Page 15 of You are the Reason

“See you soon,” I reply, grinning as I end our call. It’s at this moment I realise that I actually have agirlfriend. It sounds like something so basic, but I’ve never really had a girl best friend and even though I would never want to replace Jesse, it’s nice to have a friend of the female kind.

I throw on my favourite black denim jeans, and a basic tee. I’m not agirlie girland I’m secretly hoping Tanner turns up on his bike. It almost removes the expectation to dress up, even though that is probably just more pressure I’m putting on myself.

A quick pause in the music tells me I have a new text message. Picking up my phone I see a text from Jesse. If I know my best friend at all, he will be way more nervous than Sophie is. God knows why; he’s gorgeous, funny, kind and girls melt over him.

Jesse - I should bring Lou-loo, she’s a good distraction for awkward moments …

I can’t help but burst into laughter. I knew it. He’s shitting himself. Dialling his number, he picks up on the first ring and I’m still laughing.

“Why are you laughing, Kinsley?!” he demands. “This isn’t funny.”

“Bring Lou if it makes you feel better, we are only going to the farmers market, then having a picnic. Lots of people take their dogs to those places.”

I can hear the relief in his voice. “Thank god. Okay, I better get organised. Love ya.”

“Love you too, Jess.”

The minute I hang up, I jump at the sound of Tanner’s voice — “Not sure how I feel about that.”

Spinning around, I see him standing at the top of the stairs, leaning against the door frame, with his hands tucked into the front of his jeans. His body language tells me he is the furthest thing from concerned. He’s just teasing.

I saunter towards him. “Feeling threatened are we?”

A deep laugh erupts from Tanner, one that I have never heard before. He seems relaxed today, not as moody. “Nah, not threatened. You’ve already claimed me, remember?Youare the one who set up this double date.”

Smug bastard.I pat his firm chest as I brush past him. He can sit with those thoughts, two can play this game. I do love Jesse, in a way that Tanner could never compete with, but he shouldn’t feel threatened.

Tanner follows me down stairs, giving my plaits a tug as he moves around me. “I like these.” He smirks.

“They’re just for whilst I have a helmet on,” I giggle. “I’ll take them out once we get there.” A familiar flush returns to my cheeks; my body is always reacting to him.

“With your rosy cheeks and these plaits, I might just start calling you Pippi.”

I knew he would have noticed the flushed look on my face, it’s become a common occurrence, along with the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach when he’s around. But come on,Pippi Longstocking?Seriously …

“C’mon Pip, I’ve got something for you,” Tanner says, with a wink.

I roll my eyes, great another nickname. “That’s going to stick now, isn’t it?” He ignores me, sauntering towards the kitchen bench, where I can see a helmet and leather jacket. “I just need to grab a jumper to put on under your jacket. The wind always blows up the back.”

“No need.” Tanner picks up the jacket, turning back towards me and the feeling of butterflies in my stomach increases. “Come here.”

How can a simple two word instruction be so sexy? My feet close the small distance between us without thinking. I swear if he told me to crawl to him, my body would obey before my brain could object. Tanner holds the leather jacket up and I slip into it. It fits perfectly, unlike the one I wore last time. Dragging his eyes slowly over my body, I feel his gaze darken as he hums in approval. “So fucking perfect.”

“You brought this — for me?” I’m a little shocked.

My mind is always in a constant tug of war when it comes to this man. Soon after moving into the city, I gave in to my body’s craving for Tanner. But now that my head and heart seem to be craving him too, it has sent my mind into a free-fall.

Tanner answers my question with a brief nod, as he slides the helmet onto my head, tilting my chin to buckle it. Normally with his moodiness I can easily keep him at arm’s length, but lately that has been getting increasingly difficult. Taking my hand in his, he leads us out the front door. Maybe he is just playing the part, I did rope him into this double date thing after all.Yeah, that’s got to be it, things will go back to normal after this.

My arms are wrapped around Tanner’s waist as we weave through traffic on the outskirts of Melbourne. He takes an exit and the road opens up; my shoulders relax and I loosen my grip on the wall of muscle in front of me. To our left, city skylines are replaced with suburban houses and park lands. The hustle and bustle has been left behind us.

I’m startled by Tanner’s voice echoing in the helmet and I tighten my grip on him again. “Quick detour.”

“Uh, yeah — sure.” Can he even hear me? We have never been able to talk to each other through our helmets before.

A light chuckle fills my helmet. “I upgraded our helmets Pip, I wanted to be able to communicate with you when we ride together.”

My own jacket and helmet. Does this mean he plans on us doingthismore often? A girl can only dream.

---