20. Chapter Twenty - Tanner
Tanner
With an annoyed sigh, I pull my headphones off my ears and storm out of the tiny recording booth I have at home. I just can't focus on my job today.
Never mind the deadline looming over my head, but every cheesy line, every sentence of dirty talk reminds me of Summer, and it makes anxiety bubble in my stomach. What if I really fucked this up beyond repair? Judging by the way she lashed out at me, that might very well be the case.
Before I can spiral further, my phone rings, and I take the call without even checking the caller ID.
"Are you still not feeling it, bro?" Ian asks me.
I get up with a sigh, starting to pace my office. "Not at all," I admit, rubbing my forehead in annoyance. “I just keep thinking about her, man.”
"Maybe it's time for another grand gesture to win her back," Ian chuckles, but I shake my head.
"I honestly don't think it is. I'm still holding on to hope here, I'm not about to destroy the last spark by going against her wishes again. God, why does she have to be so stubborn?"
"Oh, please. As if you're an angel," he retorts with a chuckle. "Why, are you telling me that continuously pining for her and trying to convince her to give you another chance isn't stubborn?"
"It's not the same," I try to argue, but it only makes him laugh harder.
Obviously, I told him about Summer on my first day back. He filled me in on everything I'd missed while I was off, and in that little gossipy mood we were in, I shared about my vacation as well. Not all the sordid details, of course, but enough for him to know that there's a woman called Summer on my mind and that I fucked it up in what he calls a ‘typical Tanner move.’
"Well, whatever, man. You're a catch. Her loss if she doesn't see that."
"Thank you, thank you." The corner of my mouth twitches into a grin. "Now, is that the only reason you're calling? Trying to get details on my dating life?"
"Kind of."
It sounds like he's sitting down and stretching out his legs. "I just need a little break. I've been staring at my script the whole day, and I'm afraid if I see another letter, I'll lose what’s left of my sanity."
"Maybe you should take a break," I suggest. "Go on a little vacation, too. Have some drinks by the pool, some sun on your ghost-like skin and get your mojo back."
"Maybe," he sighs. "But I've still got four projects to finish up before I can even start to think about a vacation."
I'm about to respond when suddenly my doorbell rings.
"Alright, man, I have to go. But you go ahead and plan for that vacation, you deserve it."
"Is it your dream woman?" he teases as I walk to the door, but a look through my peephole tells me he's wrong.
"Nope, it's my sister. Bye, Ian."
I hang up, and quickly put my phone in my pocket, then open the door for her. "Zoey? What are you doing here?"
"Hello to you too." Her face stretches into a tight grin, then she pushes her way past me and waltzes right in.
Her arm is still in a cast and sling, but she already looks a lot better than she did at the hospital. That spark is back in her eyes, though I'm not sure if that is reason to be happy or to worry.
"To what do I owe the pleasure? Aren't you going back to university?"
"It's the weekend," she points out, confused, like that explains it all.
"And your university is on the other side of the country," I point out, lifting my eyebrow. "Approximately a six-hour flight away. So I repeat, what are you doing here?"
"I came to visit you," she admits with a shrug, and I take a deep breath, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"So, I take it Adam is still getting on your nerves?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about." She shoots me a stupid grin, and I shake my head at her.
"So, I'll take it you two made up?"
"Well, kind of," she admits, scratching her neck with her healthy arm. "We had a talk. I don’t think I’m forgiven by all means, but at least he's talking to me again."
"Hey, that's progress, at least," I tell her and follow her into my living room. "And I figured he might make you work for it. So, apologizing worked?"
"Surprisingly, yes." She nods, her eyes on me. "Who would have thought?"
I swallow my answer to that and instead get her a Coke from my fridge, knowing it's her drink of choice.
"That still doesn't explain why you're here," I point out as I hand it to her.
"I just needed some space before returning to university," she admits, putting her feet on my coffee table. I give her filthy shoes a glare, but she doesn't get the hint.
"Goddammit, take your shoes off my clean table."
"Alright, don’t snap like that." She pouts. "When did you turn into such a killjoy?"
"Since I'm the one cleaning my own house." I give her a pointed look.
"Boring." She opens the bottle and takes a sip. "Anyway, I couldn't bear another day with Adam breathing down my neck, so you were the next best choice."
"Wow, I'm so flattered to hear that." I roll my eyes as she starts giggling.
"Also, I figured you could use my help."
"Your help?"
"Well, you've got a girl to win back, don't you?"
"Well, about that," I say, shaking my head. "I fear the last thing I did overstepped boundaries a bit, so I'm laying low for a while."
"You can't give up," she insists quickly and jumps up from her seat, a surprising amount of emotion washing over her face.
"Whoa, I never said anything about giving up. I still have flowers delivered to her place."
"Every day?" I nod. "Okay, that’s a good start." Zoey sits back down again.
"What is it to you?" I wonder, leaning closer, trying to read the reasons off her face.
"I just feel bad about the whole thing," she says and turns the bottle in her hands. "I mean, if it weren't for my dumb accident or not sending that message, you two would probably be together, right?"
"Maybe."
"So, let me help you." She looks eager, her eyes glistening with enthusiasm at the prospect of playing Cupid. "What can I do?"
"Zoey, I'm serious." I take her hand. "The ball's in her court now. All I can currently do is wait."
"Really? That’s all you can do?" she repeats, shooting me a glare before her lips stretch into a wide smile.
"Oh no," I say, reaching for her wrist as she jumps up. "No, no, no, Zoey, sit your as- behind down."
"Why?" She grins at me. "You might be okay with sitting on your ass, but I can totally play Cupid."
"No. You can leave it alone." I pull her back down until she sits. "You can stay up here for the weekend if you like. My guestroom is your guestroom and all that. But please, keep out of this."
"You're boring," she whines, rolling her eyes. I pinch her upper arm.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me. Now, what are we going to do the rest of the day?"
"You don't need to work?" she wonders, tilting her head curiously. “I thought you mentioned you had a deadline coming up?”
"No, I'm done for the day," I lie straight through my teeth. I'll just have to pull an all-nighter to catch up.
"Great! How about we play that game we picked during the family call?" she asks eagerly. "I might still be handicapped, but I really need to learn how you kick your asses."
"Well, I can tell you that's not happening," I say with a grin, but I get up to grab my controllers and start the console. "But sure. We can practice. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."
"Don't you fucking dare," she says and tears one of the controllers out of my hand.
"Zoey?" I wonder out loud the next morning as I walk through my house, yawning loudly as I trudge through my house with bare feet.
The guest room's door is open, but there’s no trace of her. Well, apart from the opened suitcase and her clothes on the ground.
"Zoey?"
I expect to see her downstairs, but I'm met with silence. Confused, I go to my living room. Maybe she practiced the game some more, but she’s not there, either.
"Dearest sister," I shout again, teasingly, but she's also not in the kitchen. And when I look outside, mine is the only car I see—not that god-awful metallic pink rental she came here with.
"Goddammit, Zoey, what are you doing?" I wonder and sit down, staring at my phone.
I mean, I would totally warn Summer that Zoey's probably got something planned, but she still has me blocked.
Oh well, it's not like I got anything to lose as is.
So, let's see how this whole thing plays out.