Page 44 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

"She's all over me. What do you want me to do? You know, you act like the world gave you a shitty hand. Hot girls line up for you and all you care about is the one you can't have. You dated Natalie when you were in love with Penny. You dated Melissa when you were still in love with Penny. And who knows what you've done in between that, because you sure haven't been calling me with

updates about your life. So the question is, what are you going to do to Hailey, huh?"

"It's not like that."

"Really? Because I think it's exactly like that. And maybe she sees it too. You're pissed about coming second in Penny's life and then you treat every girl you meet second best because of her."

Fuck. "I don't do that."

"You gave me so much shit for breaking up with Melissa before graduation. But I did that because I knew we couldn't make it work long distance. And I didn't want to hurt her. I did that because I respected her. I'm not the ass here, Tyler. You are."

"I'm not trying to hurt Hailey. She's different."

"But the situation isn't different. And if Penny calls you, I know you'll go running back to her. You always do."

I suddenly felt exhausted. "The situation is different. Penny's married." It sounded so weird saying it out loud. "There is no going back."

"I know, man. I'm sorry. But don't jump down my throat because some girl that you'll never actually commit to is being a little flirtatious. That's not on me."

I shook my head. He was right. Maybe I had been using Penny as an excuse. Maybe the problems were deeper than that. Commitment issues wouldn't be so off base. I was terrified of losing someone I loved. It had happened before and almost killed me. I was so sick of hurting.

"Did you at least tell Penny the truth?" Josh asked.

"Tell her what?"

Josh shook his head. "That you're still in love with her, man."

I folded my arms across my chest and leaned back in the booth. "The morning before their wedding, I told her how I felt. I actually told her I wanted to run away with her." I laughed, but it came out forced. "She didn't feel the same way."

"That's rough."

I shrugged my shoulders. "It is what it is. But I like Hailey. A lot." The whiskey was making me not quite as tight lipped as I usually was. "I don't have anything to go back to. That was part of the reason why I enlisted. But if I hadn't, I don't think I'd even hesitate to go back to Indiana with Hailey."

"Why are you telling me this instead of her?"

"Because I did enlist. I've only known her a few days. The whole thing is insane. Plus she's furious with me."

"What did you do?"

I wanted to say I didn't do anything, but that wasn't true. "She overheard the end of our conversation earlier. About her being a ten in bed and just a friend and shit."

"So that's why she's flirting with me? Well that's an ego boost for me. Not." He smiled.

"And I may have insinuated that she was a gold digger."

"Dude, chicks liked me before I was rich. Don't you forget it."

I laughed. "None of it really matters though. We barely know each other. Like you said about Melissa, long distance never works. And you two had been dating for months."

"It was more than that, though. We had fun, but I couldn't imagine being married to her. And I'm pretty sure she felt the same way. There was nothing for our relationship past college besides tons of fights on the phone. My advice to you is to tell Hailey the truth and let her help make the decision. Don't make it for her."

He had a point. But I would never ask Hailey to give up three years of her life waiting for me to be done with the marines. I had done it willingly for Penny, and I would never get that time back. That feeling of being stuck. That wasn't a way to live. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Chapter 23

Hailey

Monday

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