Page 77 of Out of Bounds
Me
Is it true that you’ve asked for a trade to the Bears?
He doesn’t miss a beat as he replies simply:
Auston
Yes.
One word that literally winds me.
Me
Why?
I wait for a reply that doesn’t come. Then Tanner is next to me and putting both our bags into the trunk of his car.
“Ready?” he asks.
Jumpily, I shove my phone into my purse. The cycle begins again. Hiding Auston from my family and friends.
But new today is that I am unexpectedly hiding Tanner from my family and friends, too. Another football star. Another guy I shouldn’t want. The same old secrets and deceit.
The ride home is excruciatingly awkward. I spend part of the time replaying the connection between Tanner and me last night, heat I felt, orthoughtI felt. I spend a lot of the time missing Nelson and wondering if I should have come on this trip at all, even if I was having the best time until right after I orgasmed last night. Much of the time wondering what Auston is playing at with this trade business. And too much time actively avoiding looking at or speaking to Tanner, which is the worst part, because the easy way that’s always been between us isn’t easy at all today. It’s silently fraught.
“Tanner, I’m going to stay at the ranch tonight.”
He keeps his focus on the road ahead but the muscles in his jaw flex beneath his beard. “Why?”
“We could both use some space.”
“I don’t need space from you, Annie.”
“Okay, well, honestly, I need to just sit with everything for a night. Plus, I want to see Nelson and?—”
“Nelson would come back to the city with us.”
“Tanner…” I sigh. “I don’t know what I’m doing or what to do for the best but I think I’ve got to figure it out on my own. Can you understand that?”
Finally, he looks my way. “Yeah, I can.” Then he smiles gently. “Miss Independent. So I’ll see you tomorrow? Tuesday? Wednesday, at the training ground?”
That’s right. On Wednesday I’m supposed to be interviewing some of the guys on the Bears’ roster. Tanner arranged it for me, had to strong arm Coach Roy, apparently. I haven’t forgotten – it’s a huge deal for my project. I’ve done the preliminary work but with everything else going on, it slipped my mind.
I nod. “Wednesday. Betty or Colton can bring me.”
We pull up at the ranch and I get out of the car before the engine has even stopped. I start taking my own bag from the trunk but Tanner appears, lifting it for me and handing it over.
My hand grazes his as I take hold of the luggage and the most ridiculous wave of emotion comes over me. Biting my gums, I crush it down.
“Annie, you don’t have to do this. What happened between us last night and whatever’s going on with Auston doesn’t have to change our living arrangements.”
I look up to his pleading eyes but they only add to my feeling of being lost at sea. “Doesn’t it?”
I know I’m taking my confusion out on him and it isn’t fair. He deserves much better than to be my punching bag, especially since it was me who came onto him last night. But… “I need a couple days to get my head straight.”
I reach up to my tiptoes, take hold of his face and press my lips to his cheek, lingering for a second to indulge in his scent, in his touch, the firmness of his hands on my waist.
“Thank you for this weekend.” I feel my skin flush. “All of it.”
