Chapter 44

I knew why, the cause of the change. I waited until we were seated and had ordered. "It's not his fault," I said. Trina looked up from her phone. "Tyler not being how I said. It's not his fault."

"How is that not his fault?" she asked incredulously.

I couldn't look her in the eye. "Because I'm the one who chose to leave. Tyler and I were close when we were kids, then I left and he never heard from me again. He thought I was dead. You know better than anyone how the death of someone you love can change you."

"Don't," she growled and I looked at her. "That was a long time ago. And the two don't compare. I lost everyone I knew, he lost one person."

"You're right, they don't compare," I agreed. "You had someone to help you through it. Some who knew the pain you felt."