So Toxic(Bad Boy Next Door Book 4)(68)

Ben shakes Jo’s hand. “By the way, I’m still your new boss. We’ll talk later this week.”

The couple slowly treks the course I came up.

I turn to JoJo. She sits on the step in front of me, staring at the bloodied banner sticking out of my thigh.

“Why didn’t you get this tended to? There’s a First Aid tent at the side of the building.”

The throb in my thigh is nothing compared to the worry haunting my heart.

If Jo takes this job…

I can’t even think about that right now.

I awkwardly sit next to Jo, my leg extended to keep from jostling the flag.

“Hey, I’m sorry about your boss. I didn’t know.”

Her fingers twist in her lap. “Why did you come, Tyson?”

“You left. You wouldn’t answer my calls or texts. Stevie said you probably weren’t coming home. I had to see you—talk to you.”

She pulls her phone from her pocket. “I forgot to charge it. What was so important that you flew halfway across the country to tell me?”

I swallow.

Why can’t we skip to the end? She could say she hates me now, and I wouldn’t have to say it.

No. She said…

“You said you love me.”

JoJo sucks in her bottom lip and then bites it. Her gaze meets mine, but she looks away every bit as quickly. “I did. I said that.”

I take her hand. “Did you mean it?”

“Yes, but—”

I tighten my hold on her. “I choose you.”





“Oh, Tyson.” My shoulders slump. “Look. If this is about you feeling badly…I know you don’t want to love anyone. I get that you’re not in the market for forever. Like I said, I knew the score. So you’re off the hook. I’ll be fine. Hell, if my shitty childhood didn’t kill me, this certainly won’t.”

Tyson shakes his head. “No. You don’t understand. I choose you. Not because I need to get Caden back. I have him.”

I sit up a little straighter. “You got Caden?”

“Yeah. Jessica brought him to me. Said she wants me to raise him.”

I expel a short breath. “Wow. Just like that, eh? Out of the blue?”

He shrugs. “Sad as it is, I think, from the start, she only kept him to get money out of me. He was her very own little ATM. Once the paternity test came back negative…well, she didn’t have any use for him.”

It’s hell being an unwanted child.

But…“You really don’t care that he isn’t yours? Biologically speaking.”

Tyson adjusts the position of his injured leg. “Not a damned bit. He deserves to be loved, and I love him. He’s mine.”

Tears prick the backs of my eyes as I smile up at him. “That’s beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful.” He slides a hand along my jaw.

“So you don’t need me at all, really. Not now that you have Caden.”

Please, God, let me be wrong. Let him need me.

As much as I want to believe that I could walk away…seeing Tyson again? If he asks me to come with him—no matter the reason—I will. I can’t say no. It’s sick, and it will likely kill me in the end if he doesn’t love me or if I’m just convenient for him.

But I’ll still go with him.

“Jo, I need you.”

“You can get a nanny. Between her and the housekeeper, you’re set.”

“I don’t want you to clean up after me or to wipe my kid’s butt. You’re right. I have that covered. But, JoJo, my world isn’t complete without you in it.”

My heartbeat thumps in my ears, almost drowning out his words. His perfect words.

Ty’s hand cups my nape as he pulls me closer. “I know you’ve got this job and I didn’t deserve you in high school—I still don’t deserve you—but, I love you, JoJo. I think I’ve always loved you. I just—I was scared. My mom—the way she is—love scares me. But losing you is a fuck load scarier than loving you. Say you’ll come home with me.”

All the pain of the last few days flips sunny-side up, and I can hardly contain the joy bouncing in my chest to get out.

“Yes. Yes. Yes. I love you too, Tyson Masters.” I throw myself into his arms, our mouths meeting.

He sucks in my bottom lip, and I shift to get closer.

Ty goes stiff and lets out a groan.

I jump backward. “Crap. Your leg.”

“It’s okay, c’mere. I want another kiss.”

I stand and help him to his feet. “C’mon. Let’s go find the First Aid tent and get you fixed enough to get home. I’ll kiss you when you stop bleeding.”

I do my best to steady him as we slowly start descending the steps of the memorial.