Chapter Eleven

Duke

As I drive around empty streets, trying to clear my head, every thought circles back to her. I miss Tilly like crazy. The memories of our time together flood my mind —the laughter, the kisses, the way she lit up a room. I chose to put distance between us, thinking it would protect us both, but now it feels like I'm suffocating. I've lost something precious, something irreplaceable.

I pull into a small parking lot, leaning back in the driver's seat, and stare out at the darkening sky. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over everything, but inside I'm cold.

Finally, I head home, the familiar sights of my neighborhood offering little comfort. As I pull into my driveway I notice a figure sitting on my porch. My heart skips a beat when I realize it's Tilly, her sweet face lit by the glow of the light.

I park the car and step out, my heart racing. "Tilly?" I call out, disbelief washing over me. She looks up, and I can see the anxiety etched on her face.

"Hey," she says, her voice barely about a whisper.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, moving closer.

"I wanted to talk," she replies, taking a deep breath.

I can't help but feel a surge of hope mixed with apprehension. "About what?"

"About us," she says, her eyes locking onto mine. There's a weight in her gaze, an urgency that sends my heart racing.

I nod, gesturing for her to sit. "Okay, let's talk."

She takes a set on the porch steps, and I follow suit, our knees almost touching. I can see the vulnerability in her expression, and it makes my chest tighten. "I'm sorry for keeping us a secret," she begins, her voice trembling slightly. "I was scared, Duke. I didn't trust that it would last and I didn't want to risk your relationship with Ryan."

I want to reach out, to hold her and tell her everything will be okay, but I hold back. I need to hear her out.

"I thought that if I kept it from him, I wouldn't hurt anyone," she continues, her eyes filling with tears. "But hiding it only made everything worse. I realize now that I don't want to hide. I love you, Duke. I've loved you since the night of the party."

Her words hit me and for a moment I can't breathe. "Tilly…" I start, my heart swelling. "I—

"No, let me finish," she interrupts, determination in her voice. "I'm done hiding. I'm done being scared. I want to be with you, no matter what."

I can feel a smile breaking through the cloud of hurt that's been hovering over me. "You mean that?"

"I do," she insists, her voice steadying. "I love you, Duke. I should have trusted that we could make it work. Ryan knows everything. I want the world to know."

The relief floods through me and I can't help but pull her into my arms. "I love you too, Till. I've missed you every second we've been apart. I know I pushed you away, but it was the hardest fucking thing I've ever done."

Tears spill down her cheeks, I wipe them away with my thumbs. "I didn't realize how much I needed you until you weren't there," she admits, her voice cracking. "I was so scared of losing you, and now I see that I was just pushing you away."

I lean in, capturing her lips with mine. It's a tender kiss filled with promise.

"Let's go inside," I say, standing up and offering her my hand.