Page 72 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

"Stop right here." She pointed to a house on the right.

I pulled up out front of the long driveway that led to what I would classify as a mansion. But all I could focus on was her knee bouncing up and down. We sat there for a moment in silence, the engine still running. I felt like I was going to be sick.

Hailey sighed. "I don't really know what to say, Tyler. You know how I feel about you. And I understand where you're coming from with your decision." She shrugged her shoulders. "

So, I guess this is it. I really appreciate the ride." She stuck out her hand to me.

"Hails..."

"Tyler, please don't make this harder than it has to be." She lowered her hand.

"I'll just wait right here and when you're done we..."

"I don't want you to wait," she said, throwing back the words I had said to her last night.

I swallowed hard.

"Can you respect that or not?"

"Yeah, Hails. Of course."

She opened the car door and grabbed her duffel bag out of the back seat. "You know where to find me after you get out," she said as her fingers wrapped around the passenger's side door. "If you want to."

"I know where to find you."

We locked eyes for a second and she nodded.

"Good luck, Tyler. I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Good luck to you too."

And with that, she closed the door. When she was halfway up the driveway she turned around to look at me. And then she pointed with her finger to the exit of the neighborhood.

I had asked her not to wait for me. The least I could do was not wait for her either. I waved.

She waved.

And then I drove away, without looking back, even though it felt like I was suffocating.

Chapter 39

Hailey

Thursday

I watched Tyler's car disappear down the street. I felt like sitting down in the middle of Elena's driveway and crying. But I had completely shut down this morning. I felt the pain, but I didn't truly feel it. The only way to deal with today was to try and not feel anything. Tyler was gone. And I was still standing. I was still breathing. I knew I had been defensive with him this morning. But what other choice did I have? I had to do enough begging today as it was. I wasn't going to beg him to be with me if he didn't want to be.

I stowed my duffel bag behind a bush. As soon as I was done talking to Elena, I'd call an Uber and get the fuck out of Pasadena and go home. I missed my dad. I missed my home. This adventure had been fun, but this was the reason I was here. Not to fall in love. Not to have fun. But to save my dad. Nothing else mattered.

With a deep breath, I looked up at the disgustingly immense house in front of me. My dad and I lived in a ranch house with two bedrooms. It was cozy and wonderful and perfect. I clenched my hand into a fist. But it still bothered me that Elena lived in something like this. She had so much and I had so little. I took another deep breath. But I didn't want any of this. I didn't need any of this. I just wanted my dad to be healthy again. He was all I needed.

I walked up the rest of their ridiculously long driveway and along their front walkway. But my feet froze at the steps up to their front door. I stared at the perfect family through the window. They were all sitting around a table laughing and passing food around. It looked like something you'd see in a Christmas movie. Only it was lunchtime. In the summer. Who eats lunches like this in the middle of the summer? Elena leaned over and kissed her husband on the cheek. It looked like the little girl squealed and covered her eyes. The little boy took a piece of food from his plate and fed it to the dog underneath the table.

A chill ran down my spine. Maybe I didn't want a big house and fancy things. But I had always wanted this. A family. I loved my dad with all my heart. He gave me the world. But of course I always wanted this. I couldn't help it. I watched the family around the table laugh again. Elena looked so happy. Why couldn't I make her happy? Why did she choose them over me? Why was I never good enough?

Stop. I took a deep breath. I told myself I wouldn't feel any of this. So what if Elena had a new family and was happy? I didn't give a shit about her. I came here for her help because I was desperate. That was it. I walked confidently up the front steps and knocked on the door.

Luckily it was Elena who opened the door.

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