Page 7 of The Boyfriend Gamble

Okay, time for a long run and then a cold shower.

Chapter Three

Tanner

“Mom,Ihaveaheadache. Do you think you could grab my pills?”

Panic seized me, and I turned away from the pancakes and toward Nita. I worried about the frequency of these headaches. Were they caused by the stress of teaching? Except school was out for the summer, so she should’ve been relaxed—

“Tanner, pancakes.” Donna admonished me sharply.

As I turned my attention back to the burner, I caught her stroking her daughter’s forehead. “Sure, I’ll be right back.”

I flipped the pancakes as I caught the sound of Donna’s rubber soles on the linoleum.

To my shock, Nita came up beside me. “What the fuck is going on?”

I nearly dropped the spatula. “What are you talking about?”

“You. And my brother.”

Shit.

“Nothing, and shouldn’t you be lying down? Do you need an ice pack?” Those sometimes helped.

“Fuck, Tanner, pay attention.”

She had my full attention. Well, except the five percent on the food I was determined not to burn. “What is it?”

"No! Not my brother! Do you hear me? You aremybest friend, and if you have a fling with my brother, it's going to put that in jeopardy."

“I think you’re exaggerating. And, anyway, I don’t even know if he wants—”

Her eyes narrowed. “I saw the way he looked at you. I saw the way you looked at him. Like you always have. Well, I’m telling you to knock it the fuck off.”

“Darling, I couldn’t find any pills.”

Nita pressed her hand to her forehead. “Right, sorry, Mom.”

“Well, I can get you some ibuprofen, okay?”

I glanced at Nita.

She looked up at me. At just a couple of inches over five feet, the difference was substantial. She licked her lips. “I can’t take those, Mom. They’re not good for the baby.” After a beat. “Pancakes, Tanner.”

Donna gasped. “Oh. You’re pregnant? I wondered because, you know, your breasts seemed larger, and—”

“Mom!”

“What’s all the yelling about?” Rob sauntered into the kitchen with Cam just behind. “It’s too early.”

Cam yawned. “Yeah, some of us were up late last night.” He caught my gaze.

Donna grabbed Rob’s arm. “We’re going to be grandparents.”

Rob swayed.

Cam steadied him.

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