“I’m sorry?” I ask. “No, we just started dating last night. It’s too soon for love, but maybe one day.”
“Hmm,” she hums. “I know love when I see it, and that boy loves you very much. He wouldn’t have called me if he didn’t. And I recognize the look on your face. It’s the same one Poppy makes when she’s around my son.”
“You ready to go?” Tanner asks, walking back in from the bathroom.
“Oh, uh, yep. Thanks again, Gwen. I’ll be in touch really soon.”
“I look forward to it. I’m so glad y’all stopped by.”
We walk out of the studio, and a cool breeze sends a shiver through me. “Goodness, it’s getting colder.”
“Hold on,” Tanner says, removing his jacket. He wraps it around my shoulders and pulls me into his side, rubbing my arm with his hand. “Is that better?”
“Much better.”
“What were you two talking about when I went to the bathroom?”
The L-word pops into my head again, and my heart rate spikes.
“Just art class stuff,” I lie, and my stomach sinks. An unwanted memory of my breakup with Chad pops into my head, and I realize I’m terrified of the word love. I’m terrified that I’ll eventually put myself out there and it won’t be returned. Or worse, he’ll say it and won’t mean it.
CHAPTER 37: GOOD LUCK WITH THAT
WREN
Istick the Post-it note that Tanner left me this morning on the bulletin board in my office. It’s his normal doodle of a dog and a cheetah, but this time he’s drawn a little heart in the middle above their heads.
“Did one of the resident’s grandkids draw you a picture?” Gray asks, walking into my office with her lunch box.
“Huh?”
“The Post-it?”
“Oh, no, it’s the doodle Tanner left me this morning,” I say, smiling. “He’s not the best artist in the world, but I like it.”
“Doodle Tanner left?” she asks,confused. “What’s it supposed to be?” She cocks her head to the side and studies the drawing.
“Oh, it’s a dog and a cheetah.”
“I can kinda see it. Care to explain what it means and why I’m just now learning he’s been leaving you doodles?” she asks, sitting in one of the chairs in front of my desk and pulling out a salad.
“It’s our thing I guess.” I shrug, sitting in my chair and grabbing for my lunch. “When I went over to tour his place for the first time, he told me this story about how at the San Diego Zoo, they pair cheetahs with dogs to help the cats feel less nervous. I misunderstood, and thought he was trying to give me this dramatic metaphor about us moving in together, and it stuck. The doodles started the first morning I was living with him, and I get one every day. I’m not sure why I haven’t mentioned it, but I’ve saved every single one.”
“Do they always have a heart?”
“No, that’s new.” My stomach does the swoopy thing that it does every time I think about the man who continues to surprise me in the best ways. “Most of the time they reference something that happened or that we talked about.”
“That’s really sweet,” she says. “So, spill. I know you’ve been holding back in the group text, and I want every last detail about your slutty little three day staycation with your new boyfriend.”
“It was amazing. We spent most of it in his bed, but when we weren’t there, he cooked for me, took me to an escape room, we went on a couple walks, and on Friday he surprised me by taking me to Logan’s mom’s studio.”
“Girl, you texted us about that. I need to know the dirty, filthy details of this weekend.”
My face heats, and I take a bite of my sandwich. “Close the door.”
She jumps up and quickly shuts the door and spins around. “Spill.”
“It’s hands down the best sex I’ve ever had, and I know I haven’t had sex with a ton of people, but holy shit, I didn’t know it could be like this.”
