Page 54 of Forever

“Tanner, I have so many questions,” she said and pulled back. “But also somehow so much is clear at the same time. Like the two of you hanging out in this city together like a bunch of whores.”

Tanner smiled. “I’d hardly classify myself that way either.”

“You and Matt were terrible influences on each other. You were both hurting and instead of dealing with your feelings you just slept your way through half of New York.”

Well, she wasn’t wrong.

Tanner pressed his lips together. But he didn’t say anything.

I didn’t really know the extent of their friendship. But I knew they’d talked a lot. I knew he’d helped Brooklyn open her heart up to love again. So they must have shared some intimate details. And I could also tell that her words hurt him.

I cleared my throat. “Brooklyn…”

“I’m sorry,” she quickly said. “I wasn’t trying to judge you, Tanner. Things just started clicking into place in my head. I hadn’t really pictured you as Matt’s wingman. But of course you were. All his other friends are married.”

I didn’t think this was helping. She was making it sound like Tanner was some kind of replacement for my other friends. “Brooklyn, I don’t think…”

“But it’s like you said,” she continued. “Everyone handles grief differently. And I’m really glad you were there for Matt. Truly. But when Matt told me you usually hang out with models I didn’t really believe him. It doesn’t really seem like…you.”

Tanner still didn’t say anything.

“If that is you, that’s fine. I just couldn’t picture it until literally a second ago because when we talk you just seem so down to earth. I definitely see it now though. It’ll be a little hard to unsee, actually.” She laughed. “But for some reason I just feel like maybe you’d love a sweet girl to settle down with.”

Tanner grabbed a glass off a passing tray and downed the whole thing. “Maybe in a hundred years, Brooklyn.” He sighed and put the glass back down on the tray.

“I don’t get it,” Brooklyn said. “You like setting matches for everyone else. Why not yourself?”

He opened his mouth and then closed it again. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I need another drink.” He walked off.

“Brooklyn, what was that?” I said. “You basically just said you used to think he was a nice guy, but now you think he’s a womanizing asshole.”

She put her face in her hands. “I’m so sorry. I’m mortified. It was like I couldn’t stop talking.”

“Hey.” I pulled her hands down.

“Tanner is such a sweet guy. I just never in a million years expected him to show up with two topless women.”

“It’s Halloween. I mean, look at me.” I gestured to my fig leaf.

She groaned. “I know, I’m such a jerk. I should go apologize.”

I caught her hand before she could follow him. “Maybe give him a second, okay?”Or maybe several minutes.Because he’d just tossed one of the girls he’d come with over his shoulder and was walking out the door.

Tanner and I probably were bad influences on each other. But he was also one of my best friends. I wasn’t sure what I would have done if I hadn’t met him a few years ago. All my other friends had moved on with their lives. And I was just…stuck. Tanner understood that. He was there for me when no one else was.

Just because I was ready to settle down now, it didn’t mean he had to be too. I knew what it was like when all my single friends got into serious relationships. I hated feeling like the odd man out. I knew exactly how Tanner was feeling right now. And having one of my friends’ girls tell me to settle down hadn’t helped me either. Despite Penny’s best intentions.

“He’s a good guy,” I said to Brooklyn.

“I know he’s a good guy. He’s agreatguy. He’s honestly one of my best friends. And I feel like such an ass.”

I laughed. “Well if you feel like an ass, maybe I need to make an ass out of myself too.” I shimmied my shoulders to the music.

She laughed. “I really should go apologize.”

I grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor where the rest of our friends were already dancing. Tanner definitely needed some time. And I wanted todance until sweat dripped down Brooklyn’s chest and I could trace the path with my tongue.

Chapter 14

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