Page 87 of Trusting Tanner
“I’m heading to Mariah’s. You can crash in my room if you want.”
“Thanks, I think I’ll do that.” Tanner gave him an appreciative smile then headed upstairs. It was probably a good thing he hadn’t gone home with Jules. Both of them sick at the same time, fighting over one bathroom. Romantic. He went to Lucas’s room and flopped down on the bed.
…
Tanner yawned and stretched his arms. His temples throbbed with a killer headache. His throat was dry and scratchy.Damn, how much did I drink last night?He rolled onto his back and was met with a warm body. Humming with content, he reached over for Juliana.
“Hey, babe.” Rebecca rested her head on his chest.
He shoved her away and jumped out of bed, eyes wild, heart racing. “What the fuck are you doing here?” He wore only his boxer shorts.
“Don’t tell me you don’t remember.” She flung the covers off to reveal her naked body.
“For Christ’s sake.” He turned his back to her. “Get dressed and get the hell out of here!” Icy cold tendrils of fear reached into his chest and squeezed the breath from his body.No.This was a nightmare. It had to be.
“That’s not what you said last night when you were undressing me and fucking me.” The mattress squeaked, and then she stood behind him.
No. He did not have sex with her. He wouldn’t. Not when he was head over heels, drop dead in love with Juliana. He would never betray her like this. He wracked his brain, trying to recall more of last night’s events, but he came up blank.
She trailed her fingers down his back, and he jerked away. Grabbing his shirt from the floor, he yanked it over his head. He was positive he’d fallen asleep with his clothes on last night. Then he slipped on his jeans. His hand shook as he ran it through his hair. He began to collect Rebecca’s clothes from the floor and threw them at her. “Get. Dressed.”
Her answering smile was sly and wicked. His stomach churned.
“How the hell did you get in here, Rebecca?” This wasn’t happening. There had to be some sort of logical explanation that didn’t involve them having sex.
“You texted me, remember?” She put on her panties, snapping them against her hips.
His jaw dropped, and he felt the color drain from his face. The last thing he remembered after Jules left was having a few too many beers and a couple shots with Spencer, feeling sick to his stomach, and then going to bed in Lucas’s room. Why couldn’t he remember anything else?
“Don’t believe me? Check your messages.”
Tanner snatched his phone from where he’d set it on the headboard and clicked to his messages. Just like she said, there was a text message to her, sent at 2:45 a.m. He tilted his head and studied the text. He’d been in bed already, sound asleep by then. Hadn’t he? “This doesn’t make any fucking sense,” he mumbled.
It wasn’t possible. He’d remember texting her. And he knew damn well he’d remember having sex. What did she think sneaking into bed with him and pretending to have sex would accomplish? Wait. How did she even know where he was?
He opened the bedroom door. “Get the fuck out.”
She narrowed her eyes. The shift in her body language was visible, and he braced for her wrath. “Don’t fuck with me, Tanner. Youwillregret it.” She stormed out of the room and slammed the door.
The hairs on the nape of his neck stood on edge. There was a nagging voice in the back of his mind, faint, nearly inaudible, whispering he’d messed up, but he knew to the very depths of his soul he hadn’t had sex with Rebecca last night.Did I?He blew out a breath and rubbed his hands over his face.
“Jules,” he mumbled. Shit. If she found out about this—and she would because Rebecca would tell her—he really would lose her. He had to get to Juliana before Rebecca did and explain what happened. Not that he really had any clear idea because his mind was shrouded in a thick fog. He made it to her apartment in record time and took the stairs two at a time. Standing in front of her door, he drew in several deep breaths then knocked.
“Go away!” Her voice was muffled and strained.
His chest constricted as he prayed she was just sick and her tone didn’t hold knowledge of anything else. “Jules, honey. It’s me. Please open the door.”
“No.” She sounded closer. “Just go away.”
She knows.His stomach and heart dropped simultaneously, leaving a gaping hole deep inside of him. The urge to vomit consumed his thoughts, and he focused all his energy on not letting that happen. He rested his forehead against the door. “Please,” he begged. “Can we at least talk?” The door was yanked open, and he stumbled forward, barely catching himself before he face-planted on the floor.
“I’m not sure there’s anything you can say to me right now, Tanner.” She turned her back to him and walked farther into her apartment.
He closed the door behind him and swallowed hard, mentally kicking himself in the groin for not thinking about what he was going to say. He really had no idea. “Jules, baby, I—”
“Don’t!” She spun around, pointing her finger at him.
His heart imploded in his chest. Her face was red and blotchy; her eyes were puffy and wet with tears. It’d be a damn miracle if he didn’t drop dead right then and there from the raw pain radiating from her.
