To Brooklyn, With Love (Completed) - Finding You Book 2

Brooklyn

One Month Later

"Let's do something fun this weekend," Tyler says, reaching around from behind to hand me a mug of coffee. It's after 10pm, but it's been a long day and I'm grateful for the caffeine.

"Like?"

"I don't know. Camping?" he smiles. It's gorgeous. He's gorgeous, and I'd be lying if I said he's not interested in me. I've known him since I was a kid. He's always been that friend I hung out with when we came here in the summers. Now he's my best friend, and one of the only people keeping me sane being so far away from Sophie.

"Ugh. I don't know," I shake my head as I turn to face him.

"C'mon. You're off work. I'm off work. The weather is gorgeous. It's the perfect set up for a different kind of weekend,"

"Maybe. Though tents have never been my thing,"

"False," he reminds me, touching my nose with his index finger. "We used to sleep in this very back yard every weekend you were here. You, me and the fireflies,"

"Probably the reason my back now hates me," I stick out my tongue and playfully swat his hand away from my nose. "We've camped enough for a lifetime,"

"Not possible," he raises his mug to his lips, but I know he's smiling, because his bright green eyes crinkle the way they always have.

"And I'm kind of over murdering innocent bugs. It's sick,"

"I'm not," he deadpans.

He does this from time to time - suggests we go out and do something "special." I know it's his way of asking me out, but I've never agreed because I'm afraid of what it might mean.

He's amazing. Spending time with him makes me wonder how I ever got involved with Nick...how I ever let my life spiral the way it did after my parents died, and why it took me so long to come back home. I let my grief change me, and not for the better.

But here I am, and I can't help but wonder if I've come full circle. My job isn't fancy or super well-paying, but I have friends there and an income that allows me to live somewhat comfortably.

And I have Tyler.

He's funny and kind and he's been far more patient with me these last few months than I deserve. I'm lucky to have him in my life, and I often wonder if he's the one I've really been meant to be with all along. Life is real mind-fuck; I'm not sure I'll ever figure it out.

We've talked about us, but that's where it's stopped.

Harry and I have been over for months, but my heart hasn't let me try with anyone else yet. I miss him. I think I will always love him, but I also know that doesn't mean we'll ever work it out. Not every story has a fairy tale ending, but I hope that we can all at least find some way to be happy.

Tyler knows where my head is at, and that's what I love most about him. He asks me out, I say no, and he understands.

I think one day soon I might say yes. I owe it to myself to see what it would feel like, just so I can know for sure.

"Brooklyn," he says seriously.

"Ty," I raise my eyebrows. We've fallen into this playful banter too easily.

"Tell me honestly," he says, setting his mug down on the counter and stepping a little closer. "It's because I snore, right? You remember being kept awake all night as a kid. You have like tent PTSD because of me, right? And you won't even give me a chance to show you I've changed,"

I laugh and set my mug down, ready to come back at him with something witty when my computer rings.

"This isn't over," he reminds me as I run over to answer. Sophie's face lights up the screen. "I make a mean s'more. I sing campfire songs, in tune, if you don't remember. I can fight off bears, grill hot dogs. You're looking at a pro. But I guess you won't know until you try,"