Page 77 of Almost Rotten

Tomorrow night, I’ll lay it all out and give him an ultimatum. This dynamic has got to stop. If he’s going to force me away from Mercer and Noah, he’s going to lose me in the process.

But I can play along and pretend for one more night.

Relenting, I exhale and relax my legs. “I sat with Cam, Kai, and Skylar in the student section at the game.”

“Good girl,” he murmurs, his tone laced with relief, as he curves his fingers around my inner thigh.

In response, my muscles ease, and when he shifts his hold a fraction, his fingers stroking a little higher, a shiver courses through me.

I close my eyes and breathe deeply.

I just have to get through this dinner. Get through this night. Ty knows I’ll want to hole up in the library tomorrow like I do every Sunday, so he shouldn’t suspect a thing.

He will no doubt sleep in my room tonight, meaning I’ll have to sneak out early. I’ll head to the library, then ask Mercer and Noah if we can meet up for lunch.

With any luck, they won’t be too angry with me. I’ll apologize and explain as much as I can about my history with Ty.

Once they know the truth, or as much of it as I can safely offer, we can move on from the mess I’ve made over the last few weeks.

It’s not a perfect plan. There’s no guarantee that Mercer and Noah will want to be with me after what I’ve been up to. But I’ll lead with the truth, and I’ll do my best to make amends for the hurt I’ve caused.

Once we’re parked and he’s unbuckled his seat belt, Tytus twists in his seat.

Like beacons programmed to find each other, our gazes lock. We sit in silence, the connection between us enough, as rain pitter-patters on the roof of the car.

Obsidian eyes bore into me, looking for strength and assurance I don’t feel equipped to offer. Every inch of him is so familiar and intimate. So special to me.

My heart cracks as I study him. Because I think our inevitable end is near, and I know what’s likely to happen next will hurt him.

Ty’s pain has always been my pain. His heartache has always been mine, too. And maybe mine belongs to him as well. Life slapped us both around and ensured we’re too banged up to ever be whole again.

The connection we share should have been galvanized over the years. It should have been reinforced with love. Instead, our foundation was built on trauma.

We’re too broken, he and I.

We were ruined years ago. And every time we could have or should have worked on ourselves, we didn’t. We couldn’t. We were too wrapped up in surviving, in distracting ourselves, in just getting through each day, to put in the work necessary to heal.

Neither of us possesses enough of who we used to be to hold the other up the way they deserve to be held.

Tytus can’t be my forever.

I owe it to myself—and to the two men I also care deeply about—to stop this reckless runaway train before it goes completely off track.

But I can let him pretend this is our reality for a little longer if it helps him get through this night.

“Don’t be nervous,” I say. “You’re going to be great.”

He brushes the hair off his forehead. “I didn’t say I was nervous.”

Inching closer, I grasp his hand and give it a quick squeeze before retreating. “You didn’t have to. This is a lot, but you’re going to get through it. I’m here. We’re okay.” My voice cracks on the last two words. It’s not an outright lie, but it’s far from the truth.

Tentatively, he recaptures my hand. I don’t pull away. He smooths his thumb over my knuckles, once, twice, a third time. “You’ll be with me? The whole time?”

I press my lips together, memorizing the way my hand looks in his as he cradles it so tenderly. When I lift my gaze, I find worried, waiting eyes staring back at me.

“I’ll be by your side all night,” I promise.

Right now, that’s all I’m willing and able to give.