Page 56 of Stand
But she asked it for him. “You’ve been in therapy. And so have the kids.”
He nodded. “It’s helped. I’m not perfect, as you’ve seen.” God, he wished she hadn’t seen him when he’d gotten back from the hospital with Matt. “I recommend it.”
Her face darkened. “This is why I don’t have kids,” she said.
“Huh?”
She frowned. “You and Matt yelling at each other this morning.”
“Oh. Yeah. Not my best moment. I’m sorry you saw—”
“Stop. God. You’re already damn perfect, Tyler. Don’t shake your pretty head at me.”
Ty laughed in shock. “My what?”
“You heard me.” She lifted her chin, and he saw a challenge—and an invitation, though it was one she was about to revoke—in her eyes. “This is why we’re going to be friends and nothing more. Because you’ll do anything for your kids, and I’m a selfish bitch who cares about no one but herself—and Cairo. And your kids.”
“And your nephews.”
“Well, duh. They’re totally cool. A chip off the ole auntie.” She lifted her hair off her neck and twisted it up before letting it fall.
“And your sisters. And your brother.”
“That doesn’t count. You have to love your family.”
Ty laughed again and shook his head. “Sam Fielding. Frankly, my dear, youdogive a damn.”
“It’s not the same. You have to love your kids, don’t you? Even when they’re being bratty? Because they’re family. You don’t get a prize for that,sweetheart.”
He loved that she threw his words back at him. Loved it a little too much. He stood and took his own empty cup. He planned to walk back to Matt and Alyssa, but Sam said, “You wanna walk Cai with me a little?”
He’d thought she was pissed at him. He’d thought he needed to get out of her orbit because she was pulling him in again, even thoughshewas the one who’d mentioned that they could only be friends.
“Uh. Sure. If you want.”
“Yeah. I want to get it into your thick blond skull that Indiana Jones was a man.”
“What difference does that make?” he teased back.
“Up, Cairo,” she said and took the dog’s leash in her hand. “If you haven’t figured out I’m not a man by now, Tyler, we’re—”
He wasnotgoing to look at her body. “I know. Indiana Jones wishes he were as brave as you.”
They began to walk away from the building, up the narrow grassy area that ran parallel to the highway. “And your dog is called Cairo,” he added. “How Archaeologist Adventurer can you get?”
“I wanted to call him Xochicalco, but no one at the vet could spell it.”
Ty laughed so hard, Cairo barked at him.
Chapter 16
Sam called ten people—well, actually twelve, as she had to leave messages for two contacts—before they reached Cleveland. Two hung up as soon as she said who she was.
Ty, remembering the lane drifting she’d done earlier, drove. He gave her his password so she could find the names on his school directory app. And hell if she didn’t knock this task out of the park, like she did everything else.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry for that dance, Laura. I should have included you. I knew you were lonely, and I chose to ignore it.” A pause. “Yeah. I knew you liked him. I was a shit about that, too.”
“I’m sorry I let you struggle in class, Melissa. I could have helped you, but I chose not to.” More talking on the other end. “Yeah, I should have been tutoring, not partying. There’s nothing I can change about it, but please know that I feel like crap about it.”