Moving fast, Tyler half stood and caught Alaric’s arm before the man could take a step away from their table. “Hey. Don’t leave.”
“Why?” Alaric growled, looking ready to punch all of them in the face. “This is ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” Tyler said quietly. “But walking away doesn’t make it less real.”
Alaric glared down at him, but the fight in his shoulders seemed to deflate slightly.
Mitch took the opportunity to press. “Look, man. You love her, right?”
Alaric didn’t answer.
“Maybe love is too strong a word. At least you like her very much, or you wouldn’t have shown up today. So then think about what that means. Would you rather lose her altogether? Watch her end up with someone else? Or maybe, just maybe, find a way for all of us to not lose her at all?”
“That’s not love,” Alaric mut
