Page 79 of Tanner

“Yes.”

“What are you going to do with the money from the sale of your apartment?”

I shrug. “Probably invest in something else. My dad came from little, so when his business took off, he was very wise to invest. He instilled that in me. I’m not a penny-pincher per se, but I certainly save, and real estate was a no-brainer. That apartment has increased thirty percent since I bought it. I mean, it’s a tiny one-bedroom, but it’s desirable. Why are you looking at me like that?”

His eyes are glazed over, and his mouth is parted slightly. “Nothing. You’re perfect. That’s all.”

Gosh, this guy is good for my ego.

After dinner, we wash the dishes and make a bowl of popcorn. I have papers to grade for tomorrow, so I pull them out of my tote bag and walk them into the office where Tanner is seated, watching the History Channel. I curl into his side and bend my knees as I do my work to the soft sounds of popcorn crunching in his mouth. I’ve never enjoyed grading papers this much.

I reach for a few kernels, lean back to get his attention, and throw them up in the air for him to catch with his mouth. I’m completely off with the first toss, and it earns me a boob grab in return.

I try again, but this time, he leans over and tickles me without even attempting to catch it.

It takes us a few tries, but before long, we get it. We cheer in celebration before I lay my head on his lap, bend my knees, and get back to work. His fingers run through my hair as I grade. After an hour, I have the final one done. I run my hands over my eyes, and I put everything away.

I pour two more glasses of wine, this time the twenty-eight-dollar kind that I had in the refrigerator. When I sit back on the futon, Tanner hands me the remote. I’m surprised since I thought he’d want to get naked.

“Put on what you want,” he says.

I take it from him and put on Friends.

“You love this show.”

“It’s my entire life. Well, it’s like the theme to my life. I was in college when it ended. I thought my entire adult life was going to be one big episode of Friends. I always fashioned myself to be a Rachel, but, honestly, I’m a Monica.”

“Who am I?”

“You’re just Tanner. They didn’t know men like you existed when they created this show.”

He grins. “Probably because I was eleven.”

I place a hand on my chest. “Oh, dear Lord, that means you’re younger than my favorite show.”

“Come here, crazy.” He pulls me back into his side and puts his arm around my shoulders. “Tell me all the things you love about this show. I believe you said you could quote it verbatim.”

As he kisses me on the head, I realize just how lucky I am. Here is this great guy who wants to cook dinner and enjoy a night at home, watching reruns. We’ve had some fun, wilder times, but for the most part, my life with Tanner has been moments like this. Coffee and reading, painting and doing work. Silent moments where we can just be.

We sit like this for a while, watching a mini marathon. His laugh is deep and sexy. I don’t know how much of the show he’s seen, so I just let him watch. Since I’ve seen them all, I just watch him.

I love you.

Shit.

Tanner’s right with his nickname today. I am crazy. It’s way too soon. Yet …

“What are you doing this weekend?”

He glances down at me. “You tell me.”

“I’m going home to see my parents.”

“Do I get to go, too?” Tanner asks me with surprise excitement in his eye.

“You’d want to go?” I ask, sitting up.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I? Your father is your hero, which means you’re going to be comparing me to him for the rest of our lives.”