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TYLER
The game was getting to Tyler. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep playing, hoping she would tell him the truth, hoping she would accept what he had learned the night at Jay’s to accept. He didn’t even look at his condo like it was his anymore.
Because it wasn’t.
Tyler belonged in the house on Staten Avenue. He belonged there with Elizabeth. He’d made a stupid mistake of acting like he didn’t know she owned the company and that he was flirting with her on the phone.
She believed he was being unfaithful. If only he’d known. At the same time, how could she not see how he felt about her? Tyler needed to up his game and flowers and candy were not going to do it.
He was close to getting to her. He couldn’t stop thinking about her and pretending that he was going to work when he had already handed the company over to Ryan a week ago? It was killing him.
For a few hours, he would drive the Mustang around the Bay before coming back and parking at the end of the street. He’d walk up and try to catch glimpses of her as she worked on the house.
She was methodical and efficient. She knew her stuff. She taught three high school boys how to paint the house right in front of him. She never knew Tyler was there.
Ronald spied Tyler a couple times, and he was sure Ronald would tell Elizabeth he had seen her husband.
But she never let on that she knew, he knew, what she wouldn’t tell him.
Tyler had to take into consideration what Jay had told him and apply it. He didn’t want to be unhappy. He wanted to succeed at something important.
At Jay’s house, Tyler drank so much he couldn’t think. Once the other guests left, Tyler’s younger brother turned to him and said, “You can’t stay tonight.” He picked up some dishes and put them in the sink.
Tyler had glared and spluttered. “Why not? This is my place, too.”
“No, your place is over on Staten Avenue with Elizabeth. Call her and get this crap figured out. You’re pining for your wife and you won’t give her any of the truth. Fix it with her, try with her. You owe me that much.” He wiped down the counter. It was small consolation that he was taking care of the place.
“I owe you? I’m fulfilling my bet. I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.” He’d been upset and the alcohol had compounded the emotions.
“Yeah, you owe me. The bet was that you would give me a marriage for six months. The crap you’re doing? It doesn’t count. You’re playing a cat and mouse game that nobody deserves. Haven’t you learned anything? Are you even attracted to her? Don’t hurt her. Don’t hurt yourself. You talk about her all the time. You think about her all the time. Enough is enough. Go all in or get out. It’s time to call the game.” He handed the phone to Tyler after dialing for him.
That’s what Tyler had to do. Elizabeth wasn’t like other women. Jewelry wouldn’t work. Bouquets of roses and chocolates weren’t going to work.
He had to get through to her. He had to connect.
How did you succeed at something you’d never really done?
He was starting to think his fear of failure wasn’t actually in the act of feeling, it was more about what he was losing.
Tyler didn’t want to lose her. The more he got to know her, the more he got to see her, the harder it was going to be for him to let her walk away.
