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“You’re the dream guy, Tyler, but if you move here, you’ll resent me. Maybe not today, maybe not a year from now, but someday you’ll look around at your city life and know there’s something missing.”
His voice was a whisper as he said, “Something will be missing if you’re not with me.”
My lips quivered. He was taking all the fight left in me. “Tyler, tell me you’d be happy here.”
He hesitated. “I’d give it up, for you.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Then what are you saying?” he asked, his eyes red.
“I’m saying you’re a windmill, Tyler, and we both know you don’t belong here.”
His Adam’s apple slid down his throat as he swallowed. “Don’t do this, Hen. Please don’t do this.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I shook my head. “We both knew how it was going to end.”
“I thought you loved me.” His hoarse whisper broke every last unshattered part of me.
“I do,” I said. “But it’s not enough.”
Then I turned and walked back where I belonged, with my family. Tyler was behind me, in my past. And even though I loved him with every broken piece, that’s where he needed to stay. After all, if you loved something, you needed to set it free.
63
Tyler
I wasn’t waiting around until Sunday. Not when everywhere I looked reminded me of her. Not when all I saw was her face telling me there was no future, nothing I could do to change her mind.
Not when I’d lost everything that mattered to me.
I packed up all my things, shoving them in the suitcases I moved here with, then I texted Gage.
Tyler: Can you get me a flight back to Dallas for tonight?
Gage: For you and Hen?
Tyler: Just me.
There was a pause before he replied.
Gage: Booked.
He sent me a screenshot of the boarding pass, and I locked my phone, holding it tightly in my hand. I was leaving Emerson. Without Henrietta by my side.
64
Henrietta
Confession: I’ve been preparing for this moment for the last eight years, and I’m still not ready.
I gavemy parents an excuse about Tyler needing to change and shower at his apartment, and they let my red eyes and smeared makeup pass without further questioning. It had been a long night for all of us.
While my grandma was in surgery, Birdie called me. I didn’t answer. But then she sent me a text.
Birdie: Just checking in to see how it’s going with Tyler’s family. Are they as sweet as he is?
A small huff of air came out my nose.