“We’ll see.” Tyler dropped the towel and pulled on his sweats before stuffing his feet into his runners. He didn’t want to make a promise he couldn’t keep and he wasn’t about to lie. Tyler knew himself well enough to know he had no intention of going back to his hotel and sitting tight for the night staring at the walls while they closed in on him. It was barely three in the afternoon, way too early to lock himself away.
He climbed into his rental car—a cramped sedan—and hurried back to his hotel. Some food in his grumbling stomach might make him more hospitable. After ordering some room service, Tyler stepped in the shower and rinsed off the chlorine.
By the time his early dinner arrived, a massive plate of chicken and salad, the frustration had bubbled to uncontrollable proportions. With a face full of lettuce, Tyler grabbed his phone and called the only person he knew who could talk him down from the ledge.
“Hi.”
“Oh, Tyler. Hi.”
“Can you talk for a minute?” Tyler was embarrassed by the neediness in his voice.
“Seriously? You vanish from the face of the earth leaving a trail of destruction in your wake and then call to chat. Well, Tyler, here’s a little piece of news for you, baby brother. I’m glad you’re alive but…”
The line went dead. Tyler didn’t know if it was the international call or if Katie had hung up on him deliberately. He wouldn’t put it past her. She sounded mad. Really mad. Tyler knew that he deserved to be in the bad books but that didn’t mean he liked it.
Pacing back and forth around the room, Tyler kept one eye on his phone and the other on the fading sun beyond his balcony. When his phone lit up he almost tripped over his own feet in the hurry to answer.
“I’m sorry, Tyler.”
Gulping down the relief that threatened to knock him on his arse, he said, “Don’t be. I deserved it. Thanks for calling back though.”
“Are you okay, Tyler? I mean, really okay.”
“I’m…I’m…”
“And no bullshit, Tyler. You owe me the truth. Are you okay?” Katie repeated forcefully. Tyler could hear her husband Ryan shuffling about in the background trying to calm her and make her ease up on her interrogation. Silently Tyler wished him luck but didn’t hold his breath.
“Then no. No, I’m not okay. But I’m getting there. My times are almost back to where they need to be. I’m fitter than I remember ever being, so that’s progress.”
“You can’t possibly be that stupid, Tyler.”
“Excuse me?”
“You think I care about your times? Your fitness? You have a million coaches, nutritionists, and adoring fans to care about that. I’m your sister and I’m asking about you, baby brother. How are you doing?”
With a heavy sigh, Tyler rubbed the back of his neck, trying to find the truth. He knew it was there, but he was reluctant to say the words aloud. Tyler knew the moment he did he’d crash and burn.
“Tyler?” Katie called, unable to hide the worry in her voice.
“No.”
“No?”
“No, Katie. I’m not okay.”
“Come home then. Come home and deal with it. Is it Ava?”
“Yes. No. Hell, I don’t know.”
“She’s miserable, Tyler. Really fucking miserable. I know I shouldn’t be telling you but she is.”
At Katie’s words, Tyler’s frustration and disappointment with himself hit breaking point. He’d never intended to hurt Ava. He didn’t want her to be sad. He’d left to try and protect her from himself, but if Katie’s words were true, then he’d fucked that up too. Spinning around, Tyler grabbed the soft sage coloured cushion from the lounge and threw it across the room. “Fuck!”
“Come home, Tyler. It’ll be okay. Just come home. Talk to her. Fix this.”
“I…I can’t.”
“Bullshit! You’re just too damn scared to try. So what, Tyler, you had the mumps. Big deal! You’re not the first person to get it and you’re sure as shit not going to be the last. The only difference is instead of facing it you bolted. As fast and as far as you can. Do you really think Ava’s that shallow that because you caught a treatable virus she’d leave you? Fuck no, she wouldn’t. And if you think for a moment that she is, then you deserve to be miserable and alone. Ava would have done nothing but support you and nurse you back to health. If you stopped being such a pussy for even a minute, you’d realise I’m right.”
“I know you are…” Tyler’s voice was full of defeat and despair. He was broken. Katie’s words had done him in. They might have been the truth, but it didn’t make it any easier to hear.
“Then come home. Talk to her. Give her a chance. Surely she deserves that.”
“She does.”
“Then what’s stopping you?”
“She deserves the opportunity to be a mother. She’d be a great mum. I can’t give that to her. And I can’t ask her to give it up for me.”
“And you know this? For a fact?”
“Huh?”
“You’ve had the tests? You know you can’t have kids? You know Ava wants kids? You know how the rest of your life is going to turn out?”
“Well no…”
“Then grow a pair! Get home! Get tested! And apologise to that girl. You at least owe her that. Let her make the decisions about what she does and doesn’t want. Don’t presume to know. And Tyler, don’t you dare fucking hurt her anymore.”
“But—”
“No! No buts. Book a flight. I’ll talk to you when we’re in the same country.”
Tyler heard the dial tone again and knew for certain this time Katie had hung up on him. Stomping across the room, he kicked the pillow he’d thrown earlier, desperate to work out his frustrations. He’d called Katie in hopes she could calm him down. Settle him. Ground him. She’d been the only one capable in the past but tonight all she’d managed to do was antagonise him further.
Grabbing his laptop, Tyler pulled up the airlines website and brought a ticket on the next available flight. It was time to stop running and go home. Time for him to face the music and make amends. Time for him to drop to his hands and knees and beg, if that was what it took to put his life back together.
Forty-two miserable hours later, Tyler sucked in the fumes in the car park and rolled his neck, ignoring the crick, clenching his fist around the keys to his hired car. After ferreting around his hotel and tossing everything into his smelly duffle bag and racing to the airport, the flight from Geneva to Abu Dhabi was one of the worst Tyler had ever endured. He was cramped into economy next to an extremely irritated ten-month-old baby girl, who wiggled and squealed and squawked the entire flight. Relieved to disembark and escape the blood-curdling screeching, Tyler stalked the Abu Dhabi airport for four hours while he awaited his connecting flight. But four hours turned into ten due to maintenance troubles, during which he ended up, like everyone else on his sold out flight, stretched out on the uncomfortable grey carpet, using his carry-on bag as a pillow, fighting to get some rest. Eventually, Tyler slumped into his seat and passed out.
Digging his phone from his pocket, Tyler shot off a quick text to Katie.
Tyler: Landed in Sydney.
Popping the boot of the silver sedan, Tyler tossed his bag into the car, rubbed his eyes before slipping into the driver’s seat, and joined the evening traffic. Two hours later, Tyler pulled into the deserted service station car park.
After topping up the tank, he stumbled inside to pay. Every muscle in his body ached and he was tired. Bone weary tired. But he couldn’t stop now. He had somewhere he needed to be. Somewhere he wanted to be.
Entering in the brightly lit shop, Tyler gathered his supplies and headed to the counter. “Doughnuts and Coke?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s just…”
“Just?”
“Nothing.”
Thrusting his credit card in the attendant’s hand, Tyler paid for his purchases and jumped back in his car.
Chapter 26
Ava<
br />
The knocking wouldn’t stop. Groaning, Ava rolled over and saw the angry red lights on the alarm clock beside her head. Two sixteen in the morning. Beyond her window she could hear the pelting rain and howling wind as it rocked the glass panel. Tugging the covers up under her chin, Ava prayed whoever was at her door would get the message and go back to whatever hole they crawled out from. Come back at a reasonable hour. It was too cold and too damn early to climb from her nice, warm bed.
It wouldn’t stop! If anything it just got louder and more frustrating.
“All right! All right! Keep your hair on. I’m coming.”
Stuffing her feet in Ugg boots and yanking on her robe, Ava shuffled to the door looking every bit as miserable as she felt. With her eyes barely open, Ava opened the door, not caring who was standing on the other side. Something she’d regret indefinitely.
“Hi.”
With a wave of nausea sweeping through her body, dizziness consumed her as she wobbled backwards.
“Whoa…”
When Ava’s eyes fluttered open she had a cool wash cloth resting on her forehead and a pair of velvety chocolate eyes staring back at her. Eyes full of worry and fear.
“Ava…”
“What…what happened?” Her voice was strained and scratchy. Squirming under the covers, she tried to hide her embarrassment.
Tyler brushed a stray piece hair from Ava’s forehead before he lent forward and rested his forehead against hers. Breathing in deeply, Ava felt him exhale against her neck, causing her to break out in goose bumps.
“You collapsed.”
“Oh.”
“I put you in bed.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Any time, Short Stack! Any time.”
With a loud, obnoxious yawn, which Ava tried to mask with the back of her hand, she said, “Tyler, why are you here?”
“Sleep, Ava. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“But…but—”
“No buts. Sleep, Short Stack. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
“Promise?
“Absolutely.”
Before Ava had a chance to protest, Tyler kicked off his shoes, tucked the blankets in around her, and flicked off the lamp before pulling Ava tight against his body, spooning her against him. With her eyelids drooping and her head pounding, Ava let herself sink comfortably in Tyler’s arms. She had a million and one questions, but tonight she wasn’t pushing for answers. Tonight, it just felt too good to be in his arms again. It felt right. Like home. And if she only had one more night there, then she wouldn’t shy away from it. No matter how much it hurt the next day.
Ava woke the next morning before the alarm and grunted. Another work day. Untangling her weary limbs from Tyler proved to be more than enough exercise. He’d held her so close and tight that trying to get him to let go without waking was a challenge and a half. Eventually, Ava managed to find her way into the bathroom and click the door shut. It was the first moment she’d had to herself since his random appearance in the middle of the night and her mind, despite its caffeine free state, was working double time.
Stepping from the bathroom, Ava was ready to face the day. Wearing a navy, sleeveless dress with a rip-free pair of nylon pantyhose and her black heels hanging from her fingertips, she snuck across the room, pausing at the side of the bed. Tyler was spread out across her double bed, his feet dangling from the end, wrapped around the pillow Ava had just abandoned. With his hair a mess, his face covered in dark brown stubble and snoring loudly. A huge part of Ava wanted nothing more than to climb back into bed with him and forget the outside world existed, but she was too damn sensible for that. Instead, Ava bent over reluctantly, placing an innocent kiss on his cool forehead and retreated from the room.
Settling in behind her desk, Ava started her monotonous day. It was the same boring shit as always. Replying to emails and signing off on invoices to be paid. It was tedious and boring but someone had to do it, and since Ava was usually first in, it had fallen to her. One of those jobs she’d rather just get out of the way.
Her day was hard. Beyond hard. She was having trouble with everything. Concentrating was proving to be the highest hurdle. Or maybe it was just that Ava’s mind was just somewhere else. Perhaps back in her warm, welcoming bed with that special someone she’d left there hours earlier. When her phone chirped, Ava almost fell backwards off her chair.
Katie: Heard from our boy yet???
With a shake of our head, Ava smirked. She wasn’t the least bit surprised Katie knew her brother had come home. If she was a betting woman, Ava would put everything she had on the possibility that Katie was in some way responsible.
Ava: Yep. :)
Ava: Came knocking on my door @ 2am.
Katie: That’s a good thing???
Ava: ???
Katie: :( Do me a favour?
Ava: What?
Katie: At least let him talk before you kick him out.
With a smile, Ava dropped her phone back in her bag and tried to concentrate on the problem laid out before her. It didn’t take long before frustration took over and she just gave up.
Storming into Matthew’s office, Ava stood with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face.
“What’s up?” Matthew asked, dropping his pen and sliding his reading glasses down his nose.
“It’s pointless me being here. I’m not getting anything done. Do you mind if I take off for the afternoon?”
With concern written all over his face, Matthew rubbed his chin and rocked back in his chair. “Anything I need to know?”
“Nope. Just didn’t sleep well last night, that’s all.” The lie felt like acid on her tongue but she needed to get out of there. She could barely concentrate, let alone get anything done. Leaving was best for everyone. Especially her clients.
“Go home and get some rest.”
“Thanks.”
“And Ava…tell Tyler we said welcome back!” Ava’s heart stopped. Well, at least it felt like it did. She was beyond shocked. She hadn’t said one word about Tyler in days. “I can see the distraction, and dare I say it, happiness in your eyes.”
Swallowing down her astonishment at Matthew’s perception, Ava just offered him a shrug and disappeared out the door before he had a change of heart.
As excited as she was to be heading home, with each passing kilometre her nerves squeezed just a little tighter. When she’d left Tyler asleep in her bed that morning, it seemed like such a romantic notion but now regret was rife. Now her greatest fear, that Tyler would be furious and long gone, caused her to put her foot down.
Chapter 27
Tyler
Sitting at Ava’s computer, Tyler had never felt destroyed and miserable. If he thought he was sad and lonely in Switzerland, then reading Ava’s latest written offering was heartbreaking. Tyler had read Ava’s debut novel, Perfection is Just an Illusion, a couple of times now. The first time he’d been furious, but when he calmed down and met the woman behind the pages, he’d taken the time to re-read the words, this time reading the love and longing on every page. Ava had loved him. There was no doubt in his mind that she always had. Now he was reading the sequel, and it was breaking his heart. She’d destroyed Anna and James.
Earlier when Tyler had woken alone in Ava’s bed, it felt like history was repeating itself. Stealing a look at the alarm clock, he saw it was almost noon and remembered it was a week day, so she’d probably headed to work. Tyler couldn’t help but wish she was still there with him, but he understood. After a shower, Tyler had found himself tidying up. Ava wasn’t usually messy but her place was a disaster. Unable to sit still, Tyler started by picking the balls of paper that littered the lounge room floor and covered the sofa. He knew he shouldn’t, but that didn’t deter him. Curiosity had gotten the better of him and he flattened out the sheet in his hand. It didn’t take more than a minute before he wished he hadn’t.
It was barely legible, but that didn’t stop Tyler from reading a list Ava had
discarded. It was a list of reasons why a great love would come undone. Tyler’s throat went dry and his breathing became rapid. Even the possibility that these thoughts were running through Ava’s head, whether it be for the characters in her book or real life, scared the living crap out of him. As quick as he could he folded the paper and stuffed it into his back pocket. He’d known he needed to talk to Ava, but now he was more desperate than ever.
When his stomach growled, begging for attention, Tyler decided it was time to raid Ava’s cupboards but disappointment didn’t even get close to what he found. A couple of tins of tomatoes, an out of date jar of mayonnaise, and an open bag of salt ’n vinegar chips. They were stale. The fridge wasn’t much better. There was a splash of milk left in the bottle and a half a bottle of wine. Not exactly the makings of a gourmet meal.
“What the fuck has she been eating?” Tyler huffed, running his hands through his hair.
In the months he’d known Ava, Tyler had already figured out she was hopeless at looking after herself. She made sure everyone around her was fine and for all appearances she was, but behind the walls she’d so carefully constructed around the truth, she was pathetic. She often went days without eating, not because she had a disorder or didn’t like food; it was more like it just wasn’t a priority. Eating was a choice, and if Ava had better things to do, then that’s what she’d do. But seeing her house devoid of all food got under his skin and Tyler wasn’t going to stand for it. Someone had to take care of her and he’d be damned if he was going to let anyone else assume the role.
Stomping down the hallway, Tyler grabbed his keys and wallet from the bedside table and flew out the door. He was a man on a mission and god help anyone who got in his way right now.
Forty-five minutes later, hauling several overfilled, heavy plastic grocery bags up the stairs, Tyler started to feel a bit better about everything. After packing the food away, Tyler set the slow cooker before scarfing down the sandwich he’d brought. On a roll, Tyler found himself being domestic and didn’t even hate it. After stripping Ava’s bed and tossing the sheets in the machine, he remade it and opened all the windows to let some fresh air in. After scrubbing the bathroom with heavy bleach, Tyler looked down at his knees and saw the dirty wet patches and suddenly it was very clear why his legs were itching. Darting back down the stairs to his rental car, he knew he’d have to return sometime today or maybe tomorrow. He grabbed his duffle bag and headed for another shower.
On Dry Land (Swimming Upstream #3) Page 14