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“Yeah. Everybody’s sorry.” He rolled his eyes, and I somehow knew it wasn’t directed at me.
“When did you find out?”
“About two years ago. Right after my brother left for California.” He laughed once. “Chase thought he would be a rock star or something. The next Bon-fucking-Jovi. My parents kept the cancer a secret from him so he could keep his golden head up his ass. Then, the cancer got more aggressive, whatever the fuck that means. Mom told Chase to come home. We’re not sure how much longer Dad has.”
The mystery surrounding Tanner became clear. Mallory said Tanner’s anger spiraled out of control a couple of years ago. That was when he’d first found out about the cancer. He wasn’t a bad person, or a crazed lunatic. He was in pain. This was something he could not control. This was something I completely understood.
“My mom had cancer.” The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
“Had?”
I nodded. “She died when I was five.”
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
One corner of my mouth lifted. “Everyone always is, right?”
His slight smile mirrored mine, and a butterfly fluttered in my chest. His irises, dark and deep, were framed by his dark brows and chiseled cheekbones. Many times, I’d heard the expression about eyes being windows to our souls, but I never truly understood it—until now. Tanner held all of his pain, his worries, and his emotions inside. I could see it all churning like a brewing storm. There was good inside him, too. I saw it when he smiled. What was more, something in me wanted to make him happy just so I could see that smile more often.
I tried to ignore the delicate wings flapping around my heart. I attempted to get the angry feeling back, but it had already dissipated. How could I be angry with someone who was going through something as painful as losing a parent? He needed someone. A friend. I did, too.
“I’m sorry I was a dick yesterday. I get like that sometimes.”
“You know, just because you’re going through something doesn’t mean you get a free pass to act like that toward people.”
“I know.”
We swung in silence and after several minutes, I lost our staring contest. “Why do you care what I do with Gabe?”
“I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Why do you care if I get hurt?”
“Because you’re a good person.”
“Why do you think I’m such a good person?”
“Why do you have so many questions?”
“Because I’m trying to figure you out.”
“Good luck with that,” he said. “I can’t figure myself out half the time.”
I bit my tongue.
“How did you break your wrist?”
“I fell. I was at my dad’s bakery in Florida, and I slipped on some flour.”
“Okay. Now tell me the truth.”
My stomach twisted. “What are you talking about? I fell.”
“I can tell when you’re lying.”
“How?”
“You don’t look me in the eyes when you lie. Just like when you told me your dad hides money under his mattress. Also, your voice changes, like when you said you weren’t free tonight on the phone.”
