Unforgettable (Cloverleigh Farms #5)(14)

Chloe winced. “Yeah, that documentary was pretty brutal. I haven’t seen the whole thing, but I’ve heard Noah and Mack discussing it. Mack played with him in high school, I guess.”

“That’s right, I forgot that. Mack was two years ahead of us, but Tyler was so good he played varsity all four years.”

“So he won’t even talk about baseball now?”

“I don’t really know. He just said he knows what people think of him, and it’s obvious he doesn’t like it.”

“Well, who would?”

I bit my lip. “I have this feeling he’s kind of . . . lonely.”

“Really?” Chloe blinked in surprise. “A guy like that? Former MLB player? Plenty of money? I assume he still has his looks.”

“He still has his looks, that’s for sure.” I recalled the dark eyes and broad shoulders, the chiseled jaw and full lips. “But he’s lost some of his old swagger.”

Chloe snorted. “From what I remember, he had some to spare.”

I laughed. “True. But he’s older now, and he’s been through a lot. He’s lost his dad, his career, saw his childhood dream go up in smoke . . . that had to be painful.”

“I love that you’re thinking of his feelings, when seeing him again had to be so tough for you.” Chloe shook her head and smiled.

“I did better than I thought I would,” I admitted, proud of myself all over again. “And you know, it really wasn’t as hard as I’d expected. Maybe because our history wasn’t painful in a romantic way—it’s not like he betrayed me or something.”

Chloe shrugged. “True.”

“And you know, I think seeing him struggling with his own emotional baggage made it easier on me—if he had still possessed that cocky-teenager attitude, I might have been put off.”

“Makes total sense. So maybe you guys will actually be good for each other.” Her eyes took on a mischievous sparkle.

Laughing, I shook my head. “No way. He’s only in town until the wedding, and I’ve been there, done that. I love the idea of reconnecting, maybe getting some closure, but that’s all this is. What I’m looking for romantically is something more meaningful.”

My sister surprised me by coming around her desk and throwing her arms around me. “You’ll find what you’re looking for. I know you will.”

“Thanks.” I hugged her back. “But don’t mess up my hair. I’m not going to bang him, but I still want him to think I look good after all these years.”

“He will,” said Chloe, giggling as she let me go. “I promise you, he will.”





Five





Tyler





After leaving April on the track, I went back to my hotel room and ordered room service for breakfast. While I was eating, my sister texted all the details about the rehearsal dinner and wedding—exactly what I was to wear, when and where I had to show up, what I would be expected to do. I was fine with everything until I got to Brother-Sister Dance: You/Me, then Josh/Mary.

Frowning, I called her.

“Hello?”

“I got your text.” I took a bite of toast.

“Oh, good.”

“What the hell is this brother-sister dance?” I asked with my mouth full.

“Josh is going to dance with his sister Mary for one song, and then you’re going to dance one song with me.”

“Alone?”

“Yes.”

I nearly choked. “For an entire song?”

“Yes.”

I managed to swallow. “No fucking way, Sadie. I’m not doing it.”

“Please, Ty? You can even pick the song. Choose a short one, I don’t care, but I’ve always wanted to dance with you at my wedding. Josh is really close to his sister, and you mean so much to me—even though you’re being a big jerk about this—having a special moment where it’s all about sibling love is something we really want. Please say you’ll do it, for me.”

I groaned, knowing I couldn’t say no to her.

“It won’t be that bad, I promise!”

“There’d better be good whiskey at this wedding.”

She giggled. “There will be. Hey, what are you doing today? I took today and tomorrow off, but Josh has to work and I’m trying to move some furniture out of the room that will be the baby’s. Can you come over and give me a hand?”

“Yeah.” I took one more drink of my coffee and set the cup down. “Text me your address. I’ll be there in an hour. Do I need to wear a fucking suit for this?”

She giggled. “No. Jeans are fine. But could you please bring the outfit you’re planning to wear Saturday night so I can approve it?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Yes. But you’re a pain in the ass, and this wedding is already giving me a headache.”

“Hey, I went to a lot of baseball games for you. I think I spent my entire childhood on the bleachers.”

“I thought you loved going to games,” I said.

“I loved you. Baseball was just something you did.”

After we hung up, I sat there for a few minutes thinking about what she’d said.