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Tears sting my eyes as I lean into his touch and I know this road isn’t going to be an easy one. Trust is a hard bridge to mend. I just pray that he really has changed like he said.
Tyler wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his firm chest. We don’t say anything else—we don’t need too. We’ve said all we can and the only thing we can do now is move forward from this point and do our best to prove to one another that we’ve both learned from our mistakes.
“Can I take you out tomorrow night?” Tyler asks. “I want us to start over.”
I nod. “I’d like that.”
He smiles. “Great.”
The next day Tyler shows up promptly at six. It reminds me of old times when I come bounding down the stairs to meet Tyler. It’s nice to feel like we’ve picked up where we left off even though we both seem to have grown up quite a bit since the last time we saw each other.
I open the passenger door of the car and hop inside. “Hey.”
Tyler smiles at me. “Hey, beautiful. Hungry?”
“Starving.”
“I know just the place.” He winks at me.
When Tyler pulls into the drive-in diner that we used to frequent when we were together last, I’m immediately transported back three years, before everything went up in flames.
After we order, we spend the entire time catching up on what we’ve missed in each other’s lives. He tells me all about touring with Wicked White and how being a musician hasn’t been like he imagined. He doesn’t have any creative freedom when it comes to the kind of music they make. The record label creates all the music and lyrics, leaving the band members to perform as directed.
It doesn’t seem like he’s very happy with his current situation.
“Why don’t you quit?” I ask.
Tyler takes a bite of his sandwich and shrugs. “I’ve wanted to for a while now, it’s the only thing I’ve got going for me. I’ve got nothing else.”
I reach over and lay my hand on his arm. “Maybe someday you’ll find what you’re looking for.”
Near the end of our meal, our conversation turns to Maddie. I love that Tyler’s so interested in learning everything he can about his daughter.
“Blake’s going to be so happy when I tell him about everything,” I say. “He’s been hounding me to tell you about Maddie since the day she was born.”
“I’m glad the two of you are friends. He’s a good guy to have by your side in tough times. He’s a loyal dude.” Tyler sighs. “Speaking of Blake, do you know where he might be? I called him earlier today and he’s still hasn’t gotten back to me.”
Avery shakes her head. “No. The bar is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so I don’t typically see him, but knowing Blake he’s found some chick to bring home.”
Tyler twists his lips. “That’s the thing. He wasn’t at his house this morning when I drove by there earlier today. I spent last night at my Mom’s, and he still hadn’t contacted me, so I drove over to his place and knocked on his door. It was really strange, considering his car was still parked out front.”
“He didn’t mention any plans with anyone today when you spoke with him last?”
“I’ve not seen him since the first night I got here and we fought with the bikers,” Tyler admits. “When I got to his house that first night, it was so late. I literally walked in his front door and crashed on his couch. I didn’t even bother changing my clothes because all the lights were off and I didn’t want to move around a bunch and make a lot of noise in case he was asleep.”
“That’s strange,” I say. “Maybe we should go to his house and check out the place.”
“You’ll come with me?”
“Of course I will. Can we make a quick stop at the bar? He might’ve been dropped off over there or something and just stayed since his car hasn’t moved from the driveway.”
“Has he done that before?”
I shake my head. “Well, no, but he does have a key and it makes logical sense that if he’s not at his place, then he might be there. It’s worth it to stop and check.”
“Okay. Sounds like a plan.”
“Great. Do you mind driving me back home so I can tuck Maddie into bed before we head out to look for him?”
