Page 57 of Here's to Yesterday

“What made you change yourmind?”

“You. What you said about your parents and his master manipulation. It made me think that what ifI’mthe one he’s deceiving now? What if he’s been lying to me all this time about who he trulyis?”

Tucker shoves the last of his cheese fries into his mouth and reaches over to polish mine off before he responds tome.

“What version of my brother do youget?”

Not expectingthatquestion.

“The sweet one. The caring one. The attentiveone.”

“I have to be honest; he can be all those things. Occasionally. And by occasionally, I mean hardly ever. Tanner is all about doing things that makehimhappy. He’s all about whatever is going to help him out in the end, what’s in it for him,” Tucker tells me. He swallows down the last of the fries and takes a big drink of water. “I’m not trying to rag on my brother, Maura, but I think you know that. It’s not my style. I’m only being honest withyou.”

My shoulders slump in defeat because that’s what I was afraid of. At first, Tanner seemed exactly as I described him: arrogant, self-assured, but full of misrepresentation by everyone else around him. Now, he seems…fake. It pains me to admit it, too, because I didn’t want Tanner to be fake. I wanted Tanner to be real. But now I think I built him up to be that way in my head. I think I may havemadehim that way to make myself feel better. I knew deep down I had started seeing him because I knew he was someone my parents wouldlove.

I guess I didn’t know then that would be because they’re soalike.

“Not what you wanted to hear, huh?” he says. I must admit that I’m shocked by the sympathy I hear in hisvoice.

“Not really. I wanted you to tell me to stick with it and that he’s a good guy deep down. But I think I knew the real answer all along. I shouldn’t have to guess what version of a person I’m gettinganyway.”

I know Tanner isn’t a bad person, he’s just notmyperson.

Glancing up at Tucker, I jerk back at the look he’s giving me. There’s heat in it, maybe a small hint of desire. I involuntarily shiver from the intensity. It’s a look he shouldn’t be giving me, and one I shouldn’t be enjoying somuch.

Suddenly thirsty, I take a sip of my soda as he says, “I show you the real me,Maura.”

I swallow loudly and lower my glass with shaky hands, holding hisgaze.

“I know you do, Tucker. I know youdo.”

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