Page 57 of Tanner

I agree, “Apparently.”

We turn the corner, our feet keeping a quick pace due to the cold weather.

“I’m right up here.” She points toward her building that houses student apartments.

“I remember,” I say.

“That’s right. You’ve been here before. Never alone though.” There’s a look in her eye as she says that, and it makes me do a double take of my actions.

This is how guys get themselves into trouble. When a girl asks a guy to come over for a drink, he walks over the threshold with absolutely no idea if she’s asking him to bed or if she really just wants him to come up for a shot of tequila. I’ve never insinuated anything from a woman. I also hope I’m not giving her the wrong impression either.

As we approach the complex, she takes out her key and turns the lock.

“Laney,” I call out to her.

She stops and faces me.

“When you said a drink, did you mean a drink, or were you asking me to come up for something else?”

Her eyes bug out. “Wow. No one has ever asked me that before. Um … well, I do have a bottle inside, so I really am asking you to have a drink.”

I sigh in relief and take a step forward. I don’t know what I’m feeling right now about Harper, and I’ve already had a few too many to drink. I don’t need the headache of waking up next to a woman I have no intention of hurting.

“Wait,” she says, and I halt. Her eyes close as she pinches them in embarrassment. “Okay, yes. I have thought about going to bed with you many times. Many times,” she repeats herself and then opens her eyes. “I’m not saying come upstairs for a cheap fuck, but if I’m totally honest, I’m not opposed to the idea of going to bed with you tonight.” She fidgets with her keys in her hand as she says, “Yes. I asked you to have a drink with every intention of us having sex tonight.”

I take a step back. “I can’t.”

“Is it me?”

“I have a girl.”

“You just said you didn’t have a girlfriend.”

I run my fingers through my hair. “I don’t. It’s complicated.”

She lets out an exasperated laugh. “I’ll say. She left you at the bar. How long have you been going out that you’re already fighting like an old married couple?”

“Three dates.”

“Three!” She holds up a hand. “You can’t possibly be that into a girl after three dates. Listen, Tanner, I tried to play coy with you, but that didn’t work. I tried to be the friend. That didn’t work. Now, I’m laying it all out on the table. I want you. Bad. You’re leaving in a few weeks, so it’s now or never. So, if you want to come upstairs with me, I promise I’ll ride you so hard that I’ll make you forget all about whoever she is.”

While I never pictured Laney as the type of girl to offer herself up for a fuck, I also never pictured myself turning one down. And that’s what I’m going to do because, as pissed as I am at Harper, as much as I have no damn clue if things will work out between us, I know for certain that I can’t be with any other woman tonight because all I’ll do is close my eyes and picture her.

“I’m sorry, Laney. Have a good night.” I turn to leave.

“Wait,” she calls out, and I stop. “This just got weird really fast.” She blows out a deep breath. “Don’t go. Because, now, I feel weird that this conversation ever took place, and it might scar me for the rest of my life.”

I laugh lightly at her brutal honesty. “It’s my fault. I asked the question.”

She rolls her eyes. “Just come up for a drink.”

“Just a drink?” I ask.

She smiles demurely. “I thought we were drinking the bottle?”

I probably shouldn’t, but damn if I’ve done anything that makes sense lately. Against my better judgment, I follow Laney upstairs for that drink.

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