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Thatch shook his head at them. “You two are a lot of help.” Though he already knew there was no simple answer. No magical piece of advice for navigating relationships.
“Either way, it’s obvious she has strong feelings for you.” Silas retrieved his beer from the bar.
Thatch went to sit down between them. “You think?”
“Oh, yeah.” Aiden got up and found Thatch a Coke. “The other night she couldn’t keep her eyes off you.”
“And she laughs at all your lame jokes,” Silas added.
“My jokes aren’t lame.” Everyone laughed at his jokes because they were funny.
Silas rolled his eyes. “Dude, Morgan can tell a better joke than you.”
“Whatever. Uncle Thatch taught her everything she knows about good comedy.”
For the next half hour, they settled into their usual banter and insults. He’d missed this. Hanging out with these two. Not only harassing one another but talking about life too. Still, he had to get going so he wouldn’t be late for his yoga session. “Sorry to cut out early.”
“You don’t have to apologize to us,” Aiden said. “We’ve both been there.”
“We’ll all be there for a long time.” Silas clapped him on the back. “And Aiden’s probably right,” he said begrudgingly. “Just let things happen.”
“I actually think I can do that.”Let things happen.The simplicity of that mantra was freeing.
By the time he made it to the clinic, he’d managed to let go of the what-ifs, the plans, the complications he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding on to.
“Hey.” Lyric greeted him at the front door, her dark eyes looking up at him shyly from underneath her lashes.
Before responding, he took a few seconds to appreciate her. She’d pulled her hair up loosely on top of her head, and her face was makeup-free and lovely. “Hey.” He stepped inside the reception area with her. “You might need to go easy on me tonight. I’ve been hanging drywall all day.”
“I thoughtyouwere going to take it easy.” Lyric waved him down the hall to the studio.
“We’re on a schedule.” And truthfully, he didn’t know how to take it easy. “The town council wants to open the rec center right after the Rodeo Days.” They’d make it, but they’d be cutting it close. He lurched ahead to open the door for her. “But I figured we can do some strength work. And stretching, of course.” If they had to. Stretching wasn’t his favorite.
“Sure. We can do that.” Lyric seemed a little distracted. “But before we get started, we need to talk.”
Uh-oh.He’d heard those words delivered in that same serious tone before.
“Sure. Hang on.” He took off his boots before he slipped into the changing room to put on his sweats.When he came back out, Lyric was waiting for him on the bench.
“What’s on your mind?” He sat down next to her, their shoulders brushing.
“I wanted to discuss ourarrangement.” She kept her gaze straight ahead. “On the phone the other night, it kind of sounded like you didn’t want to continue pretending.” She clasped and unclasped her hands in her lap. “The thing is, I don’t want to force you to be in a fake relationship. Especially if you don’t want to be. I mean, I know this is not ideal. So we can break up if you want.”
Huh.He hadn’t seen this coming. The truth was, he’d thought she would let him off the hook when she connected with Elina. Only he didn’t necessarily want to go their separate ways now. That would mean they’d go back to avoiding each other, hardly talking. He liked hanging out with her. “Youwant to break up?”
“I want what’s best for you.” Lyric stood and walked to the shelf of mats. “I mean, I’m fine either way. As long as you are. I wanted to give you an out. In case you don’t want to keep on pretending.” She pulled two mats down and unrolled them on the floor, but if you asked him, her movements seemed a little frantic. She was nervous. He didn’t want her to be nervous with him. Ever. But he also had to be honest with her.
“I’m not pretending all that much.” In case she hadn’t noticed. He waited for her to turn and look at him. “But if you want out, I’m fine with that. Whatever you need.” He’d already told her he’d be there for her either way. As a friend. Or as more if she wanted.
“I don’t—I mean—” She tugged at her sweatshirt a few times, exposing the strap of her sports bra. “Um, I’mnot sure what I want, Thatch.” This time, her eyes braved a good long look into his. “I don’t know.”
“That’s fine.” He gave a little shrug. “There’s no pressure here either way.”
True concern appeared in the faint lines of her forehead. “I don’t want to hurt you. If things don’t work out. Or if we keep pretending and then the whole thing falls apart.”
“My happiness and well-being aren’t your responsibility, Lyric.” He almost touched her, brushed a tendril of hair away from her temple, but instead he fisted his hand at his side. “I wouldn’t put that on another person. If I’ve learned anything over the last few years, it’s that you have to be good on your own before you can ever be good with someone else.”
Maybe that was what he’d been missing with Sienna. Back then, he hadn’t been good on his own. And neither had she. She’d missed him too much when he’d joined up, she’d said. She needed someone who could be with her all the time. But he wouldn’t be the man he was today if he hadn’t become a SEAL. He was better for all of it, even though he’d lost out on who he’d thought was his dream.
