23 - Time

Meg took two days off work. Once the DA released his statement, her father told her she was safe. "But be careful."

The best part was her father kept the details from her mother and protected her reputation by keeping her name out of it. If she had kept her mouth shut, she would still be friends with Tyler, but obviously, Cade didn't deserve that.

Instead of going for a run, she took an Uber to Tyler's place. She still had her key and let herself in the building. She debated entering his apartment, but knocked instead.

Tyler opened the door and went to shut it in her face, but Blue prevented him. She petted the dog as she pleaded with him. "Please talk to me."

Looking defeated, he stepped back. Suddenly, she was the woman who ruined men's lives. The thought made her sick. "I'm not involved with your brother. He loves you and would do anything to protect you. I don't think he likes me either."

Tyler snapped his head up, but lowered his chin as if he remembered not to defend her. "Whatever. You don't have to make up lies about a stalker. If you didn't want me, you should have told me."

Neither sat, instead they stood facing each other. "I didn't make up lies. It's true, but it's a long story that I kept from you."

"But not my brother."

"Your brother came to me to tell me I was involved in one of his cases."

"What? How?"

She looked him in the eye. "My birthday." She watched the pain move across his face. "The murder at the hotel. The police accused Cade."

He shook his head. "It was a mob hit. Some guy named Maloney did it."

"Daniel Cade Maloney, but he didn't. He was with me. His mother's husband tried to make him look guilty. For weeks, you and I were living life, and he was an innocent man facing prison. Eli hated me because he knew I was with another man."

"Yeah, it didn't make me happy either."

"But I didn't know. I didn't want to speak up because it would hurt you and my parents would find out."

"Is that why you wouldn't wear my ring?"

She didn't want to lie. "No. I wasn't ready. You loved me for a long time and I loved you like my best friend."

"Who stalked you?"

"Some thug. I saw him the second time at the park. He knew our routine. Then he was at my office building on Monday. I called Eli because he left a threatening message on my voicemail."

Tyler's eyes grew wide. It eased the pain in her heart that he cared about her safety. Taking a deep breath she continued, "My father worked it out with the DA for me to give my statement to Eli in his AG office. They recorded it so it's legit. Thankfully, it was enough for Cade to no longer be a suspect."

"You've been talking to him all this time?"

"No. He left me one message at work asking me to save him. I never called him back."

"I feel like I don't know you anymore."

"You do. You know the Meg before my birthday."

"So not the one I bared my heart to?"

"I know I hurt you. I also know you love me and I tried so hard to love you that way."

"But you don't?"

"Not as a lover? I wanted to, and I tried. I might have married you, but it's not fair to you. You deserve a woman who loves you completely."

"I don't understand. What's wrong with me?"

She stepped towards him, but he stepped back. "Nothing. It's all me. Maybe the friendzone was too strong. I really wanted to break through."

"You want me to just go back to being your friend."

"I know it's a tall ask. I understand if you can't." She wiped her cheeks with her hands.

Tyler looked at her for a long time. "I need time to think about it."

She nodded. "That's fair. Thanks for listening. Tell Mick I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For hurting you. I promised him I wouldn't. I never wanted to, but I did." She reached down and pet Blue. "Bye Ty."

As she left his apartment, she wondered if Tyler would ever invite her back. Feeling empty, she waited in the lobby for her car. After scanning the dark street, she was glad not to see Guido walking up the sidewalk. When the car arrived she ran to it. In front of her house she ran to the door. Once inside, she breathed easier. She would skip running until she felt safe.

Just before noon Greg approached her desk. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah. Thanks." She told her boss she had a stomach bug.

"I have news since you were so interested in Pacheco. They dropped the charges against his stepson. Looks like your DA friend came through."

"Will they get who did it?"

"Not until they clean house at the police station. Maloney was lucky they didn't pin it on him. He must have had a guardian angel."

Meg shrugged, but wondered if Cade thought of her that way. "Thanks for the update."

"I'll let you know if they charge someone else. How's my article?"

"It's great. Don't worry. I'll be nice." She smiled. Cade was safe, and no one knew her involvement. If only Tyler would forgive her.

They had a big fight before. It wasn't when they broke up in high school, but five years later. Meg had been seeing a guy casually for a few weeks. Right as she decided he wasn't right, Tyler began dating a woman who was so catty she smelled like catnip. She would purr in Ty's lap and swipe at Meg behind his back. When Meg made excuses to not hang around her, Tyler complained at first and then felt hurt. Every time Meg gave in she regretted it. She was losing her best friend, and he didn't see that his kitten had put a wedge between them.

One night they argued because they were supposed to go to her mother's charity event together. Shannon had been involved in helping fund mental health crisis centers. Her efforts offset her husband's achievements in convicting criminals. The girlfriend insisted Tyler stay home with her, so Meg had to go alone. Having Tyler as her best friend she never had to navigate a roomful of strangers alone. The event was held at a hotel ballroom, just like so many others. Meg stepped out into the lobby for some fresh air when she ran into another guest. He was older than her and good looking and offered to buy her a drink at the hotel bar. She agreed after all he was from a prestigious Beacon Hill banking family. As they sat in a quiet corner, it was obvious he didn't know who her father was. Just Meg, so she wasn't connected to Margaret Rice. He whispered in her ear about his room upstairs as his hand traveled under her skirt. She pushed it off, but it didn't deter him. Then he grabbed at her breast. She slapped his hand away and stood and ran back to the crowds around the ballroom. Once safe, she spent the rest of the night glued to her mother's side. Having to listen to women talk about how nicely she grew up was like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard.

By the time she returned home, she directed her frustration at Tyler for feeding her to the wolves. After two weeks of her responding in curt text, he called to confront her. She exploded. "I don't want to get a drink with you. Your girlfriend is a bitch."

Tyler defended his bitch, so as a passing remark, she added, "Thanks for having my back when some rich prick almost assaulted me." Then she hung up and refused his calls. While Meg teetered between anger and missing him, it took him another month to wake up and break up with the feline.

Their friends forced them together. One night after too much wine, Meg told him the things his ex had said to her. Then she told the story about the guy in the bar. Tyler vowed to not mix his relationships with their friendships. He joked, "Or we could just date."

Meg pushed his shoulder. "Don't joke. You're my best friend. I was miserable without you."

Ironically, Meg was back to being miserable without him. Maybe if she tried to date him at twenty-five, they would have bounced back easier. After they made up they grew closer, especially after Tyler got his puppy. Meg spent as much time as possible with the little fur ball. Meg missed Blue too. Sometimes the only way Meg knew Tyler was seeing a woman was when Blue reeked of a strange perfume on Sundays when they went for their walk in the park. In the year leading up to her thirtieth, Blue had only smelled like her or Tyler. Looking back, Meg understood how hard it must have been for Tyler to see her with Cade together that night.

She just wanted him to forgive her.

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