Page 77 of Make It Last

“It’s expensive,” she continued. “And I have to find a roommate now because my boyfriend was cheating on me. You would never do that.”

“I wouldn’t,” I agreed.

She searched my face. “I thought it was going to be different.”

“So you came back to the place where you felt trapped and asked the guy you thought was boring to take you back?” There wasn’t even any bitterness in my tone.

“I know how it looks, but what’s happened has caused me to take a long look at myself and see what matters,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean some of the things I said.”

“I’m still the guy you knew,” I said. “But I’m not the same, and we are not getting back together.”

“Because you’re with Ava?”

“I am with Ava. But even if I wasn’t, we wouldn’t be getting back together,” I said.

Laney blinked, tears gathering in her eyes. I felt a stab of guilt, but I couldn’t soften this.

“What you don’t want,” I said carefully, “is the hard part. You want an easy landing. But you would be unhappy again. You know that.”

“I don’t.”

“You do, you just don’t want to face it.” I leaned back slightly. “We had what we had. It’s over. We’re not going to get back together, and this isn’t what you want. You’re going to figure your life out. Maybe that means Seattle. Maybe it means here or somewhere else, but it doesn’t mean me.”

She was quiet for a few beats. “Are you sure?” she whispered.

“Oh, I’m sure.”

Just then, the guy at the counter called my name.

“I’m going to grab my pizzas and go.” I stood. “I wish you the best, Laney. I do. How long are you going to be in town?” I asked.

“I’m using some leave,” she said.

“You’ll figure it out.” I paused. “I’m still your friend, but not your close friend.” With that, I walked away.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Tanner

So much more

I drove out to Ava’s place with Laney’s words echoing in my head. I wanted so much more with Ava. Yet I was afraid. Somehow, even though I had only known her a short time, she already meant more to me than Laney ever had.

After we finished eating, Ava curled against my side on the couch. Growly was purring away in his favorite corner of the couch on the opposite side of me. For the first time all day, everything inside me felt steady.

Ava startled me when she spoke. “I think I’m going to stay.”

The word “stay” jolted straight through me. My heart lunged. “Stay?” I asked, my voice low. “What do you mean?”

“In Willow Brook.” She straightened and turned to look at me.

The lights were low in the living room, the television rumbling in the background. I felt my lips curve into a smile. “I think that’s great.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I like you, Ava.” I almost said more. The word ‘love’ rose fast, but I caught myself at the last second. “I’d miss you, a lot, if you were gone.”

She blinked, her eyes widening. “Oh, Tanner. I’d miss you too.” She paused, suddenly seeming nervous. Words spilled out of her in a rush. “I still have some details to hammer out. I need to go back home to make sure my parents are all situated, wind things up with my job, make arrangements for someone to take care of Growly while I’m gone, and figure everything out with Josie and?—”