Page 84 of Trusting Tanner
Juliana sat under her favorite tree, basking in the sun. She and Tanner had been back on campus for almost a week now, and she missed the privacy of the hotel and the lack of any real responsibility. Strangely, she missed his brothers, too. They were great guys. Funny and smart. It had been easy to forgive them for how they’d behaved when she knew the love that had been behind it. And once they’d made amends, they’d all spent the next day exploring Miami. It was the best weekend ever.
“I was starting to forget what you looked like.” Devon dropped his bag on the ground then sat next to her.
She laughed, but there was no humor behind it. Since getting serious with Tanner, she’d been spending less and less time with Devon, and when she did see him, guilt ate away at her. He’d always been her rock, and she hadn’t been a very good friend to him lately.
“Sorry.” She nudged his shoulder with hers.
“So things with Tanner are going well, huh?” He picked at the grass around him. His tone was flat, like he had the weight of the world resting on him.
Tilting her head, she studied him. “Yeah, things are great. Better than I ever imagined they could be.”
He glanced at her, smiling. But his blue eyes didn’t have their normal spark. “I’m happy you’re happy. You deserve it.”
“Okay. What’s going on?”
“I miss you.” He shrugged. “We used to hang out all the time, and now I barely see you.”
“I’m sorry.” Juliana frowned. Her heart splintered at the heavy sadness in his voice. “Why don’t you come over tonight? I’ll make you quesadillas.” He could never say no to her quesadillas, and spending the evening catching up with him would be good for both of them.
“So I can watch you and Tanner suck face? No thanks.”
She flinched at the harshness of his words, but she couldn’t get angry with him. He was right. She’d been neglecting him so she could have marathon sex with her boyfriend. “No, it’ll be just you and me tonight. Like old times.”
Hope filled his expression. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
“I’ll bring the beer and the movies.” His familiar grin returned, and she relaxed a little.
They ate lunch, talking about nothing and everything. Despite not hanging out much lately, it was like they hadn’t missed a beat, and they fell back into their easy groove. She was excited about spending more time with her best friend. But for every ounce of excitement pumping through her veins, there was an equal amount of sadness and disappointment.
Tonight would be the first night in almost two weeks she wouldn’t be with Tanner. Just thinking about that had her missing him, but the time apart was necessary. They needed to maintain their lives outside of each other, and she would not let her world revolve around him. She’d made that mistake with Zach and it had blown up in her face.
“You going to the frat party tomorrow night?” Devon asked.
“Yeah, Tanner asked me to go with him. You’ll be there, right?”
He nodded and reached for his bag. “Well, I suppose I’d better get to class.” He sighed like it was the biggest inconvenience of his life. “What time tonight?”
“Five? That’ll give me time to make a trip to the store.” She stood and wiped her hands on her butt.
“What time is your last class?”
“I’m done at 3:20 today.” She slung her bag over her shoulder.
“I’m done at three. I’ll meet you here. We can go to the store together, if you want.”
She nodded. It would save her from having to take the bus downtown for the few things she needed. “Cool. See you then.” She waved to him as he headed toward class.
Juliana walked toward Fallon Hall, but before she made it to the door, a pair of strong arms spun her around. And then Tanner’s mouth was on hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and arched into him. This was the first she’d seen him since they’d parted ways this morning.
He moved his lips along her jaw. “Tonight, I think we should test the sturdiness of your kitchen table. Again.” He nipped at her earlobe.
They’d spent the week “christening” her apartment and new furniture. So far, they’d had sex on her bed, her couch, the kitchen counter, the table, in her bathroom, and every wall he could pin her against.
She groaned. “I made plans with Devon tonight.”
“What?” He jerked back. “What’re you doing with him?”
