Page 69 of A Vegas Crush Collection #2

“Maybe. I need to figure something out, though. Something long-term, and not back with our mom. I don’t think I can really do this right now.

Not alone and so early in my career, you know?

I travel too much. They’re not pets. I can’t just board them every time I leave town.

They deserve better—better than the life they had with my mom.

Also better than what I can give them right now. ”

“They seem really happy, Ty. They are enjoying being here with you.”

“They’re great,” he says sincerely. “Honestly, super awesome. I’m sure this is, like, a big vacation for them. But what’s next? Where do they go? They need something stable and permanent. Normal. In a normal house with normal parents.”

“Well, I think they only need someone who loves them and puts them first. Really it’s all any of us need if you think about it.”

He reaches out and messes my hair. “You are wise beyond your years, Zo. Oh, and speakin’ of which, I took your advice.

I called the courts and offered to pay for my mom to go into a one-year rehabilitation program as soon as she finishes her sentence.

So, who knows? Maybe I do this for the next two, three years and when she gets well, I can find them all a place here in Vegas so I can keep an eye on ’em. Wouldn’t that be something?”

I can tell he’s trying to talk himself into this idea, that he maybe doesn’t believe it can actually happen.

After all, his mother has been in and out of rehab already.

She always falls back into bad, old habits.

The kids always suffer for it. I can see how he would be nervous bringing the possibility of that drama so close.

“I think you did the right thing, but the right thing can also change, over time, so maybe take small steps. The path will reveal itself.”

“You Zen master.” He smiles at me and my heart does that thing I’m getting very used to it doing. It bounces around inside my chest like an excited puppy.

“I know this is all a big change. Do you miss your life before? Sleeping with random women, partying all the time?”

Tyler licks his lips as he looks at my face.

It makes me blush. “No,” he finally says.

“I think that part of my life might be over now. If nothing else, this is a wake-up call. I need to be a better role model for Haley and Logan. They need someone substantial in their lives. If it’s gotta be me, then it’s gotta be me. ”

“Well, you are a good man, Tyler Lockhardt. You really are.”

“You have helped. Seriously. Your friendship has helped. You mean a lot to me.”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I’m overwhelmed, suddenly, and I really, really want to kiss him. I lean in. He leans in. And just as our mouths meet, the door to the kids’ bedroom opens with a squeak. The sound of a crying boy fills the space.

Scooping Logan into his arms, Ty asks him what’s wrong.

He takes Logan to the couch, comforting him while he tells Ty about a scary dream with a "mean man." Poor baby. This source behind Logan’s dream is going to wreck Tyler. I feel like now is not the time for me to intrude. He needs some privacy with his family, and I really shouldn’t make a mistake I can’t take back by staying here with him.

So... I kiss first Logan and then Ty on the head before telling him I need to get back to the dorm.

I let myself out quietly and order an Uber to take me back. All the way home, I fret over what almost just happened. We almost kissed. We started to. Would it have gone further? Would I have wanted it to?

I’m so distracted by my own thoughts that I barely notice my room is unlocked when I return. Inside, I find my sister sitting on my bed, her face red, her lips set in a deep scowl.

“Were you with him just now?” she asks accusingly.

“Hello to you, too. Where were you earlier? We were supposed to meet for lunch and you never showed up, never called, never texted.”

“Did you sleep with him, Zoya?”

“Did you sleep with him, Irina?”

“Answer me first.”

“No.” I throw my hands up in the air. “No, I did not sleep with him. He’s been tutoring me in statistics. We are just friends.”

“Well, tell him that, because he flat-out rejected me last night. Because of you.”

“Rina—”

“Don’t Rina me. He’s in love with you, Zoya.

How can you be just friends if you’re in love with each other?

” I can’t deny something like that to my sister.

She has always been able to read me. I don’t want to think about what Irina did to have Ty reject her either, because I know how forward she is. So, I need to pass it off.

“Whatever,” I say, rolling my eyes. “He’s not in love with me. I know he’s not. And besides, he doesn’t even know how to love a woman. At least, not the way I want someone to love me anyway. He’s a good man and he is my friend, but it’s not like that between us.”

“I know he’s a good man,” Irina says, frustrated. “I like him, too, but it’s obvious he wants you. I only wanted to sleep with him. It shouldn’t have hurt like that when he rejected me, but it did, and it’s because I know he wanted you instead.”

That’s the second time she’s said that, so I know Irina tried very hard to get Ty to have sex. I cannot ask how far. I think my heart would be broken if he did with Irina what he did with me.

“I am sorry, sister. I can’t help that he didn’t want to sleep with you.” I barely scrape the words past my lips.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” she snaps. “I’ll get over it.”

This makes me laugh. “Well, I’m sure you will. But listen, you are luchshaya sestrav mire. More important than any guy. I love you.”

“You’re the best sister ever, too,” she says, sticking her tongue out. “Even though you need to stop letting random assholes ogle you like you’re a toy for their entertainment.”

“Well, you need to shave your armpits.”

We devolve into a fit of silly insults and giggles until we’re both crying and hugging.

“I don’t want you to sleep with Tyler,” Irina says as we lie on my bed, side by side. “Is that bad of me?”

“Well, I promise not to,” I say.

“Really?” she asks hopefully. And I hate the reason she is hopeful. Does she really have that right to ask that of me? Can I deny my sister anything? No.

“Really.” I hold out my pinkie. She crooks hers and we pinkie swear.

When she leaves, I sit for a long time, thinking about the promise I just made to my sister.

And I wonder if I will be able to keep it.