Page 34 of Double Trouble

“Exactly.”

She rolls her eyes, then pushes up on her toes. Her lips tap mine, then press harder. She’s kissing me in front of a crowd, and not just any peck either, and I want to kiss her back, whisper I love yous, and never let her go.

But would that be too much? Would it be too fast? This weekend could be just a getaway for her—a time to do things she wouldn’t normally. Am I part of that?

I try to shake the doubts from my head, and I cup her neck, smoothing my thumb across her jaw. She opens for me, and I hear the muffled sounds of our audience around us, but it’s just me and her as far as I’m concerned. And I’m going to tell her.

“Hey Mad,” I say in the small space that opens between our lips.

“Hmm?”

“I—” The world spins, and my stomach soars to my throat. My ass lands on the pavement with a painful thud that ricochets up my spine. The board I completely forgot I was on soars across the cement, and one of my shoes flies into the air and bounces toward the asphalt-covered parking lot.

Mad’s eyes circle big, and her lips press together hard as she gazes down at me. Her cheeks turn pink with the effort to keep from laughing. “Are… are you okay?” she chokes out around amused chuckles.

I check my hands—scraped but not anything serious. My butt will be bruised for a month, but I’ve taken harder falls.

The corner of my mouth picks up at her. “Your kiss literally threw me on my ass.”

She laughs and takes a spot next to me on the cement. “I’ll make sure you’re on solid ground next time.” Then she plants another on my lips, and I forget everything I was going to tell her.

How have I survived years of knowing Tanner without kissing him? It’s like Leia and Han Solo dancing around before finally admitting to themselves they’re suckers for each other. Only I’m an oblivious idiot. If I was paying attention, maybe I would’ve seen it—seenhim—a lot sooner.

I rub his poor butt that had more than its fair share of abuse today as we walk back to my car. His arm is slung over my shoulder, my arm bent at the elbow and my fingers linked with his. I’m a back pocket person girl, apparently, because after giving his butt a sweet tap, I tuck my free hand into his pocket and keep it there.

There was a book I read forever ago about love languages. I picked it up after Pete and I moved out together, and I was on a kick of finding out who I was spiritually, emotionally, physically, romantically… Having never really had a relationship, I didn’t think I’d get much out of it, but I quickly learned that my love language is touch. It was that section that spoke to me, that made me crave someone to hold me, hug me, kiss me. Our family isn’t big on affection of any kind. I don’t remember the last time my mom hugged me, and my dad was too out of it to know when one of us was in the room.

As for my siblings, Pete and I high five or knuckle bump all the time, which is more than enough for us. But Dem… before this preteen mess, she was a hugger. She would bounce into my arms the moment I opened the door for her, and she’d stay there for as long as possible. There were nights she spent in my bed, tucked safely under my chin. There were always hugs, couch cuddles, tickle fights… and I knew that no matter how short I fell as a bread winner, I was loved by my sister.

A dark cloud starts to hover over me with the reminder that things are no longer that way between us. No. Not now. Not while I’m here with Tanner, boarding, laughing, hugging, kissing… This cloud will not touch me, and I tuck farther into Tanner’s side for cover.

As promised, I open his door for him, and he lets out a dorky laugh and gives me a kiss before squeezing behind the wheel. He’s not as tall as Pete, but he’s for sure taller than my petite body, and he reaches under the seat and slides all the way back with athunk. His eyes widen, and he makes the cutest “whoops” face, and I smile to myself as I shut the door.

I do a little dance for him as I make my way to the passenger seat, wiggling my butt for good measure. He’s hilarious, his ears going red as he shakes his head at my antics. I slump into the car and lean over the console for another kiss. I can’t get enough of them.

His fingers fumble over the keys as he puts them in the ignition, and I grin to myself. I like throwing him off his game. Tanner has no clue, but he’s pretty darn smooth. Even falling on his butt earlier, he did it with style.

The engine turns over but doesn’t turn on. My brows furrow, and panic boils in my belly.

“Uh… it’s never made that sound before.”

Tanner tries again, and the car sputters and then doesn’t make a single sound at all. “Yeah… that doesn’t sound good.”

My shoulders slump, and I slap a hand on the door handle. “Pop the hood. I’ll see if I can get a jump from someone.”

He ducks to the side of the wheel, searching for the button. I don’t think it’s the battery, but we might as well try.

My mood is shot to hell though after grabbing someone and hooking the cables up. Tanner turns the key and no bueno. My decades old car has finally kicked the bucket.

We thank the kid who was happy to help, even offering us a lift home until we told him we’re about three hours out. Then Tanner runs a hand through his hair and leans against the hood.

“You wanna call Pete?” he asks, and a good amount of dread drops into my stomach.

I shake my head hard, and I think he senses all the emotions crashing through me. He stretches his arms wide and wiggles his fingers.

“You need a hug, Brink?”

My bottom lip juts out the tiniest bit, and I nod, falling into his open arms. He squeezes me tight, planting a kiss to my crown, making things better for a split second.

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