Page 146 of Firecracker

“I love you.” She kissed his shoulder. “I love you so much. And I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

“I’m sorry too. Fuck.” He was still trying to breathe.

“You also need to apologize for lying to me.”

“What?” His head lifted to glare at her.

“You told me you didn’t want a relationship.”

“Oh. Uh. Yeah.” He sank his teeth into his bottom lip. “Yeah, that was kind of a lie.”

She pursed her lips. “And…?”

“And I’m sorry. Sort of.” He hesitated. “The truth is…I’ve loved you forever, Arden.”

She stared at him, her lips quivering. “Wh-what?”

“I guess it was more of a crush when we were younger, but…hell, I’ve loved you since I was fourteen years old. Getting to know you better now, as adults, it became so much more than a teenage crush.”

“Oh. Oh, Tyler.” She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes bright. “I didn’t know that.”

“Didn’t you?” He smiled wryly and brushed her hair back. “Jamie figured it out.”

“Did he? Wow. He’s pretty clueless about stuff like that.”

Tyler snorted. “I guess I didn’t hide it very well.”

His pounding heart slower now, he shifted off Arden, keeping her close against him.

“Ouch!”

“Sorry, sorry.” He’d bashed her with his cast.

“Are you okay?” She tipped her face up to him, concern etching a notch between her eyebrows. “You’re the one with the broken arm.”

“I’m okay. Damn this thing.”

“It’ll heal. Right?”

“Yeah, it’ll heal.” He got the covers arranged over them, tucking them in around Arden’s beautiful naked body.

“Are you feeling better? I didn’t even ask earlier.”

“Much better. Still some headaches, but I can handle that. I’m only taking Advil now, not the narcotics, so that’s better too.”

“Oh, good.” She made a small noise. “I was so worried about you.” Her voice wobbled.

“I know.” He stroked a hand down her smooth back and curved it over her ass. “I’m sorry. “My mom freaked out about the accident.”

“Well, yeah, I guess she would. We all did. Jamie and Mila…even Emma. And Sorcha and Liam.”

“Turns out that’s why she doesn’t want me to be a firefighter.”

“Hmm?” She gave him a puzzled look. “Because she’s afraid you’ll get hurt?”

“Yeah. She just about lost it. Because, you know…what happened to Tara. And then Dad dying. I’m all she has left.”

“Oh God.” Her eyes widened. “I see.”

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