44. Tanner
Chapter Forty-Four
Tanner
Static
I eyed my phone, wondering why Ava had not responded to a single text from me since the first few after I got back.
“What’s up?” Maisie asked as I came through the doorway into the front area of the fire station. “You’re not one to stare at your phone, Tanner,” she pointed out.
I lifted my gaze to hers. “I know.”
She leaned back in her chair. “So?”
“Ava’s not responding to my texts.”
Maisie’s eyes narrowed. “That doesn’t make sense. Did something happen before she left, or while you were out?”
Before I could reply, Josie walked through the front door at the station. “Hey, Maisie,” she said before her gaze locked onto me. “Hey, why aren’t you replying to Ava’s texts?” Her tone was sharp and accusatory.
“I am texting her,” I shot back. “She’s not replying to me.”
“Wait. What do you mean?” Josie marched over and held out her hand. “Phone, please.”
I handed it over without hesitation. “I have nothing to hide. I’ll even tell you my password, although it’s already open.”
She glanced down at the screen. “You are texting her,” she murmured, wrinkling her nose. “What the hell?”
“Yeah. What the hell?” I echoed.
Tate stepped out from the back hallway. “Hey there,” he said to Josie, clearly expecting her.
She barely glanced at him. “Hi. I’m distracted. They’re texting each other and not getting them. Something’s up.” She looked at me again. “You know Laney said something to her.”
“I heard.” I clasped the back of my neck before dropping my hand. “This still doesn’t feel right.” Josie handed my phone back. “Do you know when she’s coming home?” I asked.
“She said she’s making flight reservations, but I don’t know if she has yet.” Josie eyed me carefully. “I’ll find out.”
“Just tell me where she is.”
She hesitated. “Josie, please,” I pressed.
“I’ll text you the address. Fix this and figure out what the hell is going on with your phone,” she added, pointing at it.
I spun on my heel and walked toward the back of the station. I needed to see Ava. But first, I had a feeling I would have to confront Laney. Again. As I climbed into my truck and started the engine, my sister’s name lit up on the dashboard screen. I tapped it. “Hey.”
“Hey,” she replied.
“Hey, what’s up with you?”
“Mom called. Did you know she was calling?”
“I did encourage her to call you and told her I couldn’t be the go-between anymore.”
“It’s not like I’ve cut her out of my life,” Sophie muttered.
“I know. But she’s sad. I just told her how I felt, and how you felt.”
Sohpie’s heavy sigh filtered through my phone. “What did she say?” she sniffled.
“Are you okay?” I asked quickly.
“Yeah.” She sniffled again. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s not like I didn’t understand the position Mom was in.”
“I know. We can’t change the past.”
“No, we can’t.” She paused. “She apologized. For everything. She actually said she understood how I felt.”
“Damn.”
“What did you say to her?” she asked.
“I just pointed out the obvious. That we knew she was his target too, but he hurt all of us. A lot. And that it sucked to have her pretend nothing was happening. I think she feels guilty.”
“She probably does,” Sophie whispered.
“I wish she’d see a therapist.”
My sister’s laugh was dry. “Yeah. She could use one.”
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“Honestly, better. We’ve got a ways to go, but hearing her actually acknowledge our lives meant a lot. I needed it.”
“Good.” Silence stretched for a few beats.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“For what?”
“For telling Mom what we needed her to hear.”
“It’s not like I haven’t tried to before. I guess this is just the first time I was really direct.”
Sophie blew her nose. “You’re the only one who protected me,” she said. “I know Mom tried sometimes, but mostly, she just tried to avoid it.”
“I know.” I swallowed. “You know how bad he was to her.”
“I do. Abusive men are assholes. The blast radius is wide.”
“Yeah,” I muttered. “Our dad was definitely an abusive asshole.”
A beat of silence followed. “You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“When are you coming home for a visit?” I asked.
“Soon, actually. I was planning on coming next month.”
“That would be nice.”
“I got a job offer at Heartfire Falls.”
“Nice!” I was surprised, but relieved that my sister was coming home. “Did you tell Mom?”
“I’m not ready yet. I’m going to meet with them to confirm. Anyway,” she added, her tone shifting. “What’s up with you? I’ve heard rumors.”
“About me?” My voice jumped an octave.
“Yes, about you. That you might be seeing someone?”
I could practically hear her eyebrow waggle. I glanced down at my phone on the console, at the unanswered texts. “Yeah,” I said quietly. “I am.”