Page 40 of Tank’s Weakness

Laney

Have you been counting down the hours?

Me

Ever since I left.

Even though I can’t see her, I know her cheeks are turning pink from my confession.

Laney

Me too. I’m excited. I have plans for us.

Me: I’m looking forward to it.

“Dude, why are you smiling at your phone? It’s fucking creepy,” Gunner murmurs.

Me

Well, my buddies need me. I’ll message you later.

Laney

Be safe.

I pocket my phone and turn back toward them and find both men staring at me.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask.

“Because you were just willingly on your phone for more than a minute,” Gunner says.

Bear nods. “You were texting. You hate texting.”

“I don’t hate texting,” I lie.

Both men shoot me a look that says I’m full of shit.

“I was just texting a friend, is all.”

“A friend? Who? Your only friends are our brothers and the old ladies,” Bear asks.

Gunner groans. “Did Sloane text you to break it to me that she did something she shouldn’t have?”

“I wasn’t texting your girl,” I reassure him.

“Then what friend?” Bear presses.

“The female variety that you guys don’t know,” I say. I fight the urge to walk away from them and their stares, but I keep my ass planted in my seat.

“You know, out of all the brothers I thought would fall next, I didn’t think it would be you,” Gunner grumbles.

“I’m not falling for anyone,” I protest.

“Bullshit,” they say in unison.

Before anything else can be said, Bear’s phone rings.

“Yeah?” he says as he answers it. “Got it.”