Page 71 of A Love Song for Dreamers

“It’s the security I’ve always wanted, Annie. The freedom. And you helped me getit.”

She stiffens, love and sadness competing on her face. “I’mglad.”

“Before I left for tour, I told you I wished you’d never made me dream. That’s not true, and I never should have saidit.”

“Tyler…it’sokay.”

“It’s not. Because I need you to know that I still dream. And when I dream, I dream ofus.

“You telling me about your work on the couch while we watch the sun set after a long day. Me getting you roses because you love them even when you have no earthly reason to. You swimming naked in our pool until I’m so turned on I have to take you rightthere.”

Her eyes darken, and I wish we weren’t in public so I could show her how fucking good it couldbe.

“Is that all?” she murmurs at last, looking understandablyoverwhelmed.

No.

I want kids who glare at us with your eyes and scream at us with mymouth.

I want you and meforever.

I want you to want it as badly as Ido.

But I can’t ask because there’s a huge hole in my chest even with her standing right in front of me, one that’ll get bigger the moment she says that’s not what shewants.

“Yeah,” I say instead. “That’sall.”

16

There’snothing like the morning after a night that doesn’tend.

Last night I rewrote the final song for the musical completely while staring at the studio before falling asleep in my chaise lounge, my notebook on mylap.

The fog I’ve been wrestling with cleared and I accomplished what I’ve been trying to formonths.

I was so sure of it, I took a screenshot and sent it off to Miranda lastnight.

When the sun comes up, a slice of vibrant orange on the horizon, the paper is on the patio next to my chair. My phone buzzes with a message from my writingpartner.

It’s short andsweet.

Miranda:That’sit.

Satisfaction and pridesettle in me as I shift out of the chair, rubbing a hand through myhair.

The tile cool under my bare feet, I stretch my sore muscles, thinking of the routine I’ve established since I returned from NewYork.

Helping with Sophie in the morning, taking her toschool.

Hanging with Haley when my dad’s working, half to keep an eye on her and half because she’s fun and super smart and the kind of woman I want tobe.

Dropping in on Tyler around lunch—midafternoon if I can wait that long—to hang out, which often ends with us sweaty andnaked.

But yesterday he played me Shay’s track, which is sounding freaking awesome, plus a couple of new bands he’s thinking about sending to my dad. I teased him about being a wannabe A&Rguy.

“When I dream, I dream ofus.”

When he said the words, I wanted to wrap my arms around him and never let himgo.

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