Truth Sets You Free

Chapter 44

BELLA

"Hey, babe. I just wanted to make sure that you're okay. I'm really sorry if I freaked you out last night. I was wondering if you wanted to meet for coffee and maybe talk about some things. I'm free around noon, so just text me later. Love you."

I listen to Tyler's voicemail for the fourth time this morning as I drive down the road to the coffee shop outside of his office building. I keep replaying it in hopes that I'll be able to decipher his mood. He apologized for freaking me out, which breaks my heart because that means he thinks my reaction to his proposal is all his fault.

He didn't sound angry. He just sounded concerned. Plus, he ended the message by saying that he loves me, so I guess that's a good sign.

I pull into the small parking lot by the coffee shop and shut the car off.

I really have no idea what I'm going to say to Tyler. When I was at Jessica's, the plan was to end things with him, but I feel like after my confession to last night's unexpected houseguest, that whole plan is out the window.

I had trouble falling asleep last night as I tried to rid the memories of Harry's surprise visit, and then this morning I was so nervous about meeting with Tyler that I didn't have any time to prepare an apology speech.

I hope that maybe I'll have a minute to do that now, but when I see him walk out of the office building and towards the coffee shop, I take a deep breath and climb out of the car.

When the car door slams shut, Tyler hears it and looks over at me. He gives me a smile and stops walking, waiting by the door for me to catch up. As I reach him, he grabs my hand and pulls me to him, kissing me on the cheek. That surprises me given the circumstances of our last encounter.

"Hey." He smiles as he pulls away.

"Hi." I say breathlessly.

He doesn't say anything else as he pushes the door open for me, letting me walk into the shop. I step inside and make my way over to a table. He follows me but doesn't sit down.

"Do you want anything?" He asks, motioning his head towards the front counter.

"Uh...no thanks." I shake my head, and he nods, walking over to get himself a coffee.

This is it. This is my chance to figure out what I'm going to say. Of course I'm going to say sorry for running out on him, but then what? I told Harry that I was going to marry Tyler.

God, this is not about Harry. This is about me and my future with Tyler. I'm thankful when he returns to the table so that I can refocus on the reason that I'm here. I'm not here to prove something to Harry. I'm here to save whatever is left of my relationship with Tyler.

"You sure you don't want anything?" Tyler asks, sitting across from me.

"No, thanks. I'm alright." I reassure him, watching him bring his cup up to his mouth. I take that opportunity to start the difficult conversation that lies before. "Tyler, I am so sorry about last night." I say quickly, but he raises his hand to stop me.

I wait for him to swallow and set his cup back down. "Don't worry about it, Bella. I know it was kind of sudden."

"No, it wasn't." I interrupt. "We've been together for two years, and I love you..."

"But you aren't ready for marriage. I get it." He finishes for me, thinking that he knows the reasoning behind my denial, but he doesn't.

"It's not that I'm not ready." I try to explain, but I cut myself off when my phone starts ringing in my pocket. I pull it out to see that it's Jessica. She must be checking in on me, but now is not the time. I switch it to vibrate and set it face down on the table.