"God, Penny, I'm so sorry."
I looked up at Tyler rushing toward me. My eyes immediately landed on the bruise along the left side of his jawbone. The scruff on his chin didn't hide it nearly as well as he probably hoped. I quickly wiped away the rest of my tears. "What the hell happened to your face?"
"It's nothing." He immediately put his arms around me. "Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not okay. Let me see your face."
But he kept his arms wrapped firmly around me. He ran his hand up and down my back. "I'm fine. God, you're soaked. Let me..."
"You're not fine." I pushed on the middle of his chest until he let me back up a fraction of an inch. He didn't need to say anything. I knew. It was written all over his face. I lightly touched the side of his jaw with my fingertips. "James did that, didn't he?"
"There may have been an altercation late last night."
I closed my eyes. "Tyler, I'm so, so sorry." Mason was with James. Apparently none of his friends were good at keeping him out of trouble. It also meant Ian had probably driven him there when I specifically told him not to take James anywhere. But Ian didn't have to listen to me. I was never his boss.
"There's nothing to apologize about." Tyler put his hand on the back of my head and pressed my face to his chest.
There was something so comforting about being in Tyler's arms. Despite his move to New York and all his success, he still smelled the same. Like freshly cut grass and mint. I wasn't even sure how that was possible. There was barely any grass in New York and he wasn't a landscaper. I wrapped my arms around his back. It was selfish, but I needed this right now. I needed my friend. I could tell Tyler wanted to talk, but I wrapped my arms tighter around him. I just needed a few more seconds.
Tyler kissed the top of my head and ran his fingers through my hair. "It's going to be okay, Penny."
No. It's not. I shook my head against his chest and let my arms drop from his back.
He grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back so he could look at my face. There was so much hope in his blue eyes. And it killed me.
"How much do you know about what happened?" I asked.
"Everything I need to know."
"Which is?"
"That you and James broke up. And that he thinks I convinced you to run away with me." He searched my face.
So Rob really hadn't talked to James. Neither had his parents. He didn't know. Or maybe he didn't believe them either.
"So now I'm here to actually convince you to run away with me." He lightly touched the bottom of my chin so that I'd look into his eyes.
A part of me wanted to say yes. I wanted to feel the comfort of his arms around me. And see that smile that always made me smile too. The only problem was that I didn't love Tyler. It wouldn't be fair to him or...fuck, Melissa.
"I'm still in love with him," I said.
Tyler shook his head. "You broke up. You left him and New York. You're standing in the rain crying because of him. And I'm here for you. We can go wherever you want. We can start a new life together."
"I'm still in love with him," I said again, a little quieter.
He let go of my shoulders. "Okay, but that feeling will fade. You have to move forward."
I shook my head.
"What, so you're going to go through your whole life missing him?"
"What else am I supposed to do, Tyler? He was it for me. There is nothing after him. I was ready to give my whole life to him. That feeling doesn't just disappear after a fight."
"Be with me. I'm right here. I've always been here for you. I'd never do anything to hurt you. Let me fill that void."
"I can't."
"Why? I know you love me. We're great together. I know you felt it back in school. I know you can feel it again."
"I could never hurt Melissa like that."
"We already broke up."
"What?"
"I broke up with her before I came here."
"Why did you do that? You only just started dating." God, she's going to hate me.
"I thought you were getting married. I was at peace with that. Or in denial or something. These past few years haven't been a lie, I was your friend. I enjoyed being your friend." He scratched the back of his neck with his hand. "But when I found out you two broke up, all I wanted to do was see you. I think I had buried my feelings. I don't know. But I just knew I needed to see you. I never stopped loving you, Penny. And I'll never stop loving you."
I shook my head back and forth.
"I didn't want this to happen. All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy. I thought that James was that for you, so I just accepted where I was. But when I found out it was over...it feels like my second chance. Our second chance."
"I'm sorry. But it's like you just said. Except, I never stopped loving him. And I'll never stop loving him."
"I can wait. I'm used to waiting. I'll wait my whole life for you, Penny. Don't you see that?" He put his hand on the side of my face.
"Tyler, I don't want you to wait."
"Don't say that. I know you need time to heal from this. I'll wait until you're ready."
"I'll never be ready."
He shook his head. "I love you. Tell me to stay. Choose me. Penny, please give us a chance. I need you. Meet me halfway here."
"You don't need me. You need some sweet girl who will put you first. Who thinks the sun rises and sets with you. You deserve that. I can't give you that."
"I'll take whatever you can give me."
"All I can offer you is friendship. Honestly, Tyler, you're my best friend. You've always been there for me..."
"I can't be your friend anymore." He let his hand fall from my cheek. "I thought I could be. But now? No. I need more than that. I can't live my whole life in denial."
"I'm sorry."
He shoved his hands into his pockets. "So...Chicago?"
I nodded. "My new flight leaves tonight. I think maybe I need to do a little soul searching."
"And you know for sure that what you're looking for isn't me?" He gave me a sheepish smile that ripped my heart in half. "How are you so sure?"
I pressed my lips together. There was something else that I hadn't told him. But I didn't want to. It wasn't fair. It was just in my head.
"Tell me."
I shook my head.
He grabbed my hand. "Tell me. If it's something I can fix..."
"No." I swallowed hard. "Seeing you reminds me that it's my fault that James broke up with me. Because I insisted on being your friend. I made this happen."
"It hurts you to see me?"
I closed my eyes and nodded.
He dropped my hand. "I'd do anything for you. You know that right?"
I wiped away the tears that had started to fall down my cheeks again.
"Penny, look at me."
I slowly opened my eyes. The hurt on his face was palpable.
"Everything in my gut is telling me to stay and fight for you. But if you want me to leave, I'll leave. Is that what you want?"