Page 106 of Friend Me

“He deserves to blow off some steam, you know. You’re not the easiest guy to work for.”

Cooper’s posture went rigid. “I have high expectations of everyone—”

“I know you do.” I stroked his shoulder. “What I’ve learned recently is that you can’t put anyone on a pedestal. Not even yourself.”

He started to say something just as the song ended. He closed his mouth, pulled me into a hug, and whispered in my ear, “Thank you,” before he kissed my cheek.

My dad would’ve kissed my cheek with more passion. Cooper’s kiss was a dry brush of lips I wanted to flick away. Still, he’d meant well. I hugged him back briefly, breathing in his minty scent. “Anytime.”

The band struck up another song, and as I turned to leave the dance floor, Sam blocked my path. “I know I’m not supposed to talk about him, but Jackson’s dancing with Alicia, and he can’t hear us.” She stepped closer so she didn’t have to shout over the music. “Tyler’s here. But when Cooper kissed you, he ran out that door.” She pointed toward the double doors that led to the exterior deck.

“He’s here?” I couldn’t have heard her right.

“I tried to tell you earlier. He said he didn’t want Princess Leia back, but he’d see all of us tonight.”

He didn’t want Princess Leia back. Well, if that didn’t tell me how he felt, I didn’t know what would. Still, he was here. And that meant I had one more chance to make things right between us.

“Thanks.” I pushed through the crowd to the exit and looked right, then left. The moonlight glinted on the light-brown hair of a familiar form for a moment before he disappeared around the curve of the stern.

Despite my strappy heels, I raced to catch him before I lost him. Again. I thanked Pythagoras and whoever invented the sextant that we were on a ship with no way to escape.

I rounded the curve of the boat to find nothing but empty deck chairs. Huffing out a frustrated sigh, I clacked toward the front of the boat. When I reached the middle of the ship, a lone figure leaned his elbows on the rail, facing the moonlight-dappled waves. This time, my sigh carried with it all the relief I felt to find him alone, waiting for me. Or so I hoped.

“Tyler!” I called out and trotted to his side, skidding to a stop on the sea-sprayed wood. He gave me a quick glance but returned his gaze to the water.

So that was how it was going to be. Groveling would be required. I was ready.

“I heard you went home.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Is your family okay?”

“Yeah.”

“I hope you punched Raleigh. Or at least gave him crap.”

He shrugged. “It was good to see them. It’d been a while.”

I tried to smile, but my lips wobbled. “I’m glad you went, then. Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?”

Still gazing out over the ocean, he said, “I did.”

“I went to see my dad in his new place. Bayside Gardens. You tried to give me a brochure for it. I remember it on top of the stack before I—” I shivered in the icy wind and hugged myself to hold in the warmth. “I wish I’d listened to you then. They had a nice meal for the families. There was turkey.”

Thatearned me a response. He turned to face me. “You put your dad in a nursing home?”

I cringed at the accusing tone of his voice, but then I shrugged a shoulder. “He—he fell. He broke his leg and needed rehab. And—” I hadn’t told anyone this, but Tyler would understand. “And he hit his head, and it seemed to make his condition…worse.” I rubbed my arms and stared out over the waves.

“I’m sorry,” he said. Almost unwillingly, he asked, “Are you okay?”

I couldn’t look at him. “I moved into an apartment. I’m selling the house. Dad’s mad at me. Mostly because I gave away his recliner.” I laughed, but there was no humor in it.

Beside me, he gripped the rail.

“I—I missed you, Tyler.” I reached toward the sleeve of his coat but lost my nerve and pulled my hand back without touching him. “I could have used a friend.”

Tyler whirled toward me, his eyes glowing in the string lights. “Marlee, that’s exactly what you do to your friends:usethem. You used me to get closer to Cooper. And from what I saw in there, it worked. So since I’ve served my purpose, I’m done being used. I can’t be your friend anymore.”

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