Page 78 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

"Hailey..."

"You're not allowed to be sweet when you're kicking me to the curb." I couldn't seem to stop sobbing.

His hands seemed to tense on my back. "That's not what I'm doing. And I don't want to say goodbye. I don't want to. I'm doing this for you."

"For me?" I shoved him off of me. "Maybe I blame myself for things I shouldn't, but own up to your own problems, Tyler. You're doing this for you."

He shook his head. "I'm trying to protect you..."

"Well don't!" I turned to face the ocean. I tried to concentrate on the sounds of the waves, but all I could focus on was my anger pulsing through me.

His hand on my shoulder made me flinch.

"Okay," he said slowly. "You're right."

I laughed. "Yeah, right. It's fine, Tyler. I'm used to being pushed away. So just go, okay? Please just go." I dug my heels into the sand. I needed something to ground me, because it felt like I was a million miles away. It felt like I was already grieving for my father, even though he was still alive. I couldn't do this. And I certainly didn't want to fall apart anymore in front of Tyler.

"No, Hails. I mean you're right about me. About everything. Maybe I was just trying to protect myself."

I tilted my head toward him. There was so much pain in his eyes. I could feel it wafting off of him. We were both drowning. We were both barely holding on. How could two people so broken possibly fix one another? What had I been thinking? But at the same time, I felt like clinging to him again. For some reason he was my lifeline. I wasn't sure I could keep going without him. My bottom lip started trembling again. "Tyler..."

"I think we should try this."

"What?"

"I don't want to say goodbye. No matter how many times I tell myself it's best if I walk away, I can't. I want to try to make this work."

I swallowed hard. I couldn't even comprehend what he was saying. He wants me? He's choosing me? "If you're doing this because you feel sorry for me..."

He grabbed both sides of my face. "I'm doing it because I'm selfish. I'm worried that if I walk away I'll lose myself. I need you. I'm falling in love with you, Hailey. I can't let you go. I'm done living my life with regret. You're what I want. And I know that I'm asking the world from you. Because I know how it feels to put your life on hold..."

I shook my head. "This is different." I placed my palm on the left side of his chest. "I would never break your heart, Tyler. I promise."

He grabbed my waist and pulled me against him. I'm pretty sure my heart stopped beating as his lips crashed down onto mine. He kissed me hard. But it wasn't filled with urgency. For the first time, it didn't feel like the end. It felt like the beginning.

Chapter 42

Tyler

Thursday

No one deserved to be dealt the hand Hailey was given. My blood was still boiling at the thought of her mother treating her that way. A part of me wanted to drive back there right now and tell her just what kind of girl she had given up. I wanted to defend Hailey. I wanted Hailey to know how wonderful she was. And I wanted to throw it in her mother's face. No kid should grow up thinking that they're second best. Especially not Hailey. She deserved the best. She deserved the whole world.

And, somehow, despite everything, Hailey was the kindest person I knew. She had such a big heart. She was able to look past all my flaws and see the best in me. I wasn't sure I deserved it, but I wanted to deserve her.

Hailey was right. About all of it. This whole time I had been telling myself I was protecting her. But that wasn't entirely true. I was scared of getting hurt again. I was scared of putting myself out there because rejection hurt so fucking much.

But Hailey wasn't Penny. Hailey was choosing me. Despite everything, the amazing girl in front of me was choosing me. And I wanted to be

better for her. I needed to be better for her.

I wasn't sure how long we stood there. I loved the feeling of her in my arms. If it was up to me, I'd stand in the middle of Venice Beach for the rest of my life. I'd stop time for her if I could. She sighed against my chest, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Hailey..."

She looked up at me. "Tyler."

I let myself get lost in her brown eyes. I let myself see a future. I let myself dive so deep that I would never break the surface again. My whole life I had been blind. Hailey Shaw was everything I had been missing. Everything. And I was done fighting it. I was done trying to protect myself from pain. Because what was the point? Bad things happened. And if you didn't embrace the good moments, the painful ones would swallow you whole. I was done drowning. I wanted anything she'd give me.

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