“I — uh, here.” Dad passes me the phone. “I guess there is never going to be a right time to do this.” Glancing between Tanner and myself, he pauses before continuing, “He made me promise to get this to you if he didn’t — you know … He said something about a video.”

Tanner mumbles something under his breath and walks off out of the room. Tightening my grip on the phone I hold it to my chest. “Thank you.”

Placing the phone on the charger, I pop on a playlist for some background noise and pour myself a drink, a little heavy handed on the gin but surely it’s after twelve o’clock by now.

Two thick, tanned arms lock me against the kitchen island and I spin in a tight circle meeting the wall of muscle that is Tanner’s chest. “How are you even comfortable to sleep on at night?” I think out loud, which earns me a chuckle.

“We need to talk.” He cocks his head to the side, waiting on an answer to a question he didn’t ask.

“Sure.” I nod. “Let’s sit.” He leads us over to the couch and I place my drink down on the coffee table. Lifting my gaze, I slowly roam his features. Dark circles sit below his eyes; heavy and lost. His shoulders fall forward, unlike his usual stance; radiating confidence, so tall and broad. I don’t think I have really stopped to think how this would be affecting him.

“I’m sorry,” I begin to say, but he cuts me off.

“Kins, stop, you do not need to apologise. I just need to get this off my chest, I need you to hear me. Walking away from you was the hardest thing I have ever had to fucking do. Jesse was the only reason I didn’t refuse to leave; I knew he would do anything to protect you. He was the next best thing other than being here myself. But with Jesse gone, his protection isn’t an option anymore. I need you to promise me that you’ll never ask me to do that again — I won’t do it. I’ll never leave you.” He rubs the back of his head in contemplation. “I’d rather keep you locked up against your will, than let you push me away again.” I lift a brow, challenging him. The way his eyes are locked on mine should be intimidating; the serious tone in his voice hasn’t faltered and there isn’t even a hint of a smirk on his face — he’s serious. “I was always content with being the villain in your story, Pip.”