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The silence was smothering. We’d dropped Wren off at her gorgeous home on the bluff and neither Ty nor I had said a word since. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared out the passenger window, forcing myself to pretend that Ty wasn’t there.
But he was. Every fiber of my being was highly aware of his closeness. I could reach over and touch him with barely any effort, and I never thought that would happen again.
I closed my eyes, wanting to push those thoughts out of my mind. Yet, all I could think about was how things used to be. I used to be able to tell Ty anything. He had always been there for me, my constant friend. My protector.
“You should be more careful, you know.” My body stiffened as his voice broke the quiet.
I didn’t look at him, but I wanted to.
“Assholes like Callen Hunter don’t know when to quit. Wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
I bristled. Since when did he have any right to criticize what I did? My head snapped toward him as if on its own. “I can take care of myself.”
He flattened his lips against a smile, making my anger rise. Callen wasn’t the one who’d hurt me. I’d never give him the chance. No, the only person who ever had the power to truly crush me was sitting next to me.
“I know you can.” Ty’s hazel eyes cut to mine, glinting in the dark. “Doesn’t mean I’ll stop looking out for you.”
Fuck.Him. If there wasn’t a good chance I’d die flinging myself from this moving vehicle, I might’ve done it.
I glared at him, my lip curling in disdain. “You need to shut up.” My voice was sharp, leaving no question about my feelings. “Actually, you need to stop talking to me all together. I don’t like you, Ty. We aren’t friends. Not anymore. Stop pretending like you know anything about me and go on with your life like you did three years ago.”
He winced as if I’d slapped him across the face. It gave me a small bit of satisfaction, but not near enough. He was thankfully quiet the rest of the drive to my place. He rolled slowly up the gravel drive until his headlights hit the trailer.
I waited for him to put it into park and unlatch the locks, my hand already on the handle, but he didn’t.
“I deserve all your hate,” he said it so softly, I barely heard him. He sounded so defeated. “I guess I just want you to know that I miss you, Ellie.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat. As much as I hated him, I couldn’t deny I missed him. I missed him so much it physically pained me. But it had been too long, and he obviously hadn’t missed me enough to come home before. Even after I begged him to come back, all my messages were ignored.
“I can’t, Ty,” I said, my voice cracking on this name. “I just want you to leave me alone.”
There was a pause before the locks clicked as he shifted into park. “Okay, Ellie.”
In the next breath, I’d flung the door open and jumped from the Jeep.
There was a time where all I wanted was to hear those words from Ty.I miss you. That time was long gone and nothing but bitterness was left. I was better off with guys like Callen. Guys who didn’t hide what they were. Guys who didn’t pretend to care about you and then leave you. I knew exactly what I was getting into with Callen.
I’d never trust someone like Tyson Ranes ever again.
