Page 115 of Twisted Fate

“He needs you. I’ll go and talk to the others while you stay here with him, okay?”

I nodded absently, not moving even after he’d left the room to give us privacy.

Tyler’s sobs wrecked me as I slowly sank to the floor beside him, placing a shaky hand on his shoulder for support.

“I’m sorry, Ty.”

He jerked at my touch, but when he heard my voice, he sagged, shuffling so he was almost curled against me.

I put my arms around him tightly and cried with him, relief rolling through me when he buried his face in my neck and pulled me on to his lap to hold me even tighter.

His fingers dug into my back painfully, but the physical pain was welcomed to try and drown out the emotional pain.

He suddenly moved back to look me in the eye, a different kind of pain flickering below the surface.

“Are you hurt? They didn’t touch you, did they? Jesus Christ, Rory. I didn’t even think to ask if…”

I pressed my fingers to his lips, giving him a sad smile.

“Only the graze. Don’t worry about me. Slash…,” I paused, needing a minute to breathe before continuing. “Slash made sure I was okay. He always did.”

He nodded, taking my face in his hands and pressing his forehead to mine.

“I wish I could thank him for everything he did to keep you safe. I know I went a bit overboard when you two became close, but I wish I could take it all back. Every single bit. I was just so fucking worried about him taking you away from us, that I didn’t see that I was pushing you away. I knew he loved you, I just didn’t realize the extent of it.”

I closed my eyes, breathing him in.

“I don’t love him in the same way I love you guys. I wish I could, but I just don’t feel that way.”

He looked unsure when I opened my eyes, asking the question that I knew had been eating at him.

“What about Hunter? Do you love him?”

“I love him as a friend. He’s had my back, and I’m grateful for him. I don’t love him how I love you.”

“Did you really not fuck them?”

His voice sounded scratchy from crying, my chest aching at the raw emotion that he didn’t even try to hide from me.

“I told you the truth. Slash and I were going to the night you stopped by, but we never did. Sure, Hunter’s the kind of guy you mess around with, but he knows I love you guys. I love you, Ty. I’d never lie to you about anything like that,” I whispered, and just like that, he completely relaxed.

We didn’t speak again until I peered into his eyes a while later.

“I know the Soldiers aren’t done with me, but did you want me to stay with you tonight at your place so you aren’t sleeping alone?” I asked softly, his broken gaze boring deeply into mine.

“Please,” he breathed, and a tiny piece of my heart fell back into place.

* * *

Tyler

I didn’t get any sleep that night.

I curled up with Rory in my arms and just watched her chest rise and fall with each breath that she took.

It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep once she’d had a hot shower and I got her into bed, and I didn’t blame her for passing out on me.

I called Skeeter to talk to him some more when she’d been in the shower, wanting to know more details.