Page 102 of His North Star
“Do I get the low-down now or what?” I asked before Ty closed the door.
He walked around the back of the truck. Once inside the cab, he said, “There’s a lookout about a mile down the road. I’ll pull in there.”
“Okay.”
We stayed silent on the short drive. I stuffed my shaky hands under my legs. I glanced over at Ty, but it was too dark to make out his expression. Was my life about to change? For the better? Worse?
He pulled off on the shoulder, then turned the truck off. “Let’s go sit on the tailgate.” We settled ourselves side by side. Our thighs and arms touched. “Scoot closer so we stay warm.”
“Yes, sir.” I nestled up to him, despite the heat rolling over me.
I turned my head toward him, as much as the limited space would allow. The blackness surrounding us made it difficult to discern anything but the shape of his body. I bit my tongue, despite my impatience. This was Ty’s moment, not mine.
“Do you know what I told Lys when I broke up with her?” he blurted.
Obviously, since I was there with him. I rolled my eyes. Not that he could see it. “No.”
“That I was in love with someone else. That I tried to ignore those feelings because I didn’t think I had a chance with this other person, but it didn’t work, which was why Lys and I would never happen. . .”
“Right. You’ve said as much before.”
He ran a hand through his hair. Paused. Then exhaled before saying, “I’m afraid to tell you because I don’t want to ruin our friendship.”
I played it cool even as my heart pounded, remembering Charlie’s words. “I highly doubt whoever it is will change you and me. I mean, sure, they may take more of your time, but I’d survive.” I shrugged. I didn’t have a choice. Keeping Ty as a friend was always the most important part whenever he dated someone.
He barked out a laugh. “You have no idea.”
“Then spit it out!”
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed before pulling back. He twisted so we were face to face. Why didn’t we do this in the light? I couldn’t make out his facial expression. Although, that might be why he chose the dark. Revealing vulnerabilities when no one could see was easier.
“I’m in love withyou,“ he whispered.
Whoa! My jaw dropped. I slowly blinked, trying to comprehend exactly what he was saying. Those words changed everything. “Me?” I squeaked. Charlie was right? Ty was in love withme?
Holy guacamole.
“I. . . I. . . Since when?”
He turned away from me, but I reached out, pulling his chin toward me. Even though I couldn’t see his expression well, him turning away dug at my heart, which was in a frenzy from his admission. My mind? Spinning like it was on a motion-based simulator for astronauts.
“I’ve loved you since the first grade,” he said matter-of-factly. “I realized I wasinlove with you when I came back from college.”
Four years, and he’d never saidanything? If either one of us had confessed our feelings, how different would our lives look? How much heartbreak could we have been spared?
I rubbed my thumb along his jaw. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”
I hadn’t said anything about my feelings in high school because he’d always had a girlfriend and he’d said he only liked me as a sister. I, too, didn’t want to mess up our friendship since I wasn’t close to any of the girls at school. It was Ty.
Ty who went prom dress shopping with me. And I with him for a tuxedo.
Ty who watched sappy romance movies and ate cartons of ice cream with me after bad breakups.
Ty who went on camping trips with my family and vice versa.
Ty who threatened anyone who broke my heart.
Ty who stayed up late to help me finish my homework.
