Page 68 of Fall Over You

He was so sweet when he proposed, and it sparked some hope in me. Now with him being so sullen, I’m afraid the time for sweet has expired.

Before he turns around the rear of the truck, Tyler pauses. In the side mirror, I watch as he presses his fingers into his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. He blows out a breath and walks to the other side of the truck.

Tyler gets into his seat and buckles in, looking out the opposite window. Jake and Darcy chatter in the front seat, and I’m doing my best to not overanalyze and take this personally. I wish I could have a smoke and I dig in my purse for some of that damn Nicorette that’s not good enough but will have to be my life from now on. I pop a piece out of the foil and Tyler sticks his hand out. “Can I have some?”

“You wouldn’t like it,” I sulk. “It’s spicy.”

Darcy cackles in the front seat.

He grumbles. “I like spicy.”

“It’s got nicotine,” I elaborate.

“Oh. Are you . . . quitting?”

I sigh. “Seems that way.”

The dim light from the front of the truck shows me how he’s grinding his teeth, then chewing his lip. He fidgets with his hands before he opens his photos and looks at pictures of Ellie.

I lean to look at his screen, chuckling at one of Ellie at Betty’s Diner, beaming with a stack of pancakes in front of her. I should have been able to guess that this was the problem. He’s afraid to leave Ellie, and after her meltdown last night, I don’t blame him.

“That’s a good one.” Tyler nods and sniffs. I reach for his hand. “She’s in good hands.”

“I know. I don’t leave her with anybody much.”

“I bet,” I say.

He turns his hand over, brushing his thumb over my fingers and examining my ring. “CJ was . . . Yeah. I couldn’t trust her to take care of Ellie. She did her best but she was sick.”

I squeeze again and he squeezes back. “Maggie’s good.”

“I know,” he says, sitting up straighter. “I know she’s fine. Just feels weird.”

I chuckle. “Know what’ll make you feel better?”

“What?”

“Dancing with your freshly betrothed at the finest place in town.”

Tyler laughs, a genuine laugh. “I don’t dance.”

“Oh, you think this ring is unbelievable? If people catch wind that Becca Martin’s marrying a guy who don’t dance, the whole jig is up.”

Jake’s eyes appear in the rearview mirror. “You don’t dance, Tyler? Why the heck not?”

Darcy pats his arm. “Not everybody is like you, cowboy.”

“No, you gotta dance,” Jake argues. “That’s the best way to get your hands all over your girl in public.”

“Can’t she just sit on my lap or something?” Tyler asks, disgruntled.

“Oh, you can handle all this in your lap?” I ask, gesturing to my very much spectacular ass.

“I’m not fifteen at homecoming,” he says, a little too defensively.

“Well, I hope not. I’m not making any child bride,” I scoff.

“It would be groom—never mind,” Tyler says. “I don’t even know why I try with you.”