Текст книги "Love Surfaced"

Автор книги: Michelle Lynn

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Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

twenty-one

THE ORANGE HUES GLOW, SIGNALING the sun is rising. Tanner and I went for a swim and then talked until we both fell asleep from exhaustion on the lounge chair. His body sheltering me under the towels was better than my plush mattress by myself that I’ve become used to.

“Hmm . . . I’ll never grow tired of waking up with you.” I tilt my head to rest along Tanner’s cheek as he casts kisses on my shoulder.

“You never have to,” he whispers. His arm travels across my bare stomach as he slides closer to me.

“I will in two days.” My lungs constrict as I think about him getting on a plane for Colorado.

“Hey.” He kisses my shoulder, manipulating my body to face him. His thumb brushes along my cheek. “Come with me.”

My heart warms as I look into his honest eyes. “I just got my job.” As fast as my heart leaped, it sinks faster. There’s no possibility of us being together physically right now.

“Then, I’ll train here.” He tightens his arms around me.

The sun peeks over the trees, and I’m unconsciously counting the limited minutes we can steal before my mom wakes up.

I shake my head with a small smile. “No, you won’t.” He won’t sacrifice his dreams just for us to be near one another.

His lips turn down.

“We’ll just do long-distance for a while,” I bravely answer our dilemma, with the solution we’d rather not use.

Torture packs in his eyes, . “No, we won’t. I can find somewhere here to train. Sure, I’ll have to go back occasionally, but you can come with me.” He gathers me in for a hug and kisses my cheek. “I can’t go another night away from you, especially not in two days.”

His arms snug around me like my own human security blanket. I never thought I’d be a girl who needed a guy, but I need Tanner. These past two years were torment for me, not seeing him or hearing his voice. I desperately craved his sweet kisses, gentle touches and contagious laughter. Only knowing what he’s been up to from Google and off comments from Brad was gut-wrenching, to say the least. How many nights did I lie awake in my bed at night, recalling our short month affair and how loved I felt in his arms? Now, I’m expected to have him for twelve hours, and then ship him on a plane. It tears me up. I may have turned into the clingy girl I hated back in college, but I won’t allow him to put his dream in jeopardy. I’m a big girl and I can handle a little separation until the time is right.

“Tanner, I won’t allow it. You need to be in Colorado if you’re going to make the team.” I pull back from his embrace, placing my hands on his face, the stubble pricking my palm. “We’ll figure it out.” My confidence even surprises myself, but it feels nice being the decisive one.

He maneuvers on top of me, kissing my shoulder. Resting on his elbows, his eyes study me for a moment. “When do classes start?” he asks.

My breath hitches and I rock into his hardness. “September. After Labor Day.” My arms wrap around his waist, grazing up and down his bare back with my fingertips.

“Then, come back with me for one month.” He bends down, his lips scatter moist soft kisses along my collarbone.

“Okay,” I agree.

His head bolts up. “Really?” he questions, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Yeah.” I giggle because he resembles a kid at a candy store.

“Then, we’ll figure the rest out after. Once I’m on the team, we can come up with something permanent.”

“Okay.” I continue to appease him, only pulling a wider smile across his mouth.

He slams his lips on mine, muting my laughter at his overzealousness. Breaking apart, he pins me with his eyes again. “Don’t worry. I’ll make the time for you. You won’t be sitting next to the pool all day, watching me swim back and forth.” His determination and promise that he can carve time out for me, warms me further if even possible.

I smile. “That doesn’t sound so horrible,” I joke.

He kisses me again, making the pit of my stomach whirl with arousal.

“Hey, I like hearing you say that.”

He tilts his head. “What?”

“Once you’re on the team. I like the confidence because you’ve been tossing comments about you being a shoo-in off your shoulder all week.”

He face goes somber. “I hate to get my hopes too high, you know? I did that once, two years ago, and then my whole life crumbled in my hands.”

His body slumps, and I slide my hands up until I’m holding his head to mine.

“All is forgotten now.”

He leans down, our foreheads resting on each other’s once again. “I love you, Piper Ashby, and I promise never to ruin us again.”

“Me, too.”

His fingers dig into my hair, tilting my head back. His tongue licks up my neck until it reaches my earlobe. “I can’t wait to have your clothes in my closet, your toothbrush next to mine, and your body in my bed,” he whispers.

My body melts into the cushion. “Kiss me,” I demand softly.

His lips linger over mine, claiming them.

“Shit! Seriously?” Brad’s booming voice rings in my ears.

Tanner pulls the towel tighter around our bodies as he laughs.

“Sorry.” I cringe.

Tanner continues chuckling while shielding me.

I glance at Brad, who has his hands over his eyes.

“Is this what I’m going to have to deal with?” he asks, his phone in his hands. “I’m guessing neither of you have your phones?”

Tanner looks down at me, and I shake my head.

“Nope,” he answers for both of us.

“Didn’t think so. Get dressed, and come into the house. News isn’t good.” He spins around and disappears.

I hear the door shut behind him.

“What do you think is up?” Tanner asks.

I shrug.

“You don’t think . . .” Maybe there’s a chance Brad came to his senses and called off the wedding.

Tanner shakes his head. “I know the boy is confused, but that’s not exactly something Brad would do. He’s not one to admit his bad decisions.”

I nod, agreeing.

Climbing off of me, Tanner picks up my clothes and places them on the chair. Then, he grabs his trunks, sliding them up his legs. He eyes me as I shimmy my shorts up my body, and I play seductive kitty by biting my lip, and dropping my chin to my chest, as I push my ass out a little more. .

He laughs. “Keep going, even if those are moving the opposite way I prefer them to go.”

I toss the towel at him, and he swiftly catches it. As I slide my shirt over my head, his hands flow up my stomach before the fabric falls.

“Can you spend the day with me today?”

The feeling that he wants so much of my time and body is indescribable. I’m on cloud nine, and I don’t want to come down anytime soon.

“Yes,” I answer.

He beams. “Let’s go up to the university.”

“Okay.” I don’t care where he takes me as long as his hand is in mine.

“I guess we have to get whatever Brad’s doing out of the way. Don’t want him to think I ditched him for his sister.” He laughs.

I nuzzle into his strong arms one last time. He kisses the top of my head, and I push back from his warmth, turning around and walking into the house.

I open the door to my parents’ house, ready for the barrage of questions sure to be thrown our way. My mom isn’t one to miss her daughter in clothes she wore last night. Plus, Tanner is in his swim trunks. Not to hard for them to put two and two together.

Tanner smacks my ass, and I glance back at him, the permanent smile he entices splashed across my face.

When I step in, the smile fades for the first time since last night. Sitting at the table are Tanner’s parents, Dylan, my dad, and Brad. The television is on in each room, and my mom is pouring coffee for everyone. They all silence when Tanner and I walk in, and my mom shoots me a sympathetic look.

“Good morning,” Tanner greets everyone. .

No one says anything. They just stare at us.

I back into his chest, and his hands find mine at my sides. Squeezing tight, we prepare ourselves for whatever has everyone so depressed. Lana stands up to help my mom with cutting the coffee cake.

“What are we missing?” I ask before swallowing deep.

Brad grabs the remote and turns up the volume on the television. My eyes flicker to the screen as I listen to the anchor say Tanner’s name. Barely able to comprehend everything, all I hear are the words angry, fists flying, knock out, damages, lawsuit. Tanner’s hands tighten further in mine, hearing the same thing. Then, she says one sentence, and my eyes close, willing the tears to stay back. I need to be the strong one now.

“Tanner McCain admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs two years ago, his senior year at Michigan University.”

Unable to breathe, my body slumps into his strong arms.

“Shit,” he mumbles. His breathing labored, his hands fall out of mine.

Swiveling around, I hold his face in my hands. “It’s okay,” I reassure him.

He inhales a huge breath and his face reddens with every second.

“Damn it.” He doesn’t move, frozen in place. Then, his eyes pierce Brad across the room. Stepping back from me, the anger pours off his every muscle as they tense. “You fucking ruined it.” His voice is so calm, so even, that I’d never guess the words he spoke.

Brad stands up, his vision pinning Tanner. “I’m sorry, man.” He shakes his head.

We all see the devastation on Brad’s face, but sorry doesn’t seem like enough right now.

“What’s going on?” Lana looks between the two of them.

My mom mimics Lana and peers over to me. Her eyes are sad because she knows exactly what’s about to happen. I’m going to either lose the man I love or my brother. There’s no way she can miss the rage creeping out of Tanner toward Brad.

“Fuck!” Tanner steps forward.

I instinctively place my hand on his chest, stopping him.

“Everything I’ve worked for is gone.” He pushes my hand off of him, never looking my way, storming for Brad.

“Tanner, you need to tell us what’s going on,” Lana tries to intervene.

Tanner shoots a look to his dad, and then he bumps Brad with his shoulder but walks past him without saying a word.

“Tanner!” I scream, running after him.

I catch him in the foyer, and his hand is on the doorknob with his back to me.

“Talk to me,” I plead.

His hand grips the knob in his hand. “I just need space,” he mumbles, facing the door.

“Look at me,” I beg further.

Minutes go by and it’s as though it takes every ounce of strength for him to turn around, but he does.

“Tan,” I sigh.

“Don’t, Piper.” He shakes his head. “It’s my doing. I did this to myself.” His head falls, and his body limps in front of me.

It kills me to witness him so defeated.

“I’m sorry,” I say. If it weren’t for Curtis, Tanner would still have his dream.

He breaks the distance, cupping my cheeks. “Don’t ever be sorry. Even if my shot at the Olympics are gone, you are what I can’t live without. You understand, right?”

He fixates on me, and I swallow, nodding. I wish he could have both, and I pray he still can.

“But I need to be alone right now before I beat the shit out of Brad.” His grip tightens a little. “Remember, I love you, okay?”

I nod, my vision becoming blurry from the wetness of my tears.

His hands fall from my face, and I stand alone in the foyer, watching his back as he walks out the front door.

How did my cloud dissipate so fast? I just crashed straight back down to reality.

When I walk back into the kitchen, Brad stops me, but I shake my head. Lana’s head is in her hands with Patrick’s arm around her.

“Why did he do this?” she yells. “Never would I have thought Tanner could do this.”

My mom rushes over to console her, but she stands up, making my mom’s arm fly off her shoulder.

“My son’s dream is gone.” She rushes out the back door.

I watch her keep going past the kitchen window, most likely to her own house. As I watch her, I notice Tanner’s car missing from their driveway, and I assume he went on a drive. It’s what he does when he’s upset, and I hope he doesn’t hurt himself or someone else.

Wanting to be alone, I walk into the family room, I turn up the television, focusing on how this all came out. Now, it’s another person from the show discussing the story. A clip of the fight last night plays on the television. Tanner is on top of Curtis, slamming his fist into Curtis’s face.

The caption reads, Olympic prospect, Tanner McCain, beats man.

What? I think to myself.

The man continues with his one-sided story, “Tanner McCain has been the main prospect in regard to the Olympics next year. He’s appeared in Swimming magazine and been acclaimed in numerous interviews. He is known for his speed and agility in the pool. Now, a video uploaded by a bystander last night has gone viral, and people are finding out there’s a very different side of Tanner—a violent side.”

Then, they show the clip again, stopping when I positioned myself between Tanner and Curtis.

The side-kick asks, “Who’s the girl you ask? Piper Ashby, Tanner’s college girlfriend. Who’s Tanner beating up? Curtis Zeker, son of Hugh Zeker of Zeker and Sons, who happens to be Piper’s boyfriend—well, until last night.”

I gasp when a clip of me saying I picked Tanner plays.

“She picks Tanner. Well, great, Piper Ashby, but America might not now.”

My insides shatter, and my head dips in my hands.

“Wait we have more to this story than just a guy fighting for the girl he loves. Stay tuned.”

The television flashes to a detergent commercial.

My breathing hitches, and I feel my throat constrict from the tears I want to shed.

I smell her flowery perfume before the couch dips, and her arms wrap around me.

“I’m sorry, baby.” Mom kisses my temple.

I lay my head on her shoulder. “I knew,” I tell her.

Her hand tightens on my shoulder. “I figured,” she admits.

I wrap my arms around her waist as she leans us back on the couch.

“His career is ruined. What do they know about—”

The side kick of the guy talks now, interrupting my question, and I bolt up to focus on him.

“After the video, we tried to contact both parties involved. Although we got no response from Tanner McCain—no surprise there since he has an image to protect—we did get a phone call from Curtis Zeker.”

Curtis’s fraternity picture appears on the television. He’s all smiles and innocence.

What a crock of shit.

“He came after me, unprovoked,” Curtis says.

“Are you going to press charges?” the lead guy asks.

I bite my lip, waiting for the answer.

“No. Tanner has a lot more problems than giving me a bloody nose.”

“What do you mean?” the anchor asks, his eyebrows rising as though he’ll be just as surprised as his audience as to what Curtis is about to say.

“I thought you guys were good at digging up information?” Curtis jokes.

“What do you know that you aren’t telling us, Mr. Zeker?” the anchor asks, taking a sip of his drink.

“Two years ago, Tanner McCain admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while attending Michigan University.”

My hands tremble with his divulgence, and my lungs stop working. “What?” I murmur. “How did he know?”

As if hearing my thoughts, the anchor says, “Believe me when I say, numerous news anchors have tried to dig up some dirt on the golden boy, Tanner McCain. How on earth did you find this out? The girl?”

“You don’t expect me to give away my secrets, do you, Greg?”

Curtis’s sarcastic, witty personality has my hand itching to throw the vase at the television.

“How did he find out?” I ask silently to myself.

My mom answers, “Honey, his dad’s a lawyer. It’s what they do best.”

I look over, and she gives me a frown because she’s right. We pissed Curtis off, and I’m guessing he’s retained this information in his back pocket for some time.

“Do you think he knew the whole time?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter now. It’s out. We all have to deal with it.” Her eyes veer to Brad in the kitchen.

His phone rings, and he walks into the foyer.

“Why is Tanner mad at Brad?”

Her question should be simple, but it’s not. Here I am, going to deceive her again because it’s not my news to reveal.

“I don’t know,” I lie.

Her eyebrows arch. She clearly doesn’t believe me.

The television grabs my attention again.

The anchor closes his segment, “That’s it, folks. Tanner McCain has been fooling everyone until now. He’s an angry and violent drug addict, who isn’t as speedy as we thought. I’m sure more will transpire in regard to this, and we’re your number one news source, so stay tuned.”

Then, the screen goes black, and I look to my left, seeing the remote in my dad’s hand.

“Enough. We know the real Tanner.” He throws the remote on the table.

My mom and I jump.

“What’s he going to do, Mom? What if he loses it all?” I bury my head in her chest.

Her arms wrap around, holding me to her. “Don’t worry, honey. Tanner will come through this. We’ll find good people to help him.”

She tries to soothe me, but fear lingers that our second chance just vanished with the click of an Upload button.

“I can’t lose him, Mom. I just got him back.” I shudder.

She pulls me closer. “You won’t. That boy loves you.”

I wet her shirt with my tears, praying this will all disappear.

“Bayli!” Brad screams. “There are more important things than your damn wedding.”

I perk up, and my mom looks down at me, taking in a long deep breath.

“Our wedding. Yeah.”

We stand, and everyone in the kitchen glances his way.

“I can’t deal with this right now.” He ends the call and jogs up the stairs. The door slams, and a second later, his fist crashes into the wall.

“Another damn hole I’ll have to fix,” my dad says.

My mom shoots him a look, silently saying, Not now.

“What? Just because everything is going to pot doesn’t mean my house has to, too.” He retreats away from the kitchen table before descending the basement stairs.

I take a seat at the table. “So, what’s up, Dylan?” I sarcastically ask.

He shakes his head. “I told him not to do it. But you know how they’ve been their whole lives.”

He takes my hand in his, and I mindlessly stare at his intricate black tattoo covering his arm.

“This will pass, Piper. There’s no way your ex has enough on Tanner. Not to mention, he never actually failed a drug test.”

Then, it dawns on me. Dylan’s right. Unless they have the actual confession, which only really came from Tanner’s mouth verbally to Coach, there’s no proof anywhere. The only proof is Brad’s positive drug test. Excitement churns inside of me and I think I’ll save the day.

“You’re right. But then what does Curtis have on him? I doubt he’d say something he couldn’t back up.”

I bite my lip and eye my mom in the kitchen, fussing over the dishwasher.

“Should I call Curtis and sweet talk him?” I ask.

Dylan shakes his head. “Negative. Plus, he’ll see right through you. It was clear last night, Piper. You love Tanner.”

My shoulders slump. Tanner has been there for me so many times. I want to solve this for him.

“That’s it. I’m talking to the only one besides Tanner who knows exactly what happened that day.” I stand up and march over to the stairs. I run up them before knocking on the door.

“Go away.”

I hear a thud against the door, assuming a pillow was thrown.

“Open the damn door, Brad.” Dylan’s fist slams on the wood above my head.

I peer back.

“He’s my brother. I can’t be known as the cheater’s brother.” He laughs.

How he finds humor at a time like this tells me that he’s perfect for Bea.

Dylan’s hand searches on top of the bathroom door, and he hands me the key. “Here.”

“Thank you.” I insert the key into the lock.

We open the door, and Brad’s staring up at the ceiling, tossing a football up in the air.

“Why are you here?” he asks.

The two of us file in.

“Because we aren’t going to just sit down there and wait for the shit to pile up higher, After ESPN reported it, all the other news shows are chiming in,” I say, taking a seat on the edge of his bed.

“If you morons had come to us when it first happened, we wouldn’t be here,” Dylan mentions.

Brad throws the football at him. Dylan swiftly catches it before placing it on the dresser.

“You need to tell us, Brad, what happened when Tanner confessed. What did Coach do?” I ask.

Brad looks over at me, and I pin him with a glare, raising my eyebrows.

“He said that he’d bury it. He was pissed as hell at us, but he covered Tanner to make sure it protected him.”

“Did Tanner sign anything?” I ask.

He sits up straighter. “He didn’t have to. The test was positive.” He tucks one leg under the other one and grabs a baseball to toss.

He’s never been able to stop moving.

“What do you mean? I thought he just took the blame for your positive test?” I ask, cocking my head to the side. I’m frustrated at the fact that I’ve been lied to once again.

“Coach made Tanner take the test to make sure the story was true.”

Brad’s nonchalant behavior is pissing me off more.

“If Tanner wasn’t using, how did he test positive?” Dylan is intrigued by this newfound information.

“He used mine.” Brad shrugs.

I grab the baseball midair and throw it across the room.

“You are both idiots!” Dylan yells. “What the hell is wrong with you? You both were Olympic-bound at the time. How did you think this wouldn’t come back?” He runs his hands through his hair, pacing the floor.

“How was Tanner able to go to Colorado with a positive test?” I ask Brad.

“Because Coach got rid of the test. It was a school-initiated test, so Colorado never got the records. Plus, Tanner tested for them when he arrived and passed.”

I stand up, unable to sit any longer. Joining Dylan in pacing back and forth, I nibble at my fingernails. “We’re screwed. Just screwed. A positive drug test is going to shatter his dreams.” I shake my head, shocked that it all came out.

“No, it’s not.” Tanner’s voice comes from the doorway.

My feet stop moving, and I look up at his determined eyes. “Tan.”

I inch toward him, and he opens his arms for me.

“I’m going to confess,” he says to everyone, “and ask for forgiveness. My representation assures me that my two years of negative tests afterward is enough proof that I don’t use. Testing positive in college has no bearing on my Olympic standing.”

I peek up at him. “Your representation?” I ask.

“We’re good. Your ex-boyfriend is going to have to try a lot harder to break me.”

With his words, my heart stings because I caused the drama. “I’m sorry,” I mumble.

“Stop being sorry.” He inches down until his lips are only millimeters from mine. “He’d only hurt me if he took you away from me. I told you, you’re all I need to breathe. Everything else is a bonus in my mind.”

Resting his lips to mine, I melt into his embrace.