Tanner. I hate keeping this from him, but it’s for the best. If he gets involved, I risk losing him too and that is not a risk I am willing to take.

“Coming,” I call out, making my way towards the front of the apartment. I feel like I need to shake all the information I’m still trying to process out of my brain and pick it all back up later. I exhale a long deep breath and slide on a mask I’ve learnt to wear so well.

“Hey, you.” He kisses me briefly before bundling me up in his arms. “I was thinking we could see if Jesse and Soph wanted to do pizza and a movie tonight?”

“Sounds good. I tried to call Jesse earlier but his phone went straight to voicemail.” Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I bring up the group chat the four of us have and send off a text. Tanner’s phone buzzes in time from his pocket as the message is sent.

Me - Pizza & Movie tonight at Tanner’s?

Sophie - YES!

Sophie - Just let me know the time and I’ll be there!

“Looks like we have the rest of the afternoon to ourselves then.” He sits down on the couch, spreading his arms across the back. “What shall we do?”

Raising my brow in challenge, he laughs at me. The side of his lips turning up into a smirk as he speaks, “Is there anything wrong with me wanting to spend time with you?”

“I guess not,” I say walking over to where he made himself comfortable on the couch. “But, I am curious as to why you are extra cheery today.”

Reaching out he grabs my waist, pulling me down so that I’m straddling him on the couch. I take in his addictive scent, pressing a soft kiss just below his ear on his neck. The moment I first heard him order a chai latte, I was finally able to place the ‘something else’ I could never pinpoint. Leather, coffee and spice.

“I know what we could do.” I kiss him again, closer to his collarbone this time and he hums in question. “Let’s go for a ride. Jesse won’t answer his phone, so we can go out for lunch and then head over there and check on him.”

Tanner rolls his eyes, disappointment lacing his tone. “He’s a grown ass man, Pip. We don’t need to … check on him.”

“Don’t be like that.” I scowl, pressing a finger to his chest. “You promised to play nice.”

Tanner flips me onto the couch, pinning me down underneath him. “Did I hear you say that you wanted to play?” A devilish grin creeps across his face.