Page 72 of Severed Heart (The Ravenhood Legacy #2)

“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, listened for 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 not Cecelia I’m fucking ,” he counters of my jealous slip the day he and Cecelia came to clean.

“I see,” I say, pulling the sheet up tightly to me and grabbing the remote. “Will she be very upset you are helping me?”

“Not sure,” he drawls playfully.

“This is serious. If I was your woman, the shower would make me very upset, Soldier. Very , very upset.”

He crosses his arms, leaning against the doorjamb. “Hmm. Maybe I shouldn’t tell her.”

I shake my head adamantly. “You should probably not tell her, no.” I wince. “And maybe don’t tell her we fucked... before.”

“Welcome back, General Brash ,” he chuckles, his dimple popping. “Let me get this straight. Are you telling me to lie to my woman?”

“Yes. She’ll be suspicious because of that, even if it was long ago, and it will only incite more suspicion. I want to respect her ... but maybe keep her from that knowledge.” I widen my eyes. “Trust me, she will not understand.”

“I don’t know, I really like to be honest with my women,” he says playfully. “Any other advice?”

“Don’t be a connard,” I snap, tilting my head, knowing he’s enjoying this too much at my expense. “I’m fine.” I wave him off. “You can go. Spend the night with her if she needs the assurance,” I say, hating every word. “I don’t need you to babysit me.”

“Do you want a drink?”

“Yes,” I tell him instantly if only to numb the burn of my own jealousy.

“Then I’ll stop babysitting when you don’t.”

I nod. “Are you going to her tonight?”

“Not tonight,” he says, “no.”

“Tyler, do not ruin whatever you have for me.”

“I couldn’t,” he assures.

“Oh,” I say, darting my gaze around, wishing I hadn’t asked so many questions. “Well ... that’s good.”

“Delphine,” he sighs.

“Hm?” I ask, slowly bringing my eyes back to his.

“I’m single.”

“Oh.”

“I don’t do girlfriends,” he says, palming the frame above him, biceps bulging.

“Okay,” I exhale in a shaky rush as I scour the look of him standing at my door, all too alluring.

He looks so fucking good in simple jeans and a white fitted T-shirt.

Such simple dress, but so mouthwatering.

His tags somehow add so much to his appeal.

He’s not only gorgeous, but he’s... fucking sexy. So fucking sexy.

“I’ve been in love once in my life,” he states, dumping cold water on my thoughts. “Didn’t work out.”

“Tyler—” I falter at his delivery.

“She said she would never love me back,” he delivers with such ease that I physically flinch. It takes me almost a full ten seconds to speak.

“And so, you left her for eight long years without a word,” I utter mournfully, hearing every second of those years in my voice as a tense silence follows before he breaks it.

“I’ll be back,” he says, releasing the jamb before rapping it lightly with his knuckles.

“Soldier,” I call after him just as he steps out of sight. He reappears a second later, the frozen screen lighting up his profile. “You have much to tell me?” I ask, and he slowly nods. “Will you tell me when you get back?”

“Not yet,” he whispers through the space.

“Then I will wait,” I tell him. “I am eager to hear it ... when you are ready. But I want you to know I will always regret the words I—”

“I need to go, Delphine,” he says, cutting my apology abruptly.

It’s then I know that no matter how close he gets, I’m very far from certain types of honesty.

Honesty he’s so easily pulling from me, but honesty he seems to no longer want.

Words I want so much to say die in my throat at his dismissal, but I give him some truth anyway.

“I hope you know I tried for you, too , Tyler,” I tell him. “Very hard. I did not drink during the day. At night, I would go longer and longer before I would sip—”

“Until you were triggered,” he finishes for me. “I know, Delphine.”

“I just want you to know that you knew me sober. ”

“I do know,” he relays across the space, feeling as if it’s starting to widen from how intimate we were last night and this morning.

“Okay, I’m sorry to keep you. Go to your errand.”

“Do me a favor,” he asks.

“Anything,” I blurt like a lovesick fool.

“Try to watch the movie. You can start sorting out whatever you need to tomorrow morning, okay? Stay out of that dangerous place”—he taps his temple—“for a little while longer.”

“I will try,” I promise as he takes his leave, and I start the movie, knowing I will do anything he asks of me.

It’s my heart that might not be agreeable to the distance he’s intent on keeping from his.

This truth is evident as it pounds in the direction of his footfalls, following him out of the snap of the storm door and into his truck as it sparks to life, trailing him long after the rumble fades with his departure.

Both pounding and aching heavily reminding me of the loss of his presence, of what that ache feels like as it has for eight unforgiving years.