Chapter 18
brEAKING: TANNER LONG SPOTTED AT FAMILY DINNER Sources report unexpected feelings developing
Tanner
I whistle as I walk up the driveway to Alaia’s house. Her parents invited me over for Sunday dinner. And there’s no way I’m missing an opportunity to spend time with her.
“What are you doing here?” Alaia asks when she opens the door.
I ignore how those words burn through me. She’s not pulling away or ignoring me. She’s merely surprised.
I kiss her cheek. “Don’t you want to see me?”
“Seriously, Tanner, what’s going on? Is there a problem?”
I grasp her hand. “No problem. Your parents invited me to Sunday dinner.”
She scowls. “They did, did they? My parents are meddlers.” She opens the door. “I guess you'd better come inside.”
Benny flies toward me and jumps on me. “Hi, Benny.”
“Benny, leave our guest alone.” Alaia tugs on his collar but he’s immovable.
I scratch his chin. “Aren’t you adorable?” He drops down and rolls over to expose his belly to me. “Does someone want a belly rub?”
“He always wants a belly rub. He’s shameless.”
I meet her gaze and lower my voice. “There’s nothing wrong with knowing what you want and going for it.”
Her cheeks darken. “You can’t always have what you want.”
“What if what I want wants me too?”
“You’re trouble.”
“This is not news.”
Beth and Anne glide into the room. “Our surprise guest is here.”
Alaia groans. “I should have known.”
They blink – the picture of innocence. “What?”
“Tanner and I aren’t a real couple.”
Beth frowns. “Your kiss seemed real enough to me.”
Anne fans herself. “And hot. Don’t forget hot.”
I chuckle while Alaia’s cheeks flame. I’m acquainted with this blush. It travels from her cheeks down her neck to the tops of her breasts. My cock twitches as memories of Alaia’s body spread out before me flash through my mind.
Alaia crosses her arms over her chest, pushing her breasts up. She is not helping with the tightness in my jeans.
“Did you tell Mom and Dad? Is there enough food for him?”
Her mom pushes through the kitchen door with her dad hot on her heels. They’ve obviously been up to something in the kitchen, considering how puffy Sally’s lips are. How would it feel to find the love they’ve obviously found? To trust someone to be there for you.
Too bad people are trustworthy. Except I do trust Alaia. At least, I told her I did. But is it the truth?
I glance up at her. Glaring at her parents and twins. Yep. I trust her. She’s always honest and doesn’t hesitate to call people out if they irk her.
Am I falling for her? Is this how love feels? Wanting to spend every waking moment with a person. Worrying about their happiness more than your own. Not wanting to disappoint them.
“We knew Tanner was coming,” Sally says and breaks through my thoughts.
Alaia throws her arms in the air. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“We assumed you knew your boyfriend was welcome at our table for Sunday family dinners,” her dad adds.
Sunday family dinners? My heart squeezes. I want to be part of this family. My own family isn’t worthy of the designation, but the Jacksons? They know what family means. They love each other fiercely. Tease each other even worse. Have each other’s backs.
My phone rings and I dig it out of my pocket. I read the display and mutter a swear. Speaking of family.
“Excuse me. I need to answer this.”
I give Benny one last pat before standing and making my way out of the house.
“What?”
“Tanner.” I can hear the disappointment in Dad’s voice.
I rub my neck. “What do you want?”
“Is this any way to speak to your father?”
I don’t speak to my father if I can help it. Not since I was drafted in the NFL and my father and mother threatened to disinherit me for my decision to play football instead of attend medical school.
“Cut the shit. What do you want?”
“Your mother and I think it’s time to discuss your future.”
“My future? What are you talking about?”
“When you’re finished playing a game for a living.”
I inhale a deep breath before I lash out at him. Lashing out will only result in him pushing harder for what he wants. Never mind what I want.
“I play football. It’s my career. My future is not open to discussion.”
“You can’t play football forever. You must understand the risks, considering you were at the fundraiser for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Suffering multiple concussions is linked to CTE.”
“I’m aware.”
“And you have suffered multiple concussions.”
I hate to admit he’s right, so I lash out instead. “How would you know?”
He clears his throat. “You are my son. I pay attention.”
A slight spark of hope ignites in my stomach. Does he watch my games? Does he understand how hard I’ve worked to get where I am?
“You’ve watched me play?”
“Of course not. Don’t be obtuse.”
I hate myself for hoping. I should know better by now. My parents have always been completely frank with me. What they call honesty, I consider hurtful. But try explaining it to them. Their cold hearts don’t understand anything but money and reputation.
Shit. Reputation. Is this why Dad rang me? Because he’s heard rumors of what I did? Is my career over before I have the chance to win a Super Bowl ring?
I rub my hand over my forehead. “Get to the point, Dad.”
“I stated my point. I want to meet to discuss your future.”
“My future is football.”
“Don’t ignore reality. You can’t play football forever.”
“I’ve got a few more years left in me.”
“A few more years? Be realistic.”
There’s no sense in having this conversation. We’ll go round and round in circles until Dad hangs up on me or I blow up on him. I’m done with this vicious cycle.
“Bye, Dad.”
“Don’t you dare hang up on me.”
Too late. I did.
I shove my phone in my pocket and inhale a few deep breaths. I don’t want to bring my bad mood into Alaia’s family’s house. They deserve better.
When I have my temper under control, I turn around to walk up the sidewalk. Alaia is waiting for me on the steps.
“I promise I didn’t listen to your conversation.”
“I didn’t say you did.”
“But you appeared upset, and I want to support you.”
Support me? Those words have my heart banging against my chest. No one has supported me before.
“Is there anything I can do?”
“What could you do?”
“If you’re mad, we can break plates.”
I blink. “Break plates?”
“Mom keeps a stash in the shed out back.”
I chuckle. “Your mom keeps a stash of broken plates?”
“You’ve met my sisters. There was a lot of anger in this house growing up.”
“I’m good.”
She studies me. “You are? Your conversation appeared intense. I thought the vein in your forehead was going to explode. Boom! Blood everywhere. I grabbed my car keys in case I needed to drive you to the hospital. I have the emergency doctor on speed dial.”
“I’m good. No reason to drive me to the hospital.”
She blows out a breath. “Phew. I really didn’t want to get another ticket for speeding. There’s a limited number of times you can claim to have diarrhea before the cops don’t believe you.”
“Diarrhea?”
She shrugs. “It’s not as if they can check.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Have you met my family? I’m the sane one.” She bites her bottom lip. “I promised not to pry into your life, but you’re really okay?”
If I want this woman in my life – and to my utter shock, I do want Alaia in my life for real – I need to be honest with her. Let her into my life.
“My dad called.”
“And? You don’t get along?”
“Not at all. As you know, my mom and him are famous neurosurgeons. They expected all of their kids to enter a medical field. My siblings did. One of my brothers is a cardiothoracic surgeon. The other is a pediatric surgeon. And my sister is a radiation oncologist.”
“And you’re a wide receiver in the NFL.”
“They pretty much disowned me when I was drafted.”
Her brow wrinkles. “But you played football in college. You were on one of the best college teams ever. You literally won the Heisman trophy. What did they think would happen?”
“They thought I’d quit playing after undergrad and go to medical school.”
“But you didn’t.”
“I applied to medical school. I got into a few. But my heart wasn’t in it. My heart is on the field.”
“But your parents weren’t happy, I assume?”
“Nope. They threatened to disinherit me if I don’t go to medical school after I’m done ‘playing a game for a living’.”
She gasps. “I can’t imagine how hard it is to have a family that doesn’t support you.”
I haven’t dared to tell anyone about my bad relationship with my family. I assumed no one would understand. It’s not as if they physically abused me after all. But Alaia gets it. She understands what I’m going through.
This is why I’m falling for her. Why I want to keep her after the summer. Why I never want to let her go.
I tug on her hand to bring her near. She crashes into me. When she gazes up at me, I don’t hesitate. I slam my lips to hers. She opens on a sigh and I plunge my tongue inside.
She’s everything I need.