Chapter 72
I stared at Tyler, his eyes narrowing slightly as he repeated his question.
"Who's messaging you, Sam?"
The air between us was thick with tension. My phone felt like it weighed a hundred pounds in my hand, the screen dimming but the words still burned into my mind. Ignoring me won't make me go away.
I couldn't tell him the truth. Not now. Not after everything.
"It's just a friend," I said, keeping my voice steady, though my heart raced like a jackrabbit. "Someone from the gallery."
Tyler's gaze lingered, searching my face for cracks in my composure. I held his stare, willing myself to remain calm, even as my palms grew damp.
"A friend," he repeated, his tone neutral, though there was an edge of doubt.
"Yes," I replied firmly, slipping my phone into my pocket. "Is that a problem?"
He let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "No. I just thought..."
"You thought what?" I pressed, folding my arms as if I were the offended party. It was easier to go on the defensive than to let him probe further.
"Nothing," he said, running a hand through his hair. "Forget I asked."
The silence between us grew louder, the unsaid words pressing against my chest like a weight.
Tyler's hand lingered in his hair, the gesture almost too casual, like he was trying to convince himself more than me that this conversation didn't matter.
But I knew better. Tyler didn't ask questions without reason.
I could feel his eyes on me, and though I turned away, busying myself with rearranging the stack of papers on the counter, my hands betrayed me, trembling just enough to give away my nerves.
"You're acting weird," he said finally, his voice slicing through the quiet.
"Weird how?" I snapped, regretting it the moment the words left my mouth. Defensive again. Too defensive.
"You tell me," he countered, stepping closer. The subtle scent of his cologne reached me.. woodsy, clean, and entirely distracting. "It's just... lately, you're distant. Jumpy. Like you're waiting for something to blow up."
I froze, the stack of papers now a mess under my fumbling hands. "I'm not distant," I said, but the words felt hollow.
Tyler leaned against the edge of the counter, arms crossed. "If there's something going on, just tell me, Sam. It's better than me finding out another way."
For a moment, I considered it.. telling him everything. But the truth would unravel too much, too fast. And he wouldn't look at me the same way once he knew.
"There's nothing going on," I said softly, meeting his gaze with what I hoped was conviction.
His jaw tightened, a flicker of disappointment flashing across his face before he pushed off the counter. "Fine. Keep your secrets."
He didn't believe me. Not entirely. But to my relief, he didn't press the issue further.
Before either of us could speak again, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Tyler glanced at the screen, and a shadow of frustration crossed his face.
"I have to take this," he said, stepping away toward the front of the gallery.
I nodded, pretending to busy myself with a stack of invoices while he answered the call. His tone was clipped, professional, but I caught snippets of words.. urgent, client meeting, paperwork.
A minute later, he hung up and turned back to me, his expression apologetic.
"I have to go," he said, his voice softer now. "There's something at the office that needs my attention."
"Of course," I said quickly, maybe too quickly. "Work comes first."
He hesitated, as if debating whether to say more, but instead, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "We'll talk later, okay?"
I nodded, forcing a small smile. "Okay."
And then he was gone, the chime of the door marking his departure.
The silence that followed was deafening.
I sank onto a nearby stool, letting out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. My mind raced, replaying the past ten minutes in a dizzying loop.
Why had I lied to Tyler? Why had I felt the need to protect the facade we were so carefully maintaining?
The answer came in a wave of shame. I didn't want him to think I'd moved on. Not yet. Not when I wasn't even sure if I wanted to move on.
I dropped my head into my hands, groaning softly. What was wrong with me?
Tyler's attention, his care.. it felt like a lifeline. But was it because I still loved him? Or because I was addicted to the comfort of being wanted by someone like him?
And Caleb...
The thought of him sent a fresh wave of unease through me. He wouldn't stop calling. The message from earlier burned in my pocket like a live coal.
I wanted to ignore him, to shut him out completely, but his voice lingered in my mind, pulling me back to a night I wished I could erase.
The night we crossed a line that should've never been crossed.
I clenched my fists, willing the memory to stay buried. But it clawed its way to the surface anyway.. the dimly lit hotel room, the haze of alcohol, Caleb's lips on mine, his hands..
"Stop," I muttered aloud, standing abruptly.
It didn't matter what had happened between us. It couldn't matter. Caleb had a life, a fiancée, a family that would never accept me. And Tyler.. if he ever found out..
The thought made my stomach churn. Tyler might not love me the way he once did, but he had defended me. Stood by me. I couldn't betray that.
My phone buzzed again.
I didn't have to check to know who it was.
"Just leave me alone," I whispered, though the words carried no weight.