Текст книги "Love Surfaced"
Автор книги: Michelle Lynn
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love surfaced
Michelle Lynn
contents
Love Surfaced
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Books by Michelle Lynn
Love Surfaced
Copyright © 2015 by Michelle Lynn
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in whole or in part by any means.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events portrayed in this book are the product of the author’s imagination or are either fictitious or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Developmental Editor:
Nichole Strauss, Perfectly Publishable
Copy Editor: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing
Proofreading: Indie Girl Proofs
Cover Design: Pear Perfect Creative Covers
Cover photo: © Shutterstock.com
Interior Design and Formatting:
Christine Borgford, Perfectly Publishable
Visit my website at www.michellelynnbooks.com
dedication
To my adorable, funny, loving, and joy-of-my-life twins.
one
“PIPER.” HE HESITATES BEFORE JOINING me down on the cement stoop. I question why he even searched me out, although it’s been his M.O. lately. Popping up wherever I am. He places his arm across my shoulders and pulls me into him, which only brings a ripple of warmth to the pit of my stomach. “Come here.” My head burrows in his strong chest and his hand soothingly roams up and down my back. I sink into him, the tension in my shoulders of placing fifth in my swim meet slowly releases with the comfort of his arms.
Refusing to let him make my mind race with his confusing affection, I sit up. Swiping the tears from my eyes, I honestly confess, “Tanner, it was my last shot.” He begins to shake his head, but I interrupt him, “No, I have to realize it, my dream of swimming in the Olympics is over.” I rise to my feet, and the heaviness in my chest sinks back into place now that I’m out of his embrace.
He follows me over to the oak tree, coming up behind me, and my pulse races into overdrive when his hot breathe tickles my neck. My body’s response only reminds me how bad I want him. Why does he keep leading me on? He continues to only toe the line between friendship and more, but never actually steps over it. Each time his hand brushes mine, or his eyes search me out, my heart stops beating for a moment, hoping this is it—until he crushes the fluttering butterflies and steps away. I close my eyes from the view of Michigan University’s football stadium because I need to calm my insides. “Why are you here?” He should be with my twin brother, preparing for their own meet. “You should be in warm-ups.” His hands land on my shoulders and he leans down, causing a tingling to spread across my body at our connection.
“I saw you leaving the pool house,” his voice cracks and I hear his deep intake of breath.
“That’s not what I’m asking, Tanner.” When I turn around, I almost collapse when I’m face to face with this gorgeous guy. Absolutely, one hundred percent, the perfect male. My perfect male. His brown hair is tucked away in his MU hat flipped backwards, his lips and cheeks are rosy from the early spring chill in the air. With only a sweatshirt and track pants on, he’s the epitome of a college student. His good looks remind me of the unbearable yearning that pulls me toward him.
His eyes are so transparent, I can see the torment of his inner turmoil from our situation, meaning nothing has changed for him. He’s as conflicted as ever because I’m his best friend’s sister.
“I don’t know.” His voice is soft, caressed with the sweetness he’s been with me the last few months. My stomach drops at his words. I want to grab his face with my hands and beg him to admit that the small seed of attraction has grown over the years and we can’t dodge around it any longer. But, I stand there, with my hands to my sides, silently pinning for the day he acknowledges our desire.
“Then that’s a problem.” My heart thumps as I side step him and weave through the clumps of snow that have yet to melt from the harsh winter. I hate seeing his genuine smile falter with my words, but I can’t idly stand around while he messes with my head any longer.
“SHIT,” SLURS OUT OF MY mouth as my foot misses the top step. I slide down the litter-covered staircase. Roars of laughter and murmurs of my name fade into background noise when I lock eyes on an emerald hue. “Tan—”
Falling into Tanner’s waiting arms, he grips me tight, and my eyes close as I smell the musky scent of his cologne. I’d never admit how many times I’ve taken a sample of the exact brand from the department store just so I could relive the moments when we’ve been this close.
“Thanks,” I mumble into his damp charcoal T-shirt.
The sweat is proof he’s been here for a while, and I half-wonder if he searched for me. My silly schoolgirl crush surfaces, wishing he felt the same as me.
“I’ll always catch you.”
His promise brings a flutter to my stomach.
“I mean, your brother would kick my ass otherwise.”
Then, my heart shrivels from his admission of consistently being there for me only to please my brother. When my head drops as I begin to pull away, his hand cradles my cheek, and he gently lifts my face up.
“What’s wrong, Piper?”
His concerned eyes searches mine, and I question my thoughts from seconds ago that he doesn’t have an interest in me as more than a friend.
“Nothing.” I bite my lip, afraid I’ll crack from the way his green eyes cling to my brown. If I don’t tear them away soon, I’ll confess the lurking love I’ve hidden for years.
A small smirk cracks his lips, and he shakes his head. “Okay.” He lets the fact that I’m lying go. “Well, let’s have some fun tonight then.”
His hand leaves my cheek and travels down my arm until his long fingers link with mine. I hold back my squeal of excitement and follow his broad-shouldered frame between the throng of drunken college students.
Tanner stops in the middle of the dance floor. Since I’ve never heard a song I didn’t shake my ass to, when my blood is filled with liquid courage, my hips swing, and my arms flail to the newest and hottest hip-hop song. I circle around, joining the blur of other bodies around me. Strong hands grip my waist, and I step into a hard chest. Leaning back, I bring one arm up to his neckline and Tanner’s light-brown strands of hair, tickle my fingers. His face nuzzles in the crook of my shoulder, and shivers run up my spine when I hear his deep inhale of breath.
A small smile graces my lips as I realize the hands tightening around my curves belong to the unattainable guy I might never have long-term. I hope tonight will be different since we’ve both been drinking, and our desire for one another appears to be in line.
The question is, can I handle only having a one-nighter with Tanner? Granted, it would be fun-filled, but nonetheless, it’d be over at dawn.
I answer my question when he yanks me closer, bringing our bodies flush against one another, as he circles his hips behind me.
The alcohol helps me toss my worries to the side. I decide to live in the moment, and lose myself in the music. The more Tanner’s lips brush along my neck, the faster warmth radiates throughout my body. The people dancing around us fade away, and for a second, it’s only him and me. I’m immersed in the boy who turned into a man in the time I’ve known him. His smell of manly cologne mixed with sweat emanates in the air, bringing a sense of euphoria around me. His soothing hands hold me firm to his developed muscled chest I’ve admired since adolescence. I welcome the sensory overload of Tanner McCain even if it’s only temporary.
I swivel around, and our eyes connect. I wrap my arms around his neck, fiddling with the small waves along the back of his head. My heart skips a beat from the smoldering heat in his gaze tonight. Instead of his best friend’s twin sister that he grew up with, for once, I feel like a girl he wants to take home. A rush of heat pumps in my veins from the lust and desire pouring from his unwavering eyes. In all the years I’ve known him, he’s never looked at me like he wanted to whisk me to a bedroom and have his way with me.
In slow motion, our hands explore each other. His fingers inch under my shirt and rub along the bare skin of my back above the waistline of my jeans. From the shivers shooting up my spine, my back arches, and I push my breasts out as I lick my lips from his fingers touch.
A sheen of determination crosses his vision, and I’m absolutely certain he’s going to kiss me. I lean in, my imagination already ramped up with the dream of his lips on mine. This will be our first real kiss, not counting the one when we were fourteen. It was a peck, if anything, but now, on this dance floor, he’s going to fulfill my dream.
Tanner’s tongue snakes out of his mouth. He licks his lips, and I close my eyes, waiting for him to break the minute distance. The breeze of his breath chills the wetness on my lips, and my heart races. It’s coming . . . almost—
“Tanner!” Brad screams.
Screech to a damn halt.
“Crap,” Tanner mumbles.
His hands fly off my body as fast as a thief with a gun to their head. I slowly open my eyes, half-praying it wasn’t my brother’s voice booming through the crowd. My prayer goes unanswered when Tanner looks away, and his hand runs down his face. Guilt replaces his desire with the sound of Brad.
Brad slaps Tanner on the back, and Tanner’s focus snaps up to meet my brother’s.
“What’s up, man? Sorry I’m late. Taylor wanted—”
“Ahem.” I purposely clear my throat.
My brother notices me and then skeptically looks back to Tanner to assess the situation. Brad’s silent for a second, and my heart pounds until an easy smile breaks his lips.
“Shit. Sorry, Piper.” Brad walks over and wraps me in a bear hug, lifting my feet off the ground.
The worst part is, I can smell his new girlfriend, Taylor’s, perfume on him. I’m surprised he hasn’t kicked her to the curb yet. One girl is not Brad’s style.
Pushing him off me, I distance myself from the two men in my life. Thankfully, Brad doesn’t notice Tanner’s ping-pong eyes bouncing between us. He’s too self-absorbed while spouting off facts about Taylor in some nonchalant guy code. He acts like I couldn’t have a clue to what his innuendos mean. His sex life repulses me.
“Excuse me you two.” I slide between them, hoping for one last brush against Tanner.
What I don’t expect is for Tanner to sneak a hand out, grazing his finger along my lower back, as I pass by. Once I’m a safe distance from them, I can’t help but turn, and I notice Tanner’s classic smirk on his face while he admires me leaving. All of this is going on while my brother continues to ramble in his ear about how great Taylor is in bed.
When I reach the kitchen, I see a few girls lingering around a table full of guys playing beer pong. Diverting my steps to the open area by the sink, I grab another red Solo cup and make myself a concoction from all the hard liquor strewed around. Mindlessly pouring a little bit of each one and dribbling some Coke in the cup, I become ignorant to my surroundings.
“Hi, Piper. How are you?” I hear Taylor’s sweet Southern voice alongside me.
I roll my eyes. This is what I hate the most—the part when girls try to kiss my ass because I’m Brad’s sister. Brad doesn’t usually see a girl more than once, much to my dismay and shame for the female species. Taylor though has held Brad’s attention longer than most, and I wish I could figure out why. She’s attractive, yes. She’s nice . . . for the most part. She’s a little too clingy . . . definitely.
I can’t stand clingy girls, and from an early age, I swore I’d never be one. Being an outsider, watching girls lose their dignity by tossing their own interests and lives aside for Brad and Tanner, is to blame.
Leaning against the countertop, I cross my arm across my chest and bring the cup to my lips with my other hand. “Taylor,” I respond like the chill bitch most think I am.
“So, I heard you and Jake went out on a date.”
This is her way of making small talk? A lame rumor about Jake Lincoln practically molesting me at a party? Someone referring to it as a date shows that the person obviously didn’t see how he accosted me.
“You heard wrong.” I sip my drink, trying not to engage in more conversation. I’m not naive enough to think that she won’t switch the topic to Brad and ask me if he’s dating anyone else.
“Well—” she steps closer to me and lowers her voice a smidge. “I just saw Jake on the porch, and he was asking about you. I think he really likes you.”
“I think he likes my tits.”
A nervous giggle escapes her while my face remains straight.
“Oh, Piper.” She laughs.
I watch her manicured nail on her right hand swipe at my shoulder. Seriously, I need to get myself out of this predicament.
“Nice talking to you, Taylor, but I gotta find Beatrice and jet out of here.” I push off the counter and notice her fake smile turn down at the corners.
“Okay, Piper. Talk to you later,” she calls out to me after I’ve already escaped halfway across the kitchen.
I raise my hand and wave it in the air while sipping my drink. Not completely paying attention, I bump into a body. When I peer up to see who it belongs to, I regret not staying with Taylor.
“Piper,” Jake slurs, his hands reaching out for my hips.
I smack his hands away with my free one, and his eyebrows furrow. I try to stifle my laugh while remembering his bugged out eyes in disbelief when he thrust his tongue into my mouth last weekend, and I bit down hard with my teeth. He was shocked that I didn’t want Jake Lincoln’s hands and mouth on me. He’s another football egomaniac. Michigan is full of them.
I cross my arm around my chest, and his sight zeros in below my chin. When I glance down, I notice how I’m pushing my breasts up, giving him a clear shot of my cleavage.
Quickly unhooking my arms, I gulp another sip of my drink. “Jake.”
I attempt to pass him and his gang, but Jake sidesteps.
“Funny. Let me get through.” I try the easygoing approach.
I place my cutthroat façade in place, but the Neanderthals don’t care.
“Piper, I thought we kind of had something going.” His one finger twirls my strands of hair.
I smack his hand again, but this time, he doesn’t stop. Instead, he swaggers closer into my space, and I suffocate in the smell of pot embedded in his clothes.
“Wrong.”
“Wrong?” he questions.
Judging how sloped his eyelids are, I’m surprised he recalls my name.
“Yeah, fucking wrong,” the deep male voice of my savior rings out.
I suck my lips in to refrain a smile.
Jake twists around and releases a big, empty laugh. “Should have known Tanner McCain wouldn’t be too far away from Piper Ashby.”
He faces me, and I give a cocky shrug of my shoulders, secretly thankful that Tanner is here to rescue me.
Tanner squeezes between the two of us, swinging his arm around my shoulders. When he pulls me close to him, my heartbeat slows down from the safety he brings.
“You should know better than to mess with Piper. I thought we handled this already?”
I pull my head back and stare up at his chiseled jaw, but he never looks down.
“Well, I thought the agreement was off since I saw you lip-sucking with the redhead a minute ago.” Jake chuckles, thinking he got one up on Tanner.
Honestly, he did—if Tanner and I were a couple, but we’re not. Reflexively, I step to the side, away from Tanner’s nearness, but he tightens his hand on my shoulder and draws me closer.
“Jake, go find your dealer and smoke another bowl. Try not to forget what I told you before, and stay the fuck away.” Tanner releases me and steps up, chest-to-chest with Jake.
Tanner might have a height advantage on Jake, but Jake beats him in weight. Football versus swimming. Large and bulky compared to lean and toned.
“Let’s go, Jake.” Zeke, another player, pulls on his shoulders.
Jake shrugs it off at first, eyeing Tanner and then me, before ultimately taking a step back.
After Jake and his group disappear into the crowd, a breath releases from my mouth, and I lean against the wall. “Thanks,” I say to Tanner for the second time tonight. I don’t like this damsel-in-distress predicament I keep finding myself in with him. It exposes me to weakness because I enjoy when he saves me.
“Always.” He winks and smiles at me. “What are you drinking?” He swipes the cup out of my hand and swigs down a gulp. He swallows, and his face cringes. “Shit, Piper. This is crap.” He doesn’t hand it back to me, but he places it on the end table next to him. “Let me make you a drink.”
He links his fingers with mine and escorts me through the throng of people, heading back to the kitchen where—thank God—Taylor has disappeared from.
Tanner begins arranging the bottles of his choice across the countertop, and I wait for him to make me a drink he thinks is awesome. Tanner has always thought of himself as a mixologist. Unfortunately, I’ve given him false hope on the title many times, only to dump my drink in the nearest plant.
“Really, Tanner, I’ll just have a beer.”
He ignores me, perusing all the bottles.
“I should probably call it quits anyway.” This excuse earns me a glance, but still no response.
Inching closer, he pushes his body against mine, backing me up to the counter, and my lips part.
“You never let me do things for you. Why is that, Piper?”
He places his hands on my hips, and my breath catches in my throat. Gripping tightly, he hauls me up to sit on the counter. Then, his hands graze the inside of my thighs, and he pushes them apart to make space for himself.
“Tell me,” he urges on.
My voice gets lost somewhere in the midst of this affectionate maneuver. My mind can’t stop obsessing over his warm hands on me again. Things between Tanner and me have always been tense in certain situations, but we’ve never crossed the line. Maybe we’re too afraid that things might go south because it would ruin the dynamic. Maybe I fear that Tanner would use me for a night and toss me aside. Maybe, from a fear of rejection, I always keep my feet planted on the safe side of things. Tanner fetters on the edge of danger, and I can’t see him ever taking us seriously.
“Piper?”
I blink, and Tanner is an inch closer to me. My breath sinks deeper.
“You know I hate that whole white-knight-save-me crap,” I lie.
When it comes to Tanner, this foreign princess persona surfaces, fawning over the man who sweeps in and saves me from creeps like Jake.
Tanner’s eyebrows rise, and he studies my face for a second. “You should try it, and you might enjoy it.”
When he creeps closer, I will my legs not to disobey me and wrap around his waist.
“I’d make a pretty great prince.”
Then, he scoots back from me, and I suck in a huge breath when he circles around.
My face heats with a flush, my hands shake, and my thoughts fixate on having Tanner McCain in my bed tonight, regardless of the end result tomorrow morning. His head twists to my direction, and I bite the inside of my lip, my signal that I’m thinking hard about something.
He pours a zillion splashes of alcohol from every bottle.
I think to myself, My first drink was better.
He returns to me, occupying the space between my legs again, and holds the cup in front of me. I grab it with my hand, and he releases it.
“Try it.” He pushes the cup toward my mouth.
I clear my throat, and concentrate on the contents in the red Solo cup from how unnerved I’m becoming by being his sole focus.
The drink is surprisingly good, much better than my own. Tanner must notice my smile because he backs away from me with his own smile in place.
“Told you, I’m a mixologist.”
He swivels his hips with his hands in the air, and I giggle from his absurd ego.
“You made a good drink here.” I lift the cup in the air and then down another sip.
“Did I hear, a good drink?” A redhead with her gang of two copycat versions of herself walk in.
My infectious laugh dissipates, and I quietly begin drinking while watching the redhead cozy up to Tanner. I question everything he’s told me up to this point. Is this the girl Jake accused him of making out with? Tanner doesn’t skip a beat, walking over to me. “I made Piper a drink, and she loves it, which is a first in our book.” He’s still happy and giddy with excitement.
The redhead eyes me up and down, clearly comparing me to herself.
Bitch.
“Oh, will you make me one?” she asks, sauntering closer to us.
I so want to place my palm in the air and say, This isn’t a threesome, bitch. But I stop myself because Tanner isn’t mine.
He smirks over at me and then turns her way. “Sorry, it was a Piper Special. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m taking her to dance.”
He holds his hand out to me, and I jump off the counter.
“Hey, Jake,” Tanner calls out.
Jake shoots him a get-lost look.
“Why don’t you make this girl a drink?” Tanner points to the redhead.
Then, his hand lands on the small of my back, leading me to the makeshift dance floor in the living room. Unfortunately, we don’t make it because my wonderful brother, Brad, is too busy punching some guy in the face. Tanner’s hand grips my forearm, silently asking me to stay put, but he knows that’s a request I won’t fulfill. I rush after them to break it up when I find Taylor crying in the chair next to the brawl.
“What the hell happened?” I ask her, now witnessing Tanner and Brad in the throes of fists.
“That guy came up behind me, and I thought it was Brad.” She grabs my arm, yanking me down to her level.
I roll my eyes. This is the last thing I need tonight.
“I swear, Piper. I should have turned around,” she pleads with me. From the amount of tears she’s shedding, she’s telling the truth, or she’s a damn good liar.
I’m a fairly good judge of character, so I’m opting to believe my intuition. She kisses my ass way too much to not be into only Brad.
“It’s okay, Taylor. I believe you.” I pry my arm from her grip and weave my way through the witnesses to break up this nonsense. The only result will be the two of them being kicked off the swim team.
By the time I reach them, fists are flying, and blood is smeared across the wall. “Stop it, guys!” I scream.
But I receive no response from any of them. From the corner of my eye, I catch two other teammates, Greg and Drew, on their way to protect their swim brothers in the reckoning.
“Guys!” I yell at the top of my lungs, only earning an eye from Tanner, who then gets blindsided by a punch. “Shit.”
“Piper, get the hell out of here,” Tanner screams, taking his one arm and pushing me to the side.
“No!” In defiance, I slam a foot on the hardwood floor. “Do you guys want to not have a spot on the team? What do you think Coach will say about this?” I ramble out questions to get the drunken alpha males to stop and think. Wrong way. I do the next best thing.
Once Tanner’s opponent backs up and glances my way, I jump in between them and into Tanner’s arms. Straddling him, I clench my legs around his waist, and although I’ve thought about this scenario much differently in my head, it’s still a nice place to be—in the arms of the guy I desire.
“What the hell, Piper?” Brad calls over, knocking his guy in the gut.
“Stop fighting, or I’m going to kiss Tanner.”
Brad is the protective twin, and I’m positive this stunt of mine will end the stupid fight. He’s never refrained from vocalizing his objection to Tanner and me dating.
“Keep fighting, Brad,” Tanner jokes.
I twine Tanner’s curls at his neckline around my fingers. Peering over, I notice the opposing guy is just as confused as Brad about the distraction I’m causing.
“I’m going to use tongue.” I keep acting, until I catch Tanner staring at me . My shoulders fall when I notice Tanner’s engaging fix on mine.
“Punch him again, Brad.” Tanner doesn’t stop egging on Brad.
I’m not sure if Tanner wants me to kiss him or if he’s playing along. The hope that he secretly would like more surfaces, and I wish it would drive back down to where it belongs. If the mere blissful thought isn’t true, I’d be crushed.
“I’m inching closer.”
Tanner’s hands squeeze my ass, pulling me into him, and I lean in to his chest. Shit, I’m about to actually do it. My whole body tingles from his hands being on my body, and my blood pumps faster as I lean closer to him. I’m so consumed by Tanner that I lose track of what’s going on outside of our bubble. Brad could be right behind me, and I wouldn’t know it because Tanner has me all to himself right now.
“Give it up, you two.” Brad pushes the guy in front of him, knocking him into the wall. “Stay the fuck away from my girl from this point forward.” He points a finger at the guy.
Taylor runs over. “Your girl?” she questions, practically swooning over his declaration.
“Yeah,” Brad admits with a crooked smile.
Taylor throws herself into his arms.
When he looks our way, he cringes. Then, as though remembering how I manipulated him to stop fighting, he pushes Taylor off of him and stalks over to us. “Put her down, Tanner.”
“What if I don’t want to? Maybe I want a kiss.” Tanner winks at me.
“She’s my sister, Tanner. You guys barely get along. Just put.her.down,” Brad demands again.
Tanner cocks an eyebrow at me. “Nah.”
Brad inhales a deep breath and slowly releases it. “Tan, I really don’t want to fight you.”
“You’d fight me over kissing your sister? Because I hate to tell you this, but I’ve kissed her before.”
I try to wiggle free of his hold because my plan is about to end horribly. Tanner winks at me, and I melt into his hands again.
“What? Piper?”
My head rotates his way, and Brad stares in disbelief at me. I’m not quite sure what Tanner is trying to pull here. Divulging our secret kiss when we were fourteen will only infuriate my brother. But my stomach flips with the fact Tanner remembers those two seconds of bliss that cross my mind all too often.
“Long time ago,” I counter. I wish I could shut my mouth. I’m divulging way too much truth.
“Not that long ago.” Tanner continues to fuel the fire.
I swat his shoulder, squirming to get out of his grip. If only I truly wanted him to release his hold, then maybe my body would fight harder.
“High school, Brad,” I admit.
Tanner shakes his head. I’m sorry to disappoint Tanner with my revelation, but he was the one who didn’t talk about our secret kiss the next day.
“Really, it was last week, Brad.” Tanner chuckles.
Brad’s nostrils flare, his face turning redder by the second.
“He’s joking. Don’t listen to him.” I smack Tanner’s shoulder.
He drops me to the ground. “Or am I?” He shrugs his shoulders to my brother.
Brad tosses a hand in the air between them. “I’m not worried. I know you’d never betray me.” He is confident that Tanner would abide by his wishes.
At his declaration, my stomach plummets with the thought that Brad won’t accept a relationship between Tanner and me. Brad likes the two to remain separate, and I’m not sure I blame him. If it didn’t work out, I could never be around Tanner again.
Tanner turns to me, swinging his arm around my shoulders. “Just take Taylor home. I’ll get Piper home.” He doesn’t mention anything else about our relationship, and he doesn’t toss Brad a false pretense about ever dating me in the future.
“I can trust you?” Brad steps closer.
Although Tanner doesn’t answer, they give each other a one-armed hug.
“You okay, Piper?” Brad asks me.
I nod. “Yeah. I have to find Bea, and then we’ll be right behind you.” I search to find my best friend, who is more than likely in a bedroom right about now.
“Okay, let’s after-party at our place.” Brad hugs Taylor to him.
Tanner and I grin.
“But, Brad,” Taylor whines. Then, she whispers something in Brad’s ear, making his face light up in mischief.
“All right, babe.” He pats her arm, which seems to appease her.
“By that little exchange, I’m thinking that I’m spending the night at Piper’s.” Tanner’s finger motions between the two of them.
Taylor giggles. “Maybe you should.” Her lips pull into a secret smile.
I scrunch my eyebrows to dissipate any beliefs. “You could spend the night. Wendi went back home for the weekend,” I add.
Tanner licks his lips, making a flutter take flight in my stomach. Are we silently agreeing to something here?
“Sounds like a plan.” Tanner’s eyes dive into mine and don’t let up.
“Awesome. Let’s go, baby.” Ignorant Brad leaves with Taylor.
Neither Tanner or I glance over to them.
“Let’s find Bea, get her home, and go to your place.” Tanner smiles.
I can’t help but allow my own happiness to shine as well. I nibble on the inside of my cheek and take a deep breath.
Tanner closes the distance for the umpteenth time tonight, making my heart skip. “Don’t overthink this,” he softly says, his hand gingerly grazing down my arm until my hand is tucked away in his grip.
As he leads me through the crowd in search of Bea, I can’t help but overthink his meaning of what’s about to happen. Does he mean it’s only for one night and I should enjoy it? Or is he telling me my heart is safe within his hands? Regardless, I’m following because I’ve waited too long for him to toe the line my brother has drawn between us.
