Page 150 of Severed Heart

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Tyler whispers, running a finger along my cheek. Managing a smile despite the bone-deep ache and sweat on my brow, I open my eyes to see him sitting next to me on the mattress, fully dressed. The smell wafting from him is heavenly. He gestures for me to sit, and I lift to perch against my headboard. Tyler adjusts a pillow behind me for my comfort before handing me a steaming cup of broth. I thank him before glancing toward the blinds and realize it’s dark outside.

“I missed the sunset,” I utter mournfully.

“We’ll catch it tomorrow,” he assures as I sip the broth.

Behind his shoulder, I see a new TV set up on my tall dresser, and he follows my curious stare.

“I dug out your old DVD player. Star Wars is ready to play,” he says, lifting the remote from my nightstand to lay it within reach.

“You’re leaving?” I ask, hating how pathetic I sound.

“I should be back before the credits roll, but you can call me if you need me before I do.” He lifts my Sidekick from the nightstand. “Seriously?” He spouts incredulously that I haven’t replaced my phone.

“It still works,” I tell him.

He rolls his eyes as he programs his new number in under “Soldier”—which makes me smile even as he condemns me. “Jesus, you’re cheap.”

“Not cheap,” I defend, “it works fine, so no need to waste money.”

“Hit play,” he says with a slight head shake, “and I’ll be right back.”

“Yes, yes, Soldier, I’m fine. Go.”

“Again, if you need me, call me from your dinosaur phone that’s being replaced as soon as possible.”

“A different battle for a different day, Soldier.” I raise a brow, to which he gives me a wink.

“I have missed that wink,” I say as he lingers in my doorway. “I have missed your winky face texts so much.”

It’s then I feel the mountain of words we haven’t spoken as his eyes drill into mine because of my sentiment and my part in the loss of them.

“I am so curious about your life,” I confess. “I’ve heard things,listenedfor them, but Dom left not long after you, and they only say so much when they do come or call.”

“Which is not often, I’m guessing.” He eyes me with concern.

“Dom takes me to and from treatment. He still checks in.”

“And T?”

“He calls every few weeks. But yes, I’m an obligation, Tyler.”

“They care,” he assures me.

“Not like you,” I whisper.

“No one cares like me,” he draws out, “but you’ve got to let other people in for that. This is the stuff my mom will help you work out. Okay?”

I nod, unable to help my question. “Are you sleeping here tonight?”

“Yeah, I’ll take Dom’s bed,” he states.

I nod quickly to mask my disappointment. Surely he has women to warm his bed, and knowing that, I can’t help but ask my question. “Do you have a girl?”

He lifts his brows, faint amusement tickling his lips where he remains in my doorway. “A girl?”

“You know what I’m asking. A girlfriend. Someone you see?”

“Well, it’s definitely notCecelia I’m fucking,” he counters of my jealous slip the day he and Cecelia came to clean.