His hand fits in mine. I tow him away from the tea truck and into the shadows of my building. Tanner likes the dark. Away from the bustle of people, he relaxes. I push him against the wall and crowd him. “Don’t be careful with me. I don’t need it.”
“I know.”
“So stop second-guessing everything you say.”
“It’s not everything I say. It was one time.”
“That’s one time too many. You want me to tiptoe around every fucked-up thing that’s ever happened to you?”
It’s a low blow, but one he understands despite the fact he has no idea Jerry has run his mouth about what happened out on the trails last year. And the fact that he has no idea how bad I needed that single puzzle piece.
Tanner drops his hands on my tense shoulders. “I don’t ever want you to tiptoe around me.”
“Why not?”
“Because it makes me feel like a fuck-up.”
I stare harder at him.
He concedes my point with a wry smile. “Yeah, okay. I get it. But you should know I’m the king of putting my foot in my mouth.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Why not?”
Because Tanner is a thinker. If he fucks up it’s a rare thing. But he doesn’t want to hear that right now, so I take him throwing my question back at me and let it go. I kiss his cheek and step back. “So…I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
“Sure. I’m working till the afternoon sometime, then we’re good.”
“Call me?”
“When?”
A laugh escapes me. Man, he’s as bad at this as I am. “I don’t know. Whenever you’re free. I’m home all day.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m camping out in a few days, so Jerry banned me from going out until then.”
Tanner’s gaze flickers. He covers it with a nod, but I see it all the same. “Okay. I’ll call you.”
He pushes off the wall and slips past me.
I don’t watch him leave.
Chapter Ten
Tanner
I don’t call him, because I don’t call anyone if I can help it. I spend a long afternoon circling my phone as if it’s an unexploded landmine, then I text him.
Tanner:u wanna hang out later?
Hey. I’ve never claimed to be articulate.
Jax doesn’t respond for a while, but I figure he’s enjoying his down time, so I leave my phone on the coffee table and head downstairs to check that my crew is ready for the evening shift.
They’re not, and making it right takes longer than I’m in the mood for. But I don’t take it out on them, because I’m a better man than I used to be. Some days. Maybe.
