I haven’t been able to stop my thoughts from spinning since the moment Tanner burst out of here like his ass was on fire. When he ended the call with his mom, he dashed around my room with wide, frantic eyes, and instead of dropping his phone into his pocket, it fell to the floor and slid beneath my bed. He was so full of hope but also plagued by fear, and I wanted nothing more than to be by his side, holding his hand and telling him that everything was going to be okay. It wasn’t my place, though. Tanner needed to be there for Addison, and I’m sure she wouldn’t have appreciated waking up to find some strange girl clinging to her big brother.
I can’t imagine the things that went through her mind when she woke up. She would have been so scared and confused, and then at some point, the memories of what Colby did to her would have come rushing back, but I hope for her sake that doesn’t happen. I can’t imagine how it would feel to have to live it in your mind over and over again, the emotions that would come along with it, the pain and agony, the anger and self-loathing.
No woman should ever have to go through that.
Though, one thing is for sure, if Addison has woken up and does remember what happened, she’s lucky to have someone like Tanner watching over her. He’ll take care of her, and while he might not be able to change what happened or take her pain away, nothing will stop him from being the rock she leans on. Whatever she needs, he’ll be right there to deliver—whether it’s just someone to hold her hand, or Colby’s severed head.
Out of habit, my gaze rises to my bedroom window to find Tanner’s room still covered in darkness. He’s probably going to spend the night at the hospital with his sister, which is expected. If I were Addison, I’d want somebody by my side, ready to hold my hand and remind me that no matter what, they have my back.
Pulling the blankets down, I slip back into bed and drop my head to the pillow, but I can’t keep my stare off his window. I don’t know when I’ll see him next. I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed in the hospital all night and then skipped out on school tomorrow as well. His coach would understand, and the boys will be there to pick up the slack during training.
But without his phone, no one can check in on him. No one can make sure he’s actually sleeping or hasn’t gone off the deep end again. Right now, he’s busy playing the role of Addison’s protector, but who’s going to protect him?
Fuck.
Tearing my blanket back, I throw myself out of bed and grab his phone off my bedside table before slipping my feet into my oversized chicken feet slippers. I smirk just as I do every time I put them on. My brother bought them for me as a joke, assuming I’d never wear them, but the joke’s on him because it’s been two years, and I wear them all the time.
Trudging out of my room, I sneak down the stairs, not wanting to wake anyone, but I only get halfway down before coming to a startled stop, finding Jensen hovering at the bottom step, looking up at me with a raised brow.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” he questions, his gaze sailing down to my chicken feet.
I resist rolling my eyes and give him a tight smile. “Nowhere.”
“Right,” he scoffs before continuing up the stairs and stopping right next to me. He gives me a knowing smirk, and I instantly want to smack it off his stupid face. “Remember, no glove, no love.”
“You’re infuriating,” I tell him. “Has anyone ever told you that?”
Jensen winks. “All the time,” he says before laughing and continuing up the stairs.
Ignoring the dipshit, I waddle the rest of the way down the stairs and hurry out into the night. It’s unreasonably cold, especially considering just how hot it was over the weekend, and I immediately regret not grabbing a hoodie. I move faster, hurrying around to the side of the property to the tree between our homes.
Shoving Tanner’s phone into the pocket of my sweatpants, I begin my climb, making it to the top in no time. Now that I know the easiest route to the top, scaling the big bastard isn’t as hard as I once thought it was.
As usual, Tanner’s window is cracked just enough to slip my fingers through and jimmy it open, and I quickly welcome myself into his room, pinching the discarded hoodie off his bed. I pull it on and find myself inhaling his scent, sending a wave of butterflies to wreak havoc in my stomach.