Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
I’m ready though … I think. The second he’s home from football training this afternoon, I’ll be right there, knocking on his door and demanding answers to the questions I’m not sure I want to hear … or maybe I do. Who knows? All that matters is that Tanner and I make it through this, though I know we will. We’re stronger than that. I may have needed time to come to terms with his past, but I can’t forget about what he needs, and right now, that’s me.
Hell, Tanner has enough going on with his sister’s recovery and with Colby still in a coma. He pretends it doesn’t get to him, but I see the fear in his eyes. When he took Colby down, he was acting in desperation. He was doing what he had to do to save the people he loved, and while he definitely lost control, he’s no murderer. I don’t know if he’ll be able to live with himself knowing he took someone’s life. Though I’m not going to lie, the fact it’s Colby sure as hell makes it easier.
Tanner refuses to look away as I come to a stop in the middle of the cafeteria. I want to go to him, and a lump forms in my throat as I linger in hesitation. Sensing my dilemma, Tanner stands, ignoring his rowdy friends as he walks around the table, each step bringing him just that bit closer.
My heart pumps erratically as my palms grow sweaty, the tension burning between us like never before.
Tanner walks straight into me, and my arms instinctively fly around his neck. He locks me in a tight embrace, lifting my feet off the ground as he holds me against his warm chest, our hearts beating as one. “I fucking love you, Killer,” he mutters in my ear. “I can’t stand the way you’re looking at me.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmur, trying to hold myself together. “I just … I hate feeling this way. I hate how things are between us.”
“I know,” he whispers, gently lowering me to my feet but refusing to release me. “It’s okay. I get it. You needed time.”
I pull back just a bit, needing to lock onto those dark eyes that consume my heart and soul. “I swear, I’m not doing this to punish you. What you told me … I—” I stop abruptly, glancing around at the number of people crammed into the cafeteria. “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this here.”
Tanner presses his lips into a hard line. “Maybe not,” he murmurs, glancing around. “You wanna get out of here? We can go somewhere to talk, somewhere we can be alone.”
The need to be with him pulses through my veins. I’d do anything to ditch school right now, but I shake my head, reality being a fucking bitch. “We can’t,” I say, clinging to his biceps as his hands claim my waist. “If you miss any more of your classes, Coach will have no choice but to bench you for this week’s game, and with everything else going on, you don’t need to take another hit like that. Besides, I’m still trying to catch up on schoolwork. The last thing I need is to have even more piling up.”
Tanner nods, trying to give me an encouraging smile, but I see the hurt in his eyes, and it almost brings me to my knees. “I hate it, but you’re right,” he mutters, clearly not pleased with the situation. “Just tell me we’re okay.”
“We’re okay,” I promise him. “Maybe I can come over after training? Avoid Mom and Orlando and stay the night at your place? We’ll have all night to talk.”
Relief flickers in his eyes. “Wouldn’t have it any other way,” he tells me before leaning in and pressing a gentle kiss to my lips, lingering there before reluctantly pulling away. Tanner steps back and my hands fall heavily to my side, his stare locked and loaded on mine.
The weight still rests between us, and damn it’s fucking heavy, but I see the light flickering between us, demanding to ignite the wild, reckless flames once again. I feel us coming back, coming out of this darkness to thrive. But we have to talk first, and he knows that just as well as I do.
I watch as Tanner makes his way back to his table, having to stop when some of the guys from his team demand his attention, but it’s clear he’s not into it. The only good that comes from it is the moment his stare falls away from mine, the spell between us breaks and I’m finally able to keep walking.
I join the girls a moment later, and as I sit down, I can’t help but notice how twitchy Addison seems. She’s staring off across the room in the same direction I’d just been staring, only it’s not her brother who has her messed up—it’s Hudson. She watches him, worrying her bottom lip as she drums her fingers against the table, her lunch forgotten.