“Sydney?” She glances around as if she might be at the wrong house. “Is Tanner here?”

“Yeah, of course, come in.” I manage to be polite despite my shock.

Amelia gives a small, awkward wave when she sees Tara and Corinne. “Hey.”

“Oh my gosh, you came!” Tara comes forward and hugs her like they’re long lost best friends.

My eyes prick with tears. “I’ll get Tanner for you.”

I keep my head down as I walk through the living room and toward the bedroom. Tanner’s pulling his T-shirt over his head and starts to smile, but then pauses.

“What’s wrong?”

“Amelia is here.” My voice sounds weak even to my own ears.

“Amelia?” he asks as he goes to the door and looks out. His brows pull together. “Be right back.”

Sitting on the bed, I let out a shaky breath. I can’t make out exactly what they say, but I can tell from their tone and exchange that Tanner’s as surprised that she’s here as I am. I have a choice. I can sit in here and hide until she’s gone, or I can go out there and sit beside my man.

As I step out, Tanner is pulling back from an awkward hug. “What are you doing here?”

Amelia glances over to where Tara stands nearby in her apron. “Tara invited me, but I was hoping we could talk?”

Tanner’s jaw flexes as he looks to his sister. “Of course, come on. Let’s go outside it looks like the rain’s let up.”

I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until the sliding door shuts Tanner and Amelia on the other side. White hot anger and frustration bubbles to the surface.

“You invited Amelia?” Crossing my arms, I face off with Tara.

“I called to tell her that I thought she and Tanner should sit down and really talk about their breakup. It isn’t what either of them really wanted, but they were both being stubborn.” She goes back to the kitchen. “She was supposed to come down this week anyway.”

“That was before they broke up.”

She shrugs as if it’s no big deal.

“Do you really not see how fucked-up this is?”

“If it’s really over between them than what does it matter? She’ll get closure and Tanner will come crawling back to you like he always does.”

“That is not… he doesn’t…” I stop. “I don’t owe you any explanation.” I turn on my heel to go wait for Tanner in the bedroom before I say something I regret.

“If you care about him, like you claim to, then you’ll give him a chance to be happy,” Tara says to my back.