Page 56 of Endurance
“Mind filling me in on what your cheeky wink is about?” I bark, annoyed at this little exchange and feeling a tightness in my neck that I don’t all together care for.
Belle laughs. “Easy boy, they are just impressed by my wicked football knowledge. Camden is always too busy snogging Indie to ever have a proper conversation with me.”
“Had I known all of this, I would have made time! Indie must be trying to keep you all to herself,” Camden cajoles.
“Well, you’re doing a proper job of keeping her all to yourself, which I fully approve of. You make Indie happy and that’s what’s most important.”
Camden gets a faraway look in his eyes when Belle mentions Indie, but Gareth doesn’t seem to notice. He elbows him and adds, “But I mean, isn’t Belle great for Tanner? I’ve never seen a girl bust his balls like this. It’s really impressive.”
“Tan the Man’s balls are made of mush anyway.” Belle wrinkles her nose and Camden and Gareth erupt into laughs. Again.
This is all really starting to make me uncomfortable. Before, when it was just Belle and me alone at the pool last night and at the match today, was manageable. I could let myself enjoy it. Now, seeing her invade my family life so easily and fit in with my brothers, I feel completely disarmed.
A few minutes later, Gareth mumbles something about needing to head home. He stands up and surprises all of us by pulling Belle into a hug. “Belle, it’s been a pleasure. You rival the likes of Vi and that’s a feat not easily achieved. I hope to see more of you.”
Belle flushes in surprise. My face heats as well. The compliment goes down my throat like broken glass. This is probably the highest form of praise a Harris Brother could ever bestow and it’s all too much.
It brings a heavy feeling to the pit of my stomach. A feeling I don’t welcome. I miss knowing myself. I miss having my routine: Football and family. That’s it. Between the suspension and losing Camden on my team, everything has been thrown out of whack for me. It’s forced me to look inside and see myself…see that it’s just me, not one of the Harris twins.
I need to get back to being the Tanner Harris I used to be. Light. Carefree. The Tanner Harris that makes sense to me. Whatever is happening around me right now doesn’t make sense.
Camden excuses himself shortly after Gareth leaves, so Belle and I make our way back to Gareth’s. I can feel her questioning gaze on me as we crawl into bed but, for whatever reason, she doesn’t push it. It’s the first time Belle Ryan actually holds back.
It was a long day and since we’ll be leaving early in the morning, we go right to sleep. It’s the first time in my life I sleep with a woman and do just that. Sleep.
“HI!”INDIE’S VOICE IS HIGH-PITCHEDand excited as she comes clumping into our flat late on Sunday afternoon with three big bags in tow.
“Indie! I’ve missed you, darling!” I get up and run to hug her, knowing I’m being dramatic but practically bursting to talk to her.
I dropped Tanner off at his flat over three hours ago and I haven’t sat down once. I even popped in a workout DVD and lasted ten whole minutes before bailing ship and grabbing a chocolate. The bitch in the video kept saying, “I’m going to make you earn this!”
I showed her when I stuffed three chocolates into my mouth. But hell, I needed something to try to distract my thoughts until Indie got home.
Indie drops all her stuff at the bottom of the stairs while I pop into the kitchen for a couple of waters. I hand one to her as she tucks up on the sofa.
“How was the Bethnal match? I saw they lost.”
“Yeah, it was awful. Mendes twisted his ankle. He heard it pop and the X-ray showed torn cartilage. He’s probably out for a few weeks.”
“Oh, fuck me.” I wince. “Did you do the exam?”
“Yes, Dr. Nabours was tending to DeWalt.”
“Did he get hurt, too?”
“No, they think he was dehydrated. He’s a bit of a party boy. You could look at him and know why. He looks like Shemar Moore and has moves like Beckham. He’s in the muck with Vaughn big time.”
“Oh, that still sucks.”
“Yeah, but enough about me and my work. I’m dying to hear about you. Tell me everything. I can’t believe you went to Manchester with Tanner! How did it go?”
I exhale heavily. “It went!” I force a toothy grin. Her brown eyes are wide and waiting. “I don’t know, Indie. It was bloody perfect. It was fun. I got to hang out with Gareth and Cam for a bit and they were so great. Tanner was surprising, yet still so…Tanner. And…ugh!” I throw my head back in frustration and cover my face with my arm.
“Why are you ughing?” Indie pries.
“Because it’s Tanner! And he’s Tanner and he’s a pig and he’s a whore, and one second he makes me so happy and then the next second he makes me so furious!”
“What did he do to piss you off?”
