That sentence could have two meanings if Tanner stays after they leave.
“Since when have I ever lay down for you, so you can get your way?”
Brad cocks his head to the side, and those matching chocolate eyes challenge mine. “You should listen to me, Piper. You don’t stand a chance.”
I watch his chest rise and fall as his elbows rest on his knees. I can’t help but sense that he’s not only talking about Monopoly, which pisses me off at his idiocy.
My hand clenches the money. “You don’t know everything, Brad. Why don’t you let me make my own decisions?” I straighten my back from the tension he’s building in my shoulders.
I’m embarrassed that Tanner has to witness me behave this way. He’s seen our fights before, but we’re twenty-two now, and Brad needs to grow the fuck up.
“I know what’s best for you, Piper.”
Brad’s incessant need to put me down in order for me to stay clear from his best friend infuriates me.
“Are we still arguing about Monopoly?” Taylor scoots up on the couch and peers between the two of us. “I’m tired, Brad. Let’s go to bed.”
I’ve never been more thankful that Brad is dating a whiny girl.
He moves his hand and rests it on her bare knee. “Almost, babe. Give me five minutes to annihilate these two.” He challenges.
I stand up, tossing all my properties and money on the board. “Game over!” I yell. Then, I retreat to my room, slamming the door behind me.
I have no idea why I’m this upset or why I’ve embarrassed myself with the outburst. Once I’m in the safety of my four walls, guilt roars its ugly head because I acted like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. Worst of all, Tanner observed the childish act.
After only a few minutes, I hear the shuffling of feet passing by my door and then the click of the door shutting. Believing they left, I’m hurt that Tanner didn’t stay, witnessing how upset I am. There has been a change between us lately. We aren’t acting like childhood friends any longer. It’s deeper, and I know the shift is surprisingly to him, as well. I refuse to sit back and allow him to manipulate me if he’s only going to push me away later.
Then, a light tap on my door has me jumping up from the bed. When I spring open the door, disappointment sets in again. Instead of the mouthwatering boy I thought I was going to get lucky with, it’s a tall blonde with a fake-as-hell smile across her face.
“Taylor,” I say, exasperated.
Her smile falters by my tone. “Um . . . Tanner wanted me to check on you.” She shuffles her feet back and forth, clearly uncomfortable.
“I’m fine, Taylor. Thank you. Go ahead and join Brad and Tanner upstairs.” I leave my room, finding the game tucked away and the pizza no longer on the countertop.
“Piper.”
I turn around to face her.
“I don’t mind staying. Do you want to talk?” There’s no pep in her voice. She’s reserved and concerned.
Damn it, she’s a keeper.
I shake my head. I’d better not grow close to her because Brad will ruin their relationship before anything serious happens anyway.
“Don’t sweat it, Taylor. I’m used to fighting with my brother.” I toss my hand in the air because it’s the truth.
Brad, I can handle. Tanner’s the one winding me into a ball of knots.
“Well . . .” She stops moving, staring at me for a few seconds. “If you ever want to talk, I’m always here.”
I watch her slim and gorgeous self tentatively walk to the door.
She stops when her hand grips the doorknob, and she turns my way. “I really like your brother. Not sure why I’m telling you, but thought you should know.” One side of her mouth quirks up.
I wish I could take back my bitchy behavior when she’s been nothing but nice to me. “Taylor,” I say, grabbing her attention, my heart warming toward her, “I know, and I think he likes you, too.”
Her usual huge smile begins to erupt, and she nods her head. “Thank you, Piper,” she softly says. Then, she retreats through the door.
I hate it when I’m wrong about people, and I’m pretty sure I pegged Taylor wrong.
When the click of the door echoes through my empty apartment, loneliness sets in. Tanner leaving with Brad shows just how important—or shall I say, unimportant—I am to him. He was ready to cross the line with me until we were interrupted. The worst part about Tanner’s actions is that they bring truth to Brad’s words. Maybe I don’t stand a chance.
three
BY THE TIME I WAKE up the next morning, my eyes are red and puffy, and there’s a stack of used tissues next to my pillow. I loathe my pitiful self for allowing a guy to bring me to the point of tears.
For some absurd reason, I thought Tanner had the same desires for me as I do for him. I thought we were in this forbidden affair together, but I guess I’m alone, and that’s what upsets me the most. I trusted him, only to be pushed aside for my brother time and again.
Why do I continue to disappoint myself, thinking I could be more than second-best in Tanner’s eyes? I’m stronger than this, and from this point forward, I need to prove that I am when Tanner’s around.
Needing to purge myself from this funk, I throw my covers to the side and sit up in bed. My body itches for the release to erase all my worries. I shrug on some yoga pants and a sweatshirt, grab my bag, and leave the solitude of my apartment.
The orange sun is starting to peek over the buildings when I unlock my bike and hop on, swinging my bag across my body to stay in place. Pedaling as fast as I can, I breeze through the empty college streets. I forget how quiet it is after seventy-five percent of the population has been out until the wee morning hours.
The closer I come to the pool house, the more peace calms my body. I’m practically able to smell the chlorine, the cool tile on the bottom of my feet, and the warmth of the humidity. I imagine diving into the water, it cocooning around me, and the clear liquid holding me as I propel and kick through it.
Rushing through the vacant locker room, I disrobe and change into my black one-piece swimming suit. It’s definitely not attractive, but it’s a necessity to obtain the workout I need. Otherwise, I would be constantly adjusting my top or digging the fabric from my ass. Although I don’t want to take the extra time to rinse before sinking into the pool, I reluctantly press the knobs on the shower, squirting water over my body as quickly as possible.
Once I leave the locker room, the familiar scent of chlorine fills my nostrils and swarms me like a blanket. I release a breath as I admire the uninterrupted still water walled in. It’s my home, my solitude, my safe place, my therapy. I choose my usual lane in the middle of the pool, the plastic ropes lining my path.
Shaking my arms and legs, I warm up my muscles. I tuck my hair under my cap, position my goggles, and climb on the starting block.
I allow my imagination to whisk me to a meet, my sweaty palms from the anticipation of the gun shooting off, and I dive into the water. As soon as my hands ripple through the water, I go full force. My arms instantly move in a constant motion while all my issues with Tanner flow through my mind as I swim back and forth from side to side.
The longer I swim, the more my head clears from the turbulent situation. I ponder how the tension has escalated these past few months. The casual friendship we’ve always had has now twisted into a flirtation spiraling out of our control. For some reason, Tanner can turn it off and on like a damn faucet, whereas I’m in a constant state of want.
Soon, I’m unable to focus, and I have no choice but to take a break to recoup some energy. Gripping the side of the pool, I toss my goggles on the cement and lay my head on top of my hands, leaning over the edge of the pool. Mentally tormenting myself on my recent obsession with Tanner McCain, I’m surprised when the echo of someone else in the pool alerts me.