Page 26 of You are the Reason

“Kins, you home?”

Tanner.I hate keeping this from him, but it’s for the best. If he gets involved, I risk losing him too and that is not a risk I am willing to take.

“Coming,” I call out, making my way towards the front of the apartment. I feel like I need to shake all the information I’m still trying to process out of my brain and pick it all back up later. I exhale a long deep breath and slide on a mask I’ve learnt to wear so well.

“Hey, you.” He kisses me briefly before bundling me up in his arms. “I was thinking we could see if Jesse and Soph wanted to do pizza and a movie tonight?”

“Sounds good. I tried to call Jesse earlier but his phone went straight to voicemail.” Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I bring up the group chat the four of us have and send off a text. Tanner’s phone buzzes in time from his pocket as the message is sent.

Me - Pizza & Movie tonight at Tanner’s?

Sophie - YES!

Sophie - Just let me know the time and I’ll be there!

“Looks like we have the rest of the afternoon to ourselves then.” He sits down on the couch, spreading his arms across the back. “What shall we do?”

Raising my brow in challenge, he laughs at me. The side of his lips turning up into a smirk as he speaks, “Is there anything wrong with me wanting to spend time with you?”

“I guess not,” I say walking over to where he made himself comfortable on the couch. “But, I am curious as to why you are extra cheery today.”

Reaching out he grabs my waist, pulling me down so that I’m straddling him on the couch. I take in his addictive scent, pressing a soft kiss just below his ear on his neck. The moment I first heard him order a chai latte, I was finally able to place the ‘something else’I could never pinpoint. Leather, coffeeand spice.

“I know what we could do.” I kiss him again, closer to his collarbone this time and he hums in question. “Let’s go for a ride. Jesse won’t answer his phone, so we can go out for lunch and then head over there and check on him.”

Tanner rolls his eyes, disappointment lacing his tone. “He’s a grown ass man, Pip. We don’t need to …check on him.”

“Don’t be like that.” I scowl, pressing a finger to his chest. “You promised to play nice.”

Tanner flips me onto the couch, pinning me down underneath him. “Did I hear you say that you wanted to play?” A devilish grin creeps across his face.

The buzz of both our phones interrupts us. Tanner uses one hand to pin my arms above my head, holding me in place, whilst his other hand reaches out to check his phone. He holds the phone in front of me so that I can read the text. Jesse had responded to the group text saying he would meet us all at Tanner’s place at 6.30pm and he would pick up both Sophie and the pizza.

“See, the princess is perfectly fine. He’s even coming for dinner.”

“I still feel like somethings up with him though. He’s been distant — acting odd.”

Tanner just stares flatly at me; I know exactly what he’s thinking without him even saying it.

“Jesse isn’todd. Goofy maybe, but not odd.” I correct his thoughts.

“You can ask him tonight. Take some time to chat with him, see what’s going on in that brain of his.”

“Mmm, okay.” I wriggle, still trapped underneath him.

Tanner taps my temple with his finger. “You know how I get when I’m not the sole focus up here.”

“Such a moody man,” I laugh. “Maybe you can help me with that then.”

“I plan on it. But first get your ass upstairs and pack a bag for tonight. I have plans for you after they leave”

Tanner kisses me briefly on the head before releasing my arms and rising to stand.

Chapter Eighteen

Jesse

Tanner and I have a plan to get Kinsley out of the house tonight. I had a call from Stanley earlier today, he informed me that the same car has been seen passing her house numerous times over the past forty-eight hours. She is still being kept in the dark, and as the days go by, I’m beginning to forget why I didn’t tell her in the first place.

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