Tyler wants me to choose Hawk to please him. Part of me wants to give him what he’s demanding. Even as I walk past his secretary without a word, I decide that’s part of my connection to Tyler. He reminds me of the men I’ve tried to please in my life. In fact, I remember a psychology book I edited once and the lessons I learned. People are creatures of habit. We repeat what is familiar, and therefore safe, and that includes the bad things. A daughter of an alcoholic father often gravitates to a husband with the same issues. We repeat, to our own peril.
In that moment, I appreciate the fact that Dash didn’t ask me to leave New York or my job to please him. He said he’d pick up and leave Nashville for me. And I’m not making him go to New York to please me. But I’m not going to be blackmailed by Tyler Hawk, either.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
It’s midafternoon when Bella steps into my office and shuts the door. “You didn’t tell me he was fighting again. I know that black eye was from a fight, too.”
She looks like the business version of Cinderella in a pink silk blouse and black skirt, with her long blonde hair draped over her shoulders while I feel like the bad, ugly stepsister who did her wrong.
“I know. I’m sorry. He—”
“Didn’t want to freak me out,” she supplies, sitting down in the chair in front of my desk. “I know. And I get it. You didn’t either.”
“No, but you have no idea how much I wanted to come to you, Bella. Tyler pushed his buttons by telling Dash he wasn’t good for me in front of me. It didn’t end well.”
“Dash told me what happened. And I know Tyler was pissed when Dash told him not to drive drunk in front of Allison. But he knows—” She stops herself. “I mean—”
“I know about the accident. His father made sure I knew and not gently.”
Her lips purse. “That man knows how to hurt him, but Dash’s stepmother is no better. She never liked Dash. He was competition for his father’s affection and money. It was easy for her to blame Dash for her son’s death. Like Dash could control him. They were in college. They were old enough to vote and enlist in the army.”
“Believe me, I know. I agree. And I saw the hate firsthand.”
“Dash told me you went and got him in a fight club.”
“Twice,” I say. “Once here and once in New York.”
Her brows furrow. “Here? How did you know where to go?”
“Tyler, of course. After he confronted Dash. Dash and I had a fight, and I went home. You know where Dash went.”
“To fight. Thank you, Tyler. God. That bastard.”
“Yes, but I think he regretted pushing Dash the way he did. He knew he went too far. For all his faults, I don’t think Tyler got me involved in the fight club to embarrass Dash or break us up. He just felt I could stop him from fighting. Unfortunately, I was too late that first night. Honestly, it’s a godsend I found out because I knew what to expect after his dad confronted him.”
“Dash told me he pushed you away and you came after him anyway. He said you were brave and stubborn and that he doesn’t deserve you but he can’t let you go. Allie, he loves you or he would never have named you in that article today. He also wouldn’t have outed himself. He could have found another way to beat Brandon. By doing this the way he did it, he made sure he can’t go fight again, he can’t hide in that world.”
“And I love him,” I say softly, emotion welling in my throat. “I love him very much.”
She squeezes my hand. “Thank you for taking care of my brother.” She releases my hand and smiles. “And for the invite to Thanksgiving. I can’t wait.”
“I’m so glad you’re coming. And I want to hear all about your father.”
She stands up and rounds the desk. I’m on my feet when she gets to me and we hug before she looks at me. “I have a feeling we’re going to get to know each other very well, Allie. And now, I have to get back to work.” She heads to the door and pauses, “I have one of my most arrogant, pompous clients in contract negotiations. He’s nice to me, but good grief, I have to reel him in with that mouth of his or he’ll shoot himself in the foot and his wallet.”
I laugh and she exits the office. I decide the universe just sent me another sign that this is home.
Nashville is where I belong.
I sit down and think of the journal in my purse and the words on the pages, Allison’s words. Many times, I’ve felt like our lives shadowed one another, and I still want to believe that to be true. I want to believe that Tyler was her Brandon and she left Nashville with her true love. Tyler is many things, but he is no Brandon. And if Allie left Nashville, her cellphone did not. I shiver and hug myself.