actions, and then Ford jumped onboard, and it seemed like I was doing the right thing. I understand now that I wasn’t.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “And Luna...you’ll always be a part of her life.”
“It won’t be what I want, but I’ll be the ex-stepfather cheering her on. I knew the risk I was taking when we made our agreement. I knew there was a good chance it wouldn’t last forever. Just don’t let her forget me, okay?” His voice wavers a little as emotion chokes him. “And take care of her.”
I step forward and wrap my arms around him. I squeeze him to me in a tight hug. He doesn’t move, doesn’t hug me back. It’s cold, but I understand he’s hurting. I hold him a beat longer through the awkwardness of a one-sided hug because I want him to feel my warmth. “You know I will,” I whisper.
Because that’s what I’ve always done. I’ve taken care of her the best way I know how, and that’s all I’ll continue to do for her.
“We’re going to be moving to California.”
He presses his lips together and nods. It’s not like he didn’t know this was coming. “When can I see Luna again?”
“Any time you want. I’ll be staying with my sister for a while and you’re always welcome there.”
“You’re welcome back here, too,” he says, though we both know I have no plans to return to Milwaukee anytime soon. I need to press forward—wherever that might be taking me. “Although, to be honest, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here.” He holds his hand up to indicate this house.
“You’re moving?” I guess that makes sense. Why would he want to stay in this house where we made memories as a family? It’s too big for one person.
I hate the thought of him being alone...but I suppose he needs that. He jumped from his last relationship into this one, and he’s been burned a few times. My best guess is that he’s been bracing himself for this impact for quite a while. I wouldn’t know, though, because we haven’t really talked in a long time. It’s always about the baby...never about us.
“I need a fresh start. You know?” he says.
I nod.
He hesitates, like he’s not sure he wants to spill whatever he’s thinking, but then he lets it out. “I applied for a position in Denver. I had a Zoom interview a few days ago and they want me to fly out for the final round of interviews at the end of the week.”
My heart squeezes. He’s leaving Milwaukee, too. Maybe it was me who drove him out, or maybe he was never meant to stay here. “Denver?” It’s all I can think to say even though a thousand thoughts are going through my mind.
Denver is closer to Los Angeles than Milwaukee is.
My job at the arena will be vacant if he leaves for Denver.
But there’s nothing that could keep me in Milwaukee. Not when Tyler’s in Los Angeles.
He nods.
“Oh, Ford. I hope you get it.”
He smiles tightly. “It’s looking good, but I don’t want to get my hopes up too high.”
I’m glad he has something to look forward to. A fresh start sounds like the perfect thing for him right now, and in some ways I feel like that’s what we’re both getting.
Tyler texts me every day to check on Luna, and my heart leaps with hope every time his name pops up on my screen—his real name, not Jen Murphy. I keep thinking maybe one of those times he’s going to ask how I’m doing.
He doesn’t...but just the fact that he’s checking in tells me a lot.
It tells me how very wrong I was.
CHAPTER 36
TYLER
Of all the shitty things that came from going on a reality show to compete for a prize I didn’t want to win, one good thing came out of it.
When I proposed a fake relationship to the lone woman in the competition as a way to throw off another competitor who clearly had feelings for her, I didn’t think anything would come of it—especially when I came clean and told her my real motivation for being there. I was doing it as a way to gain some sympathy with the viewers. I wanted to help another contestant, because once they found out why I was really there, they were going to hate me.
It took a while for her to come around to trusting me again, but she has remained one of my best friends—mostly