Page 71 of Make It Last

Now my cheeks were burning up. “I might have kissed him.”

“Oh. Well, okay.” She waggled her brows. “I think a vacation fling is in order. Especially after a divorce.”

“You think?”

“Well, sure. But if you’re going to move here, that could be a complication.”

“I know. I don’t know if Tanner…” My words trailed off because I didn’t even know where I was going with that.

Holly met my gaze. “I think you and Tanner should be more than a fling.”

“He specifically told me he’s not looking for anything more. From what I understand, with his ex, that wasn’t a great breakup.”

Holly waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, Laney. She was immature, and I don’t think they were a great match to begin with. You and Tanner are a good match.”

“We are?”

“Yes. You’ll appreciate everything about him. He’s loyal. He’s steady. The man is solid gold,” Holly said firmly.

“Tanner is the nicest,” Josie said as she plunked down in a chair across from me.

“Really?” I asked curiously. I thought so, but these women had known him far longer than I have.

Josie bobbed her head. “Yes. Good friend. Good son. All that. His dad was a total asshole, but that’s not him at all.”

“What do you mean?” Madison cut in, and I was relieved because I wanted to know what she meant too.

“Oh,” Holly rolled her eyes, “Tanner’s dad was rigid, controlling, and verbally, and I think a little bit more than that, kind of abusive. I don’t think life at home was great. I imagine Tanner probably doesn’t miss him all that much.”

“His mom is friends with mine,” Josie added. “Trust me when I tell you, his mom doesn’t miss him.”

“Oh, that’s sad,” Madison said softly.

Questions were bouncing around in my thoughts, but I also felt like I was somehow violating Tanner’s privacy even though he wasn’t the one telling me any of this. “He’s such a nice guy.”

“I know, seriously,” Josie agreed.

“Speaking of Laney,” Casey chimed in as she plunked down on the couch. “She came into Firehouse Café. Can’t say I’m a fan.”

“Oh, I know. I was there,” Maisie said, glancing at me with a gleam in her gaze. “I may have name-dropped you just to give her some shit.”

“What do you mean?” I sputtered.

“Well, she seemed a little proprietary about him. I didn’t like that.” Maisie shrugged. “She’s the one who dumped him. That’s what Beck said.”

The questions multiplied. Curiously, I wanted to see Laney too. It wasn’t even rational that I experienced a jolt of unease and jealousy slithering through me. It was not a good plan for me to be jealous of an ex. Maybe they were meant to be together. I forcefully dragged my thoughts out of that track.

The night rolled along, and we played cards, with Josie pulling a coffee table over and clarifying that we couldn’t sit at the kitchen table because of my ankle. As conversation flowed around me, I realized I loved it. This group of women was a mix-and-match. Everyone had their own story and their own background, but they were all just here for each other. It made me miss my friends.

Yet the reality is, my friends and I weren’t all in the same place anymore. So nights like this were few and far between. We usually tried to plan trips together just to see each other.

As things were winding down, Tori offered to give me a ride to any upcoming medical appointments if I needed one. “I’m on Team Tanner too,” she added with a grin before she left with a wave.

As soon as everyone was gone, I texted Tanner.

Me: Can I see you?

His reply was swift.