonerings.

It’s Miranda Talbot. “I have to takethis.”

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