Cross My Heart

27. NOAH

Chapter 27

NOAH

Dear Noah,

I wish I was doing better, but things with Scarlett have been hostile for the past few weeks. She was angry when I returned from Fort Benning, and I think she still is. I know she knows something happened between us, so I can’t really blame her for being mad. But I just wish we weren’t constantly fighting. It makes everything harder. She wants to have a baby, Noah. A fucking baby. And I can’t give it to her. It breaks my heart, but I’m not the right person for the job. I know that, and soon she will too. I don’t think she wants to face the truth though.

I’m keeping my promise, baby. Before you come home, I’ll leave her. I have eight months to do it, right? It’s going to be so hard, but I know it’s the right thing to do. I just have to get my affairs in order. Sell the bar. Sell the house. It’s going to take a long time, but it’s going to be worth it. Anything for us.

My parents are okay. They miss you and ask about you constantly. But as if they know not to, they don’t push in front of Scarlett. She hasn’t been coming around much lately anyway. As for the bar, it’s going great. I’m just trying to get it ready for the new owner.

I miss you too.

P.S.

I mailed you some candy and other things.

With love,

Ty.

M y heart flutters in my chest as I read his email over and over, remembering the last night we spent together. The way he saw me off at the bus. The way he kissed me.

“What’s got that dopey look on your face?” Jeremiah asks me, and I startle.

“Huh?” I ask, confused.

“You look like you’re daydreaming, Noah.”

“Oh.” My cheeks heat. “Nothing.”

“It’s someone, isn’t it?”

I think about lying to him, but instead, I nod.

“Tyler?” he asks, staring right into my eyes as he says the name of the person I miss most. Guilt churns in my stomach at the hurt look in his eyes, and I look away. Hurting Jeremiah has been my worst mistake. There’s nothing I’ve regretted more in my entire life. But somehow we’ve remained friends—best friends even. “Right.”

“Jer—”

“Don’t.” He shakes his head. “But I’ll say this only once.”

“Okay.”

“They never leave their wives,” he says through gritted teeth. “ Never .”

My stomach drops. But I know Tyler will. He has to. He promised.

“He will,” I assure him, reassuring myself in the process. “Before I come home.”

“If you say so.” He shrugs. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Thanks for the concern,” I reply. “But I’m a big boy. I can handle my feelings.”

It was an asshole thing to say, and I regret it immediately.

“I’ll shut up.” He nods once, then gets up and walks away.

“W-wait!” I yell after him.

But he doesn’t stop.

I run a hand down my face and look back at my computer screen.

Then I reply back to Tyler.