Page 73 of Protected from Torment

I’ll always love him. Always miss him. But maybe it’s time.

Except Tyler doesn’t know everything. He knows almost all of it. Except the one thing I never talk about.

“Mel?”

At the sound of Tyler’s voice, I twist around to look at him. He’s standing in the open doorway that leads to the kitchen, wearing those sexy mesh shorts and a plain white T-shirt. His hair is rumpled, and his eyes still have a bleary look to them.

“Morning,” I reply. “I didn’t wake you up, did I?”

He frowns slightly as he closes the door and makes his way across the porch to me. “No, surprisingly. I usually wake up at the smallest sound. But I slept right through you getting up.”

“I was trying to be quiet. Since we went to bed so late last night.”

Tyler reaches my chair and just looks at me for a moment. His gaze moves carefully across my face, like he’s searching for something hidden. “Are you okay?” he asks. “Did you have trouble sleeping? Or—” His brows pull into a worried V. “Was it last night?”

I shake my head quickly. “It wasn’t last night. Last night was amazing.”

“Was it my bed? I can get one of those memory foam mattress toppers if it’s too hard. Or do you want different sheets? A thicker blanket?”

“Your bed was fine.” I smile to reassure him. “I just woke up early, is all. And once I woke up, my mind started going, and I knew I wouldn’t fall back to sleep. So I thought I’d come out here to enjoy the sunrise.”

Tyler looks at my arms, which are covered with goosebumps. Then he bends down, lifts me into his arms, and sits down with me on his lap. “You’re cold,” he states, looking unhappy about it. Turning me sideways, he hugs me to his chest and rubs my arm to warm it.

“It’s not too bad,” I reply. “Just a little chilly.”

“I don’t want you getting sick.”

“I won’t.” Feeling thankful I thought to brush my teeth before coming out here, I press my lips to his. “And I’m already feeling much warmer.”

The worry in Tyler’s eyes eases. “Good.” He kisses me back. “So. Were you just thinking about random things? Or anything you want to talk about?”

My stomach jumps. An involuntary shiver runs through me.

“Mel?”

“I was thinking about how nice it is here,” I say, starting with the easy part. “And how happy I am.”

“That’s good.” One eyebrow raises. “But I get the feeling there’s something else.”

My stomach leaps again. After a steadying breath, I admit, “One thing.”

“What?” he asks. “If there’s something bothering you, I want to know. Otherwise, I can’t help.”

Heaviness presses on my chest as I say, “It’s nothing you can help with. It’s just… it just is.” Taking another deep breath to build my courage, I add, “It’s not that I was intentionally keeping a secret from you. It didn’t seem relevant at first.”

Tyler’s brow creases. “What didn’t seem relevant?”

“When we weren’t dating yet. And then when we just started. I didn’t think we needed to get into it yet. But now… it’s only fair that you know.”

“Know what, Mel?” He brushes my hair away from my face. “You can tell me anything. I won’t get upset. I promise.”

“I know we’re not at that point yet. We might never be. But after last night… I don’t know what you want for the future. But there’s something I’ll never be able to give you.”

“Mel?”

My gaze drops to my lap. “When Vince died, I was pregnant.”

Tyler sucks in a sharp breath. “Mel.”