23. Chapter Twenty-Three - Summer
Summer
I watch Tanner through the glass of his recording booth, snuggled into a chair he carried into the adjoining office for me. The blanket he slept in on the couch is wrapped around my shoulders like a cape and I’m not embarrassed to admit, I really like being enveloped in his scent.
He's given me free rein over his house. Hell, he even said I could take his car and drive home to get some stuff if I wanted to stay here a bit longer. But honestly, there's no way I want to leave this little bubble yet.
This bubble full of hope, where I can imagine that this will work out. That I’ll get my ‘happily ever after.’
I still have doubts gnawing at my mind, the question of "what if he hurts me again?" popping up more often than I’d like.
It takes more than one grand gesture to build trust. But if yesterday was any indication, I think this might work.
Knowing that he dropped everything to get me from the airport, even though I've been less than kind to him… it showed me a new side of him. One I wasn’t so sure he had before yesterday.
I need reliable.
I remember the words I told Zoe only hours earlier. They’ve been replaying in my head over and over again.
If this doesn’t prove reliable, then what would? Other than time. And for him to prove himself with time, I need to give him the time. That realization had come next and kept me awake from the early morning on.
I catch Tanner’s eyes as he restarts the same chapter yet again, my lips stretching into a smile when he shoots me a wink.
I like the book he’s reading. I’m probably missing a ton of context since I’ve only been listening in since chapter ten, but it’s got dragons and magic and spice that makes me blush when he narrates it.
It’s so good, I might just have to listen to the whole thing once he’s done.
"Are you good?" he asks once he comes out to pour himself another cup of tea. "Not too bored?"
"Are you kidding me? This is interesting as hell," I admit with a smile that softens his worried expression.
"Good. I'm glad. Did you call your brother?"
"No, he’s busy, but I shot him a message right after I woke," I assure Tanner, which earns me a satisfied nod. “He knows I’m alive.”
"Good. We don't want him to think I've kidnapped you."
"Didn’t you, kind of, though?" I ask teasingly, reaching for the hem of his shirt to pull him closer without having to get up.
"That’s probably a matter of interpretation," he chuckles and steps closer willingly, letting me snake my arms around his middle and lean my chin against his chest as he pulls me against him tight.
"But if you're bored," he says, tilting his head and nudging my nose with his, "you can decide what we’re eating later.”
I grimace. “Do we have to go out?” I sigh and bury my face in his shirt.
“We can also stay in, watch a movie, order delivery and cuddle.”
"Yes, that. That sounds amazing." I nod against his chest. “If that’s okay with you.”
“Summer, I don’t give a fuck what we do, as long as you’re there.” He presses his lips against my temple. “We could go for a mud run in a cow field and I’d be happy.”
“Ew.” I giggle at that visual and feel him vibrating with laughter as well.
“Alright. So a living room date it is,” he declares. "I’d get you flowers, but—”
"Please don’t," I say immediately, making him chuckle. "I think I've gotten enough flowers from you to last…" I take a moment to think. "Well, not a lifetime, but a month."
"Got it," he says and presses his lips against mine for a quick, but not any less heated kiss.
"God, I can’t get enough of your lips. I’ll be done in a bit, I promise."
"I’ll be waiting." I grin and watch him walk back into his recording booth, a steaming mug of tea in his hand, while I sit back and pull this blanket with his scent still lingering on it a bit tighter around my shoulders.
Nobody knows what the future will bring. Hell, what if I unlock my phone to find a job waiting in my inbox?
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. And while it will probably take a while for me to fully trust Tanner, if there's anyone who can pull it off, I think it's him.
I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life than that I want to give it at least a try. From the moment I realized Tanner was carrying me to his bed and sleeping on the couch himself, I knew it would be a mistake to remain stubborn. And I knew I was right when my heart started racing once I realized he was awake.
I’m apprehensive but hopeful. And now that good things have started coming in, a spark of optimism has been ignited in me.
I shoot him a grin before I get up, grabbing my phone as I make my way to the living room, cuddling into his couch as I pull up my messages to let Mom and Dad know what happened.
Life goes on. Shit happens. But at least now I’m not wading through it alone.
Which is not the most romantic metaphor I’ve heard about relationships, though I dare say it might be the most accurate.
And when Tanner finishes his work for the day and his face lights up when he sees me in the living room, I know I’ve made the right decision.
"So, Darling," he purrs, pulling the phone out of my hands to place it on the coffee table, screen down. "What are we ordering?”
“How about Indian?”
“Will you pick the movie?"
"Deal," I say and happily accept his kiss.
If this can be my life from now on, I will definitely need another metaphor, because this is anything but a shit show.
No, this is perfection.
Perfect for now.
Perfect for me.