Reggie stared at him for a long moment. Then, brow furrowing slightly, he asked, "So.. is Corrine just your backup?"

"No. Not until I've sorted out my own feelings. I won't start something with Corrine," Keanu said quietly.

Though he cared for Corrine-more than he expected—Tilda's shadow hadn't entirely left his heart.

Jumping into a new relationship now would only be unfair. Corrine deserved more than someone still haunted by the past.

He wanted to be sure. Clear. Free. Only then would he let himself move forward.

That would be best for both of them.

Reggie watched him in silence, his gaze drifting toward the others—Lyndon, Tilda, and Sheldon, still singing and laughing nearby like a picture-perfect family.

His mind buzzed with all he'd just learned. He'd always thought he was the one who truly deserved Tilda.

Because he'd never loved anyone else. Because his feelings for her had never wavered.

He'd burned with resentment upon Learning she married Lyndon, convinced it was some cruel twist of fate.

She was such a wonderful woman.. how could her life be handed over to someone with emotional baggage?

But now, he wasn't so sure anymore. He'd been idealizing her.

Turned out Tilda had a past, too.

Keanu had been Tilda's first love, and first loves never truly left you, did they? Maybe she had buried those feelings deep down. Maybe she'd locked them away the day she married Lyndon. But feelings like that never fully disappeared.

They all had pasts. Lived histories. Maybe he'd been the one clinging to a fantasy.

Even if one day she divorced Lyndon and started over, Reggie realized bitterly—-he probably still wouldn't be her first choice.

Not when the man she once loved was still single. Still here. For a moment, Reggie felt like a fool.

His self-proclaimed devotion to Tilda meant nothing to her, yet he took it very seriously.

Embarrassment washed over him. "Reggie, it's your shot," Keanu said, snapping him out of it.

Reggie blinked, then nodded. He inhaled sharply, stepped forward, and with one clean motion, sank the ball.

Maybe it was time to let go.

There was no use holding on.

Tilda's heart had never truly been his.

Knowing when to cut your losses—that was just smart business. They wrapped things up around 9 p.m.