“Woo–hoo! Finals are over!” Rose tilted her face up, enjoying the first warm day of May.
“You mind taking a walk with me?” Tyler asked seriously.
“Is Georgiana around?” Rose checked behind them.
Since the pregnancy announcement, Georgiana had become even more clingy and possessive of Tyler. Which usually resulted in escalating nasty behaviors toward Rose.
“Nah, she had an exam right”—Tyler checked his watch—“about now. We should be good for at least two hours.”
“Okay then.”
They walked in silence until Tyler stopped in front of a sunlit bench. He sat on the backrest and Rose sat on the bench next to him, her head level with his knees.
“So, I might’ve decided what to do with Georgiana and the baby,” Tyler announced. “But I need to talk to you first.”
“Okay…” Rose’s heart started beating faster.
“I’ll ask her to marry me and try to make it work. But before I do, I need to know you mean it when you say there isn’t a future for us. That you see me as just a friend.”
Air left Rose’s lungs. So this was the moment when she’d have to say goodbye to Tyler forever. The day had been coming—fast—but somehow in all the scenarios Rose had imagined, being on a bench in the sun on campus had not been one of them.
Rose’s voice failed her, the words caught in her throat. She paused and tried again. “Tyler, I don’t see you just as a friend. You’re so much more than that. You’re my best friend, my oldest friend… you’re family, and I love you.”
“But you’re not in love with me anymore.”
Rose shook her head.
“‘Cause you love him.”
Rose nodded. Funny how Tyler and Ethan kept avoiding saying each other’s names and just kept calling each other him.
“I hate his guts, you know.”
“If it’s any consolation, Ethan hates yours, too.”
Tyler snorted. “Excuse me if I don’t feel sorry for him.”
Rose tried to keep her emotions in check. Her relationship—um, friendship?—with Tyler wouldn’t be the same after today. For years, they’d flirted with the possibility of romance, of a distant future together. But today they were putting a stop to that for good. Rose hoped she’d manage to finish this conversation without bursting into tears.
“Okay, then. I’ll be a married man soon!”
“You already guessed what I would say?”
“Pretty much.”
“How?”
“From the way you look at him; you’ve never looked at me that way. Rose, you’ve never looked at anyone that way.”
“Can I get a hug?” Rose was about to break down.
“Course you can. Come here.”
Tyler jumped down from the bench backrest and pulled Rose into a tight embrace. A new sadness overcame her, and hugging Tyler provided little in the way of comfort. This newfound melancholy would take a long time to shake off. But, at least for the first time in forever, there wasn’t tension between them.
“Promise me we will stay best friends no matter what happens,” Rose whispered.
“Hey, I know I’ve gone soft, but I’m not Paris Hilton BFF material yet.” Tyler smiled. “And who knows? You could become my sister-in-law very soon. One day, we’ll be one big, happy family!” he added sarcastically.
“Aw, come on.” Rose pushed him away and sat back on the bench. “It’s not like I’m going to marry Ethan anytime soon.”
“If he’s not stupid, he’ll ask you. Plus, he’s such an old guy; he’d better get a move on.”
Rose beamed at Tyler. It was good that he was making jokes again.
“So, when are you going to propose?” she asked.
“This weekend,” Tyler said, sitting next to her. “Just before the term ends. Knowing Georgiana, she’ll want to get married straight away before her bump shows.”
“You’ve already picked a ring?”
“I have one on hold…”
“You seem calm enough.”
“No. I’m freaking out, Rose. My guts are screaming at me to hop on a plane, go get lost somewhere in Asia, and not come back for years. But, like you said, I’ll become a father no matter what, so I want to at least try to be a decent one.”
“You’ll be a great dad, Tyler. I’m sure of it.”
“I have another question for you…”
“Is this one easier?”
“Pretty straightforward. Will you be my best man?”
“Of course I will, Tyler!”
“Thank you. It means a lot to have you there by my side.”
“Will Georgiana… mmm… be okay with me being your best man?”
“Why? You think she has you lined up for the maid of honor role?”
“Ha, ha. I’d be surprised if she let me inside the church at all.”
“Between me and the old guy, I’m sure she won’t have much of a choice.”
“He’s not old!”
“He so is. So, will you be there by my side?”
“Always!” Rose squeezed his hand. They’d been on a long journey that had seen them together and apart, but, finally, Rose had her best friend back.