Another rejection. He was racking them up. Tanner held his glass out, and Logan lifted an eyebrow. “One more,” Tanner told him. “And then I’m heading to bed.”
Once filled, he took another big mouthful of whiskey, swallowing it faster this time. Sighing, he looked up at the three of them, his chest contracting as they all stared back.
“We’re over.”
Cam frowned. “Who’s over?”
“Didn’t you hear anything tonight? Van and Tanner are in a relationship.” Becca sighed. “What were you doing? Stuffing your face with burgers?”
“It’s off season.” Cam shrugged, then lifted his glass to his lips.
“Who ended it?” Logan asked.
Tanner caught his gaze. “She did.” He sighed, remembering their harsh words.
“O
h Tanner.” Becca slid her hand over his. He gently pulled away, making her blink.
“You wanna talk about it?” Logan asked.
Tanner shook his head. “No.” He was certain of that. “I just wanna go to bed and forget any of this happened.”
“You’re gonna have to talk some time,” his brother told him. “You know that, right?”
“Whatever. Not tonight.” The thought of it made him want to hurl.
“Your bed’s still made up,” Becca told Tanner. “Aunt Gina’s old habits die hard.”
“Where is she anyway?”
“With Gray and Maddie. So’s dad.” Logan checked his watch. “They should be back soon. Gray messaged to say they were closing everything up. He and Maddie are gonna drop them off.”
Tanner finished his second whiskey and pushed his glass away. “I guess I’ll head up before they get home.” He couldn’t face having to explain himself to them. Aunt Gina would give him the look that reminded him of his mom. Soft, and concerned and completely guilt-inducing. And for his dad, he didn’t have a soft bone in his body.
He needed to get over this. Forget the way she made him feel. The way she felt in his arms. How for a few weeks it had felt as though the light had been switched on inside his soul again.
“Good night,” he told them. “And thanks.”
As he walked into the hallway, he could hear his brothers and sister talking quietly.
“Should one of us follow him?” Becca asked, sounding troubled. “Maybe he really needs to talk.”
“No, let him sleep.” He was pretty sure it was Logan, though he and Cam sounded almost identical. “He does need to talk, but not after two glasses of whiskey and the night he’s had.”
That was a small mercy at least. As Tanner climbed the stairs, he felt a wave of weariness wash over him. By the time he’d washed his face, brushed his teeth, and put on the sleep shorts he’d left behind in one of the drawers in his closet, every muscle in his body felt like it was about to break down.
But still sleep didn’t come. Not easily, anyway. The bed felt way too empty without her by his side.
Chapter Thirty-One
“I brought you coffee.”
Tanner blinked his eyes open. Logan was standing at the end of the bed, two insulated cups in his hands.
“What time is it?” Tanner croaked.
“Just after six.”