He sounds defeated; tightness radiates through my chest at the thought of him holding onto this, fighting this alone. My eyes flick to Tanner, but unlike Jesse, he looks angry and protective, the blues of his eyes are almost black and his fists are clenched. He sits with his elbows on his knees, and when he notices me looking at him, he lowers his head.

“It’s okay Jess, it’s okay.” All these secrets are threatening to tear apart the life I’ve built for myself over the past year. I won’t allow it. “I’m going to put you on loud speaker, okay? Tanner’s here.”

My phone sits on the coffee table next to the photos and I let Tanner pull me onto his lap. He holds onto me as if someone is trying to pry me out of his arms, as he speaks to Jesse.

“Whoever has been following Kinsley has been taking photos and has now left said photos in her house for her to find.”

“The cameras — Tanner, check them. Who was it?”

I shift uncomfortably with the news that Tanner has access to my security cameras, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth to keep myself from biting their heads off again. They’re trying to protect you, Kinsley, breathe girlfriend.

“Got it, I’ll trim the footage and email it to you. I can’t get a good look on my phone. Send it to Stanley, too.”

My head snaps around so fast I swear I give myself whiplash, how does Tanner know that Jesse and I are working with Stanley? How much does he know? Tanner senses my anxiety creeping up on me, but before my palms start to sweat, before my heart begins to race, he presses a kiss to the top of my head. Strangely, it helps.

“Kinsley will come back and stay with me tonight, I’m not comfortable with her here alone,” Tanner states, matter of factly.

Kinsley is right here. She has a voice and is more than capable of speaking for herself. A chuckle bubbles out of my chest and I slap my hand over my mouth. Tone down the third person crazy, Kins.

“No, I have work tonight and I think you and Emma need time together. I’m not intruding on that,” I say sternly, weirdly neither of them comment on my moment of hysteria.

Jesse comes to my rescue. “That’s sorted then, I’ll be there to pick you up from work tonight and you’ll stay at my place.”

Ding — Ding — Ding, in the background of Jesse’s line, the school bell rings. “That’s my cue to go, there are about to be twenty-four pre-teen kids running into this classroom.” With that, Jesse ends the call.

Tanner’s voice is so low it almost comes out with a growl, “I still think you should come and stay with me.”