Rushed (Adventures in Love 1)

When the doors close behind us, I wonder if we’ll ever get back to a place where we can be friends, where he doesn’t feel like a complete stranger. Something tells me the answer to that question is no, not with the history between us, and that is possibly more upsetting than anything else, because I do miss him. Or I miss his friendship, even after what he did.

Sitting outside on the floating deck next to my trailer, the stars twinkling above us and the moon out in all its glory, I pick up my iced tea to take a sip. Today was another busy day. It took Jade, Tanner, and me four hours to get things sorted in my shop and the orders that had backed up while I was away packaged up to be sent out. When we were finished, I mailed everything off; then we picked up lunch and went back to the hospital. Maisie was pretty tired, so after we ate lunch with Bernard, we left and went to the grocery store to get the stuff for dinner. By the time we got home, Earl was pulling in, so while Jade and I made a salad and sautéed potatoes, Tanner and Earl started up the grill.

Now, with my feet tucked under me in my chair and my belly full, I watch Tanner smile as he talks about the lodge, Maverick, Blake, and his family. I know logically I shouldn’t feel guilty about his decision to sell because it’s his choice, but I still do. It’s obvious to anyone listening to him that he loves his job and his family in Montana, even with whatever’s gone down.

“When do you have to go back?” Jade asks him, and I hold my breath as I wait for him to answer, because he hasn’t talked to me about leaving or staying. He hasn’t talked to me about anything.

“Not sure yet.” He looks at Earl, and I wonder if he opened up to him or asked him about finding work here.

“You don’t have to get back to work?” Jade says with a frown, and I swear I want to kick my best friend when Tanner’s jaw twitches.

“I’m here as long as Cybil needs me. We’ll figure things out after that.”

“How are you two going to make this work? I mean, you live there, and Cybil lives here.”

“Jade,” I snap, and her eyes come to me. “Stop.”

“I was just wondering.”

“I know, and as soon as Tanner and I figure things out, you’ll know our plans.”

“Fine.” She pushes back from the table and stands. “I should probably go. With Mom not wanting me hanging around the hospital, I’m going to open the store tomorrow.”

“Sure.” I get up and give her a hug, ignoring the fact that she’s mad at me for not letting her interrogate Tanner. As much as I love her, it’s not her place. “Call me tomorrow and let me know when you’re going to the hospital, and I’ll go with you or meet you there.”

“All right.” She stoops to kiss Earl’s cheek, then waves at Tanner before heading for her car.

“She’s just protective of you,” Earl says, and I pull my eyes off Jade’s car as she drives down my lane and focus on him. “And my guess is she’s scared you’re going to move away.”

“I know.” I sigh, watching him get up.

“Do you want me to help you clean up?”

“No, there isn’t much to do,” I assure him, and he comes over to give me a hug, then pats Tanner’s shoulder before wandering to his truck and getting in. When he drives off, I look at Tanner and wait for him to say something—anything—but he doesn’t.

Annoyed, or maybe hurt by his lack of communication, I pick up the glasses on the table and take them inside, then start to go back out to get the rest of the dishes, but Tanner walks in with them. “Thanks.” I take them from him and put everything into the dishwasher while he stands with his arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the counter.

“Cybil.”

“Yeah?” I wait for him to say something, but instead, he shakes his head.

“Nothing, never mind.”

“Right.” I grab a couple of Tylenols for the headache I feel coming on and swallow them down, with Tanner watching me. “I think I’m going to head to bed early and maybe watch some TV.”

“I’ll meet you in there in a bit. I’m gonna make a couple of phone calls,” he says, and I nod, then go down the hall to my room, where I change into a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top, brush my teeth, and get into bed.

With the TV on, I lie in the dark, trying to figure out what to do. I feel like this whole thing with him and his job is hanging over our relationship, and with him not wanting to talk to me about it, I can only assume I’m somehow responsible for what went down.