I press a hand to my chest as I take in the damage.

My living room looks like a war zone. Shattered glass and splintered wood scatter across the floor, the coffee table demolished beyond recognition. A dented lamp lies facedown, its crooked shade barely clinging on. One of the dining chairs is overturned, and the sofa sits askew, shoved off-center from the rug. Even the armchair by the window is twisted at an awkward angle as if the whole room is still reeling from the chaos.

And in the middle of it all, Tyson lies sprawled on the floor, looking like he just got drop-kicked by karma wearing steel-toed boots.

Karma––she’s a salty bitch, that one.

“Ty, you need to go to the hospital.”

He coughs, then groans, rolling onto his side. “I’m fine.”

A short, sarcastic laugh slips from my lips. “You are most definitely not fine. Your nose is not even in the center of your face anymore.”

He drags in a slow breath, wincing as he props himself up on an elbow. “I’ve had worse.”

He inhales before reaching up and gripping his nose between his fingers.

“Oh my God. Don’t do it.”

An unmistakable crunch reaches my ears as he shifts it back into place.

I close my eyes, a full-body shudder racking through me. “Jesus, Ty.”

He exhales, then grins through the blood. “Well, that was unpleasant.”

“You should leave.” Now. While Alex is catching his breath. I’m not sure he’s finished with you.

Tyson pushes to his feet with a groan, wiping more blood from his face as he straightens. He’s slower now, stiff, and favoring one side as he makes his way toward the door.

I step ahead of him and pull it open, gripping the knob. He stops just shy of the threshold, looking down at me. There’s no smirk, no cocky gleam in his eye. Just something tired. Something raw.

“Pick… me… Magnolia.”

My chest tightens. Despite everything, despite the lies, despite the chaos, I can feel the truth in his voice. He means it.

He loves me.

But my answer is still the same. It’ll always be the same.

“I choose Alex… every… time.”

A beat passes before he nods, slow and accepting, like he already knew what I’d say. “If you ever change your mind, one call. That’s all it’ll take for me to run to you.”

“Wow.” Alex lets out a dry chuckle, pure revulsion in his voice. “Didn’t think you could be more pathetic, but here we are.”

Ty’s jaw tightens, his eyes flicking to mine before settling back on Alex. “You’ve won. For now.” His voice is low, edged with something dangerous. “But one fuck-up, Sebring—just one—and I’ll be there to catch her when she falls.”