"I needed you!" he said furiously. "I asked you to go and you weren't there for me!"
"I have always been there for you," she gritted out. "Always. But you left me, and I'll never forgive you for that. I'm happy now. I'm starting a brand-new life, in Harrington, and I'm going to have everything I want. So, I'm asking you to leave. Leave me alone, and go back to New York."
His shocked expression made her want to wail in pain, but she bit it back, tilted her chin, and faced him down in her white dress. Slowly his eyes drained of emotion. His voice was flat when he finally spoke.
"You're right. I made a mistake. It won't happen again."
For the second time, Tristan left her. But this time, there were no more tears left to cry. This time, she had something bigger to protect, and she intended to give her all to this marriage to make it work.
For everyone's sake.
chapter nine
Tristan sat out on the porch. Balin and Gandalf flanked him with a serious demeanor, as if knowing he needed the support. Even when a suspicious rustle in the woods pricked their ears, they never budged. Just kept tight on their vigil.
He sipped his second glass of wine and pondered Sydney's words. She had no idea, but with her confession, she'd changed all the rules of the game.
Now there were no rules.
It was time to see what they could have moving forward and leave the past firmly behind. For the five years he was away from her, he'd been twisted inside at the thought of her making a life with someone else. Having his baby. Being happy in Harrington when once she'd belonged solely to him.
Her refusal to go with him to New York had helped cleanse the pain. He reminded himself that Sydney never could have loved him if she was getting married so quickly after their breakup.
But she'd finally told him a different truth. She'd tried to make a life with her husband but hadn't loved him the same way. She'd never truly been able to move on from what they'd had. Neither had he. None of the women he'd dated over the years held his attention long. His affairs held a shallowness he despised as he surged forward¸ constantly looking for depth and purpose in his relationships.
All roads seemed to lead back to Sydney. It may not have been their time before, but they'd grown up, and it was time to face the reality.
They still cared about each other.
He closed his eyes and wished his brothers were here. They balanced him, able to use snarky humor and a deep love to take him away from the clouds of the memories. But now, in the dark, alone, the past came back for him.
He remembered the first few months in New York City away from her. He'd landed a decent apartment and begun working with an up-and-coming real estate agency that had been impressed with his background and credentials. For the first time, he was truly on his own. He'd fallen in love with the raw glory of Manhattan and left his father's tight rule behind to build his own future.
But Sydney wasn't with him.
A gaping hole in his gut haunted him. He rarely slept, thinking over and over of their terrible fight and how he'd left. The poisonous words launched at each other like darts. The wounds still bled, and he realized he wasn't whole without her. He needed to go back and make things right. He needed to find a way to see if their relationship could move forward, because he'd made a huge mistake leaving her behind. Yes, she was young. But sometimes fate wasn't neat and tidy. He was beginning to realize certain things didn't look good on paper but felt perfect within the heart.
So he decided to go back to Harrington to see if she'd come to New York with him. When he couldn't find her in the office, the assistant had told him she was getting married. That she was at that very moment at her bridal fitting.
Not believing it, Tristan headed to the bridal shop and discovered her in the dress. But she wasn't the same Sydney. This new Sydney was cold, and distant. There was no warmth or welcome in her eyes. No love.
No forgiveness.
When he left, he swore he'd never think of her again. It was time to start his new life. It was easier to focus on her betrayal.
Tristan finished his wine and stood. But so much had changed. Time softened the past and made him realize how many mistakes they'd both made. Maybe it was time to create a new path for them and forgive. They'd both been young and temperamental. The world was cruel to people in love. The years had ripened them and allowed enough time for them to heal. Tristan knew he'd regret not trying to see if there was a way to write a brand-new story.
With a brand-new ending.
The next morning, Sydney opened her door to a man holding a bunch of sunflowers. Puzzled, she tipped him, carried them inside, and read the card.
Dear Becca,
You danced beautifully. Congratulations.
Love, Tristan