Flock

“Oh my God, Tyler, I’m so sorry.”

He wipes his hand over his face. “It was never going to work anyway. The military was always my plan, and she was too far gone by the time we happened. I—” He shrugs, though I know the weight on his shoulders is too heavy to shake away. “Can’t help who you fall for, right?”

“Ain’t that the truth.” I study his stark profile. “Did Dom know?”

“No. No one. You’re the only one I’ve ever told. And she…well, she’ll take it to her grave. She’s the best at keeping secrets. Better than any one of us.” He takes one more look at the house before pulling out of the driveway. “She was only twenty when she…became a reluctant parent.”

My age. I can’t imagine.

“But she did what she could. The irony is it’s her ovaries killing her anyway. One big life fuck you. I wouldn’t have given a damn about her age, then or now, if she would have let me in. Fuck, I hate seeing her like this.”

I cover his hand on the seat with mine. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this. If I would have known, I never would have asked you.”

“No, I’m glad you did. I thought it was best to stay away, but now that I’ve seen her…I know better. I’ll do better and I won’t let her suffer alone anymore. She dismissed us and broke my fucking heart, and then I turned around and gave up on her in return. The eighteen-year-old me didn’t understand it. I do now.” I study his profile as he drives us out of the neighborhood.

“You still love her.”

He nods. “I have since I was sixteen. But Cee, this is our secret to keep.”

“I will. I swear to you, Tyler. Thank you for trusting me with it.”

Silence follows and I know he’s hurting—I can feel it pouring from him. Even after all these years, even in her wretched state, he still loves her.

For the first time in my life, I don’t see the beauty in tragedy. I see the cruelty of it. He drives on, silent and reflective, the whole way back to the shopping center, only addressing me when he turns into the parking lot. He grins, shaking his head ironically. “Life is crazy, isn’t it?”

“Never know where a day can bring you, especially around here,” I repeat his words from the day we met. “You okay?”

“I’m good. Swear.” The light in his eyes returns briefly, along with a peek of his dimple. “And I’m here for any favor you need, Cee. I’ve got your back.”

“Same, Tyler, same.”