Page 27 of Puck Sweat Love

Stephanie: Oh, no. Is he usually a jerk with women? Am I getting love bombed again just when I told Mr. Sniffles that I wasn’t?

Bree: NO! No, no, not at all. I just… Hold on, let me talk to Shane for a second. He knows Tank better than I do, and he’s dying to know what I’m gasping about. Two seconds.

Stephanie: Okay. Thank you. And please, tell him to be honest. It’s not too late for Tank and I to go back to being friends, if that’s the smartest play. I just got Drake the Dreadful out of my life. I don’t need another dramatic situationship right now.

Bree: All right. Shane has weighed in. He is VERY excited about this news! And he thinks you two could be a perfect “opposites are amazing together” fit.

But he does have some concerns…

Stephanie: Uh-oh.

Bree: No, not uh-oh! Just…proceed with care and awareness. Apparently, Tank had a rough childhood, then went through a tragic breakup, and has been pretty closed off to relationships ever since. Then his sister died in a car crash, which was obviously another major blow. And he’s spent a lot of time punishing himself for the mistakes he made in the past and getting kicked out of the NHL the first time. So, yeah… His heart has been roughed up a little. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good heart.

Stephanie: Poor guy. I knew about some of that, but not all of it.

Bree: Wow. You did? Well, that’s a promising sign. If he’s opening up to you, even a little bit, that’s a big deal. Tank doesn’t open up. Being cranky and closed off is basically two-thirds of his personality. The other third is going hard and never giving up, even when the cards are stacked against him.

Stephanie: I don’t know. I think the cranky part is just a front. I think he might actually be one-third man who wants to be loved, but is scared to be hurt again, and two-thirds force to be reckoned with. Or maybe even fifty-fifty between the two. In just a week, he’s surprised me a lot. In a good way.

Bree: *wide eyed emoji* So, you’re REALLY imagining babies after a week and one kiss?!

Stephanie: NO NOT REALLY! That was just to get your attention, but I like him. I really like him. It already feels like more than a crush.

But you’re right, I’m supposed to be lowering his blood pressure and helping him prepare for his big comeback, not trying to make him my boyfriend. This is probably unethical, even if we are both fully grown.

Bree:Technically, yes, there’s a power imbalance, I guess. But it’s not like you’re his therapist or his doctor. You’re his yoga teacher. It’s different. Worst-case scenario, if things get complicated, he can always switch to another yoga studio.

Stephanie: But I don’t want him to switch! I want to help him. I think I already HAVE helped him. And maybe that’s more important than kissing?

Bree: I don’t know. Kissing is pretty important. And it already sounds like it’s more than kissing. I mean, Shane is very romantic, but he never bought my pug a helmet just so he could drive me home.

Stephanie: Yeah. It kind of blew me away. He tried to play it off as no big deal, but it WAS a big deal, right?

Bree: Damned straight, it was. And I think it shows he’s interested in more than just kissing, too. You should just talk to him. See if you guys are on the same page.

Stephanie:You’re right. We have a private session on Sunday. I’ll ask if I can take him out for a smoothie or something after so we can chat. And I’ll leave Mr. Sniffles at home for the afternoon so he can’t fart on us again.

Bree: *laughing crying emoji* Oh my God, Mr. Sniffles. He didn’t!

Stephanie: He did. Right when the kissing was getting steamy. And it smelled like rotten tuna puked up from the bowels of hell.

Bree: *laughing crying emoji* *explosion emoji* Why is he pussy-blocking you like that?

Stephanie: I don’t know. I was blaming the rotten bok choy he ate from the compost, but it could be deliberate. Though he seems to dig Tank so far. He actually goes over and lies down next to him on his mat during savasana. It’s so cute.

Bree: Aw, that’s adorable. He can probably tell that Tank needs puppy love. And maybe Stephanie love, too…

Stephanie:Maybe. Thanks for the chat, darlin. And have a great time during your visit to KC. Eat some vegan barbeque for me.

Bree:I will do no such thing. It’s all ribs and chicken wings up in here. But I am bringing you back some BBQ sauce. I already have it stashed in my suitcase.

Stephanie: You’re the best. Love you.

Bree:Love you too! Keep me updated. Shane and I are both rooting for you guys.

Setting my phone aside,I lean back against the couch cushions, processing.

Maybe Bree’s revelations about Tank’s past should give me pause, but they don’t. It’s been obvious since day one that he’s a complicated man, with a lot going on under the surface and his fair share of baggage.

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