Tanner is pissed and there’s no doubt about it.
I don’t know what’s up with him, but he’s been in a mood all day. I’m just grateful that he hasn’t pushed me away, which could only mean that it’s not me who’s fucked up. Though, judging by the shorter, scrawnier version of Tanner who’s been hanging around his home for the past week, I can only assume Tanner’s mood has something to do with that.
I hate seeing him like this, but I can’t push him. I don’t want to be that girl who doesn’t give her boyfriend space to work out his shit. If he wants to talk it through, he knows where to find me, and I’m sure that once the anger subsides, he’ll find it easier to discuss. But until then, I have to be patient and hope to God that whatever this is doesn’t darken his fragile heart.
I have to give credit where it’s due—Tanner is holding himself together remarkably. I’ve seen him on the brink of losing control, and I’ve seen him at his worst, and this right here has got all the markers to become one of Tanner’s most reckless moments. And yet, he’s in control. All day I’ve looked into his eyes to see nothing but rage burning in their depths, and instead of allowing that rage to rule him, he’s kept it bottled down, keeping calm and collected. I just hope an intense training session will do more good than harm.
Having to trust that he’ll be okay, I slide into Mom’s car and distantly notice that I’m one of the last students here. I must have been watching Tanner for longer than I thought. Backing out of my parking space, I work on getting my ass home.
The drive back to Orlando’s place feels longer than usual. Maybe it’s just my troubled mind, trying to figure out how I can help Tanner, or maybe it’s just the exhaustion of everything creeping up on me. His sister returned home last night, and while I haven’t met Tanner’s mom, I bet she’s the type to invite their extended family over for some big party or plan a nice dinner with Addison’s close friends.
I wonder if Tanner’s mood has something to do with Addison’s health. Maybe she didn’t pass all those tests with flying colors as Tanner originally suggested.
Knowing I’m only going to drive myself crazy with all these assumptions, I focus on the road in front of me. Just as I said earlier, Tanner will come to me when he’s ready, and I don’t want to be the one to push him. Despite how deeply I feel for him, this relationship is still new, and we’re still working out one another’s boundaries. Though, Tanner sure as hell loves to push mine.
I arrive back home and am just getting out of Mom’s car when I hear voices from next door. My gaze snaps up to find Tanner’s mom and sister, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. I’m nobody to her. Hell, she probably has no idea who I am, but I have never been so happy to see someone in my life.
She looks just like the female version of Tanner, only instead of packed muscle and towering height, she’s lean like a dancer, maybe only five foot five. She has the same shade of dark hair, and her eyes are so similar, only hers are painted with black liner and thick mascara. There’s no doubt about it, Addison Morgan is gorgeous.
Sensing my stare, Addison and her mom glance my way, and their well-mannered nature has them immediately smiling back, only there’s a strange hesitation in Addison’s eyes that catches me off guard. She glances across at her mother, the two of them sharing a kind of silent conversation, yet for some reason, I can’t help but shake the feeling it’s about me.
A strange pang settles into my gut, and I turn back to the car before reaching through the driver’s door and grabbing my things. If Addison has a problem with me, or maybe if Tanner’s mom doesn’t like me, then I don’t want to know. I’ll be happier living in denial.
Closing the car door, I make my way toward Orlando’s front door when a hesitant voice rings out across the yard. “Brielle, right?”
Glancing back over my shoulder, I find Addison and her mom creeping closer to the boundary line between our homes, and I pause with my arms full of books, almost using them as a security blanket. “Yeah, that’s me,” I say, giving them a tight smile, not wanting to be rude.
“It’s lovely to finally meet you, Brielle,” Tanner’s mom says, “You’ve become quite a celebrity in our household. I’ve heard so much about you. This is Addison, and I’m Tanner’s mom, Sara.”