Chapter 18 Tanner
Tanner
He suffered through a morning training session in the gym that was both low-impact and grueling, followed by an extensive physical.
Poked and prodded to within an inch of his life, Tanner gritted his teeth until it was over and tried not to let the creeping dread overpower him at every “hmmm” and huff from the team doc.
The moment it was over, he jogged out to the parking lot without stopping to shower or change, desperate for an instant diversion from his spiraling thoughts. He knew where he could find it, too.
Throwing his gym bag into the trunk of the Escalade, he climbed into the driver’s seat, his quads protesting from the workout, his shoulder from the rigorous testing.
And as he headed for Pine Springs, Tanner brooded over the message he’d found in his DMs earlier—an intrusion that was one hundred percent unwelcome.
Boston isn’t the same without you. Will you make it back for a visit any time soon? xoxo
He rarely checked his social media accounts in the off-season, and only used them sporadically at other times to duty-post enough to pacify the relevant comms team. Damn, he wished he hadn’t looked now.
On the surface, the message seemed innocuous, but Bethany Jenner was shameless.
She’d put Tanner in a horrible position with her suggestive flirting and unwelcome touches at any and every social occasion before his move.
Polite knockbacks, gentle disinterest, and outright avoidance had failed to keep her at a distance, while the power imbalance had hamstrung him from a stronger protest.
Her husband was a great coach, a good leader and mentor—to others, at least. But watching his wife chase after his player had done nothing to endear Tanner to Laurie Jenner.
Flexing his fingers and tugging at the neck of his tee where it suddenly felt infuriatingly fucking restrictive, Tanner shifted behind the steering wheel. He was deeply relieved to have escaped that mess; no way in hell would he be answering Bethany’s message.
Pulling up at Avery’s address within the hour, Tanner bypassed the house and headed around the back, footsteps faltering as he turned the corner and took in the destruction. Held up by steel props, her workshop looked more like a collection of parts than a solid structure.
Drawn forward by movement inside, Tanner paused in the open doorway and watched for several silent minutes as Avery packed fabric and other materials into boxes, his eyes bouncing around the interior.
The space had already been partially gutted.
Her peaceful, orderly working area was a war zone, utterly trashed by a missile in the shape of a fallen bough.
No wonder she’d looked so wiped last night.
“Where’s the armchair?”
Shooting a glance over her shoulder, she jerked her head toward three heavy-duty flexi tubs filled with detritus.
“Mostly in there—the roof timbers crushed it. Mrs. Alberty is going to give me so much grief.” Her face was shadowed with fatigue, her blue eyes dull.
She looked no more rested than she had last night. “My sewing machine is toast, too.”
“Thank fuck you weren’t inside when it happened.” A chill inched its way up Tanner’s spine at the thought. “Mrs. Alberty will understand it was an accident.” Surely no one would hold something like this against her.
Avery snorted. “You’ve been out of Pine Springs too long. Elfrida Alberty isn’t really your understanding sort.”
“Avery—”
“But you’re right—it could all have been worse. It’s only a shed, some work stuff. It’s not important.” She shook the debris off another swathe of fabric.
“It is important. It’s your personal space.”
She just shrugged, and he didn’t know what else he could say to make things better.
“Sorry I couldn’t make it sooner. I came straight from a training session.”
“I didn’t expect you at all. And Bel, Drew, Leo, and Gemma said they’d help later.” Avery’s folding and packing took on a more intense edge, her fingers clenching so tightly around the materials that her knuckles were the color of bone.
“Just stop for a minute . . .”
“There’s a lot to do.”
It killed him when a rebellious tear made it past all her willpower and trickled from the outside corner of one eye. Tanner couldn’t stand to watch her crumble.
Spanning Avery’s waist with his hands, he turned her toward him. Her protest ended in a wet choke as she sagged in his grip, fisting her fingers against his chest.
“I’ve got you, Stretch.” His arms were tight bands of support that held her up, held her together as her shoulders shook. Everywhere inside him, parts he couldn’t even name ached. “Let it out.”
“I’m sorry.” The apology was muffled by his tee.
Tanner felt the judder of her breath against his chest. “You’re allowed to be upset.”
“I’m not usually a crier.” Avery’s voice was little more than a raspy whisper. “It’s just been a strange week. I’m a bit on edge.”
She felt both fragile and solid in the circle of his arms, and Tanner’s heart rattled against the cage of his ribs like a stick on a rickety fence.
“Your mom?” he asked.
“Yes, her—always her—and some other things. It’s nothing.”
“Tell me.” He was going to prize this out of her if it took all day.
Avery shrugged. “I’ve been getting nuisance calls and someone’s booking Lyft rides in my name—it’s ruining my rating. Plus, a load of weird shit keeps getting delivered and I’ve no idea where it’s all coming from. It’s pissing me off.”
Drawing back, Tanner eyed her curiously. “What kind of deliveries?”
“A stuffed fish, a box of straws with dicks on them, and a bulk bag of manure.” She pushed her bangs off her face with a weak huff. “Kinda funny, right?”
“Not really.” He frowned down at her.
“I was home for the last one, so at least they didn’t just drop it and leave.” Avery attempted a smile. “Don’t need any more crap to deal with right now.”
Tanner took the fabric from her hands and folded it as neatly as he could, running through the possibilities of what might help the most.
“I’m probably just tired,” Avery muttered, scrubbing at her eyes. “Last night was a late one.”
“You need a break.” Tucking her hand inside his, Tanner led her out of the ruined workshop and toward the house. It was a testament to her weariness that Avery followed without protest.
The back door handle turned easily in his grasp. “Are you hungry?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think so.”
“Right. Maybe later then. You could use a nap first anyway.”
She pulled back. “There’s no need. I’m just—”
“Tired, Stretch. You said it yourself. Plus naps are the best. I highly recommend them.” He made a swift decision. “I need a nap, even if you don’t.” Tanner conjured up a wide, fake yawn. “I did the power yoga session from hell this morning and I’m wiped.”
“Wait—you do yoga?”
He grinned and pulled her further into the house, assuming he’d stumble across a living area. Yep, and there it was. The couch looked big enough.
“I do. Not well, but I give it my best shot. Helps to loosen up all the bits that get too tight during the season.” He slumped onto the cushions and kicked off his sneakers. “Sit down. We’re having a nap.”
“Oh, make yourself comfortable, why don’t you?” Avery groused, but there was no bite to the snark as her fingers reached for her necklace. She chewed her lip when Tanner patted the space beside him. “I’m a mess.”
“So am I. I didn’t shower after my workout.”
She shifted her feet and let out a long exhale. “There’s more to do outside. I can clean up later.”
“Good call.” Sprawling lengthwise on the couch, his feet hanging over the end, Tanner dared her with a cocky eyebrow raise. “Half an hour. Then we’ll get back to it.”
He wondered if she’d give in, and his pulse skipped in anticipation.
His mind might have gotten the memo that Avery wanted to keep things casual but the dumbass had forgotten to make sure his body understood; they were on two completely different pages.
And even as he steeled himself to keep any physical contact as impersonal as possible, his fingers twitched with the need to touch her again, the urge to comfort and soothe her while she was struggling.
After a moment, Avery lowered herself to the cushions. Tanner closed his eyes and tried to look like he was on the verge of sleep. When she slowly stretched out, he slung a deliberately casual arm around her waist and drew her against him, his heart in his throat as he did so.
Avery’s body softened in infinitesimal stages, the tension leaking from her like an ebbing wave.
Tanner kept his breathing steady and deep.
She pillowed her head on the palm of one hand and settled, her midriff damp beneath his fingers.
The scent of hard work and feminine warmth eased into his nostrils.
His heartbeat reached for hers, checked out its rhythm and, he could swear, started to keep the same time.
Around Avery, it was almost as if he lost his restlessness and found a purpose.
Even knowing he had hours of torture in his not-too-distant future when he would replay how good she felt in his arms, relaxation soaked into Tanner’s bones and his talent for falling asleep anywhere and anytime he was horizontal worked in his favor.
The sofa was comfy, the morning’s training session had been tough.
With Avery’s hair brushing his jaw and the sweep of her hip beneath his arm, he soon lost the battle and drifted off.
“Aw, how cute are they!” (Gemma.)
“Adorable.” (Leo, with dry agreement.)
“Just like Rose and Jack floating away from the Titanic wreckage, if Rose had just shifted over a bit.” (Bel.)
“There wasn’t room on the door!” (Gemma again.)
“Even Kate Winslet said there was room.” (Bel.)
Tanner opened one eye. “There was definitely room.”
“See?” Bel said, as if his word was enough to settle the debate.
Avery’s friends stood just inside the doorway. At some point while he’d slept, Tanner had shifted onto his back and Avery was now draped over his chest, still dead to the world. He couldn’t sit up without waking her.
“She needed to stop,” he offered as an explanation.
“I’m sure she did,” Bel agreed with an understanding smile.
Leo’s eyebrows knotted. “We’ve come to help.”
Tanner gave Avery a small squeeze and she burrowed into his armpit with a grumbled protest.
Gemma giggled. Leo grinned.
Bel decided to make coffee.
Tanner lowered his chin until his mouth was right by Avery’s ear. “Nap time’s over, Stretch,” he murmured, although everything in him wanted to stay right where he was.