Third Chances (Men Of Manhattan #2) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,115

to run away with you."

Tyler sighed. "Maybe that's what I intended to do. But you're standing at their rehearsal dinner right now, aren't you?"

"No thanks to you," I said.

"I told her to get back together with James this morning."

I couldn’t believe my ears. "Wait. You what?"

"She loves him. Not me."

I could hear the hurt in his voice. He wasn't about to ruin James and Penny's wedding. He was...bowing out. He'd given up. I turned away from the window and looked back at Penny and James. They were happily talking to one of his old college buddies. Tyler had lost. And I actually felt bad for him. "I'm sorry. I thought..."

"That I'd try to break up my best friend's wedding because I'm in love with her? The only reason I even considered it was because I thought Penny was miserable. I hated seeing her upset. I just want her to be happy. And James makes her happy."

"So now I feel like an ass." I tried to laugh it off, but it didn't work. "I was calling to threaten you. If you take one step toward their ceremony, yadda yadda, I'll kill you. All that jazz."

"Not necessary. I'm not attending the wedding. I'm not even in the state anymore."

Now I felt guilty and concerned. "Where the hell are you?"

"All that matters is that I left. And I'm not coming back."

"Not coming back to where? Penny and James' apartment? New York? The country? What are you talking about?"

"I'm moving to California. I need a fresh start."

"Look, I'm not planning on threatening you anymore. You can stay in the city. I just thought it would be best if you didn't come to the wedding."

"That makes two of us. There's nothing left for me in New York."

"Are you okay, man?"

There was another long pause.

"Yeah," he finally said.

But it didn't sound like he meant it. I waited. It was the least I could do to hear him out after I'd called him to yell at him unjustly.

"Actually, no," Tyler corrected. "Not really. I just lost...everything."

"Look, Penny's cool. I get why you wanted to be with her. Hell, I'm pretty sure I was hung up on her without even really knowing it. But there's someone else out there for you that'll be a hell of a lot better of a fit. Trust me, I know."

"That was oddly encouraging when the reason you called was to threaten me."

I laughed. "I can threaten you and still be your friend."

"So...how do you know that exactly? That someone out there is a better fit for me?"

"Because I'm in love, man!"

"I’m pretty sure you were single the last time I saw you. And since I’ve known you. So are you in love with yourself? Or..."

I laughed. "I met someone during James' bachelor party. Re-met someone. Finally met. It doesn't matter how you put it. She's my forever. I can tell."

"Isn't that a little fast?"

"You know me, I do everything fast. There's no other way to live. Plus, she is... everything." I felt bad as soon as I said it. Tyler had just confessed that he thought he just lost everything. "Anything I thought I felt for Penny wasn't real," I quickly added. "Not like this."

"That's great," he said. "I hope that's true for me too. But today it just feels like I loved and lost. And I'm in the middle of God knows where in Pennsylvania in a shitty diner where they don't know how to properly fry comfort food. Fuck my life," he said with a laugh.

"James was right. You are a good guy."

"James said that? About...me? Before or after he punched me in the face?"

"Before." I laughed. "He kinda forgot about it during that incident. In his defense though, he thought you’d run away with Penny. And also, he may have said you were a good guy when he'd had too much to drink."

"Huh. I always thought that James hated me. But in his defense, I probably would have punched me too."

I laughed. "I should stop hiding in the corner and get back to the party," I said as I saw Daphne walk into the apartment. She looked as beautiful as ever. I was one lucky man.

"Have fun."

"You too. Road trips are the freaking best. And California has way more beaches than New York. Think bikinis for miles. You'll be fine. And you'll find someone else."

"Enjoy the wedding."

I tried not to think about the fact that he didn't agree with me. If Daphne knew everyone here, I could have left