Page 82 of Wanting You

Slowly, he broke the kiss, but then dove back in for one more taste before pulling back. “I’m in love with you, Chloe Donovan,” he said gruffly. “I love the way you’re passionate about teaching and your town and your family. Every day without you was miserable.”

“I felt the same way,” she told him, still caressing his jaw. “But it gave me time to take a good look at my life and all the ways I wasn’t handling things well. My family had an intervention with me and I sort of…well, let’s just say that I went off on everyone. I’d never done that before. And you know what happened?”

He shook his head. “No, what?”

“The sky didn’t fall. I was able to express how I felt and no one freaked out. The only thing that happened was that I felt better. It was wild!” She laughed. “Although, I felt a little bad afterwards because some of the stuff I freaked out about really wasn’t such a bad thing.”

“But to you they were. There’s nothing wrong with that. You’re entitled to your feelings, and if people can’t handle it, that’s on them.” He paused. “Believe me, I know from personal experience. I didn’t want to accept the things you were telling me that night because it wasn’t convenient for me. And that was wrong. We don’t have to feel the same things, but we have to respect each other’s feelings.”

She nodded. “I think that’s something everyone struggles with. I don’t think it’s exclusive to us, but thank you for saying that.” Now she let out a long breath. “Either way, it’s kind of nice to not internalize so many things. It changed nothing. All it did was make me feel sad and alone.”

Holding her close, he placed a kiss on her forehead. “And that’s something you had to come to on your own.” Then he paused. “Why did your family have an intervention?”

“After you and I broke up, I didn’t tell anyone. I just sort of stopped doing things with them for like a week. It wasn’t a big deal and I think they completely overreacted, but it was sweet that they cared.”

“Definitely,” he agreed, realizing he didn’t share their breakup with his parents either. Any time they talked in the last two weeks, he’d focused on school and how teaching was going. They’d asked about Chloe and he’d said she was fine and then changed the subject. “I should probably call my parents tomorrow.”

“Oh?”

“I haven’t exactly been honest with them either. It just seemed easier because they worry over every little thing—and not in a bad way, but I just didn’t want to upset them. Does that make sense?”

“It does. And I know that my family worries, but I realized I’d never talked to them about my relationship stuff. I mean, I talk to Ash about it, but not the rest of them. This time I didn’t even talk to Ash.”

Pulling back, he looked at her. “How come?”

“Um…”

He realized immediately that she might not want to talk about it and quickly backpedaled. “You don’t have to tell me. It’s not a big deal. You’re entitled to your privacy.”

Chloe instantly groaned. “Please don’t do that. Don’t feel you have to walk on eggshells with me, Tanner. The reason I didn’t talk to Ashlynn about our breakup is because deep down, I knew I was being unreasonable. I was overwhelmed in a way I’d never been before and was lashing out like a brat. And if anyone was going to call me out on it, she was.” She shrugged. “So it was safer to just keep canceling plans and seeing how long I could get away with it.” Then she chuckled. “It actually lasted longer than I thought it would.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“Definitely a good thing because it forced me to work it out for myself before I had anyone trying to tell me I was wrong or why I needed to look at it their way. It felt good to know I could do it on my own. That I’m not as weak as I always thought I was.”

Again, he hated that she saw herself that way, but it sounded like things were changing. “Then I’ll agree and say it was a good thing.”

They sat in companionable silence for several moments. “So what happens now?” she asked. “Should I come back here tomorrow for another lesson and again on Sunday? Are you working all weekend or would you just come here with me to cheer me on?”

He laughed as he shook his head. “I think we may have created a monster. Tonight you did great and I don’t think you need any more lessons before the field trip.”

“I’m not worried about the field trip. I guess I wanted to keep learning so I could be ready when the actual season starts. It’s going to be fun for us to come up here on the weekends and ski! Obviously, I can’t possibly ski on the trails that you’re going to use, but it will be great if we could come up here together and I can watch you do your thing, you can watch me, and then we can come inside and have cocoa…”

“That sounds like a perfect weekend,” he said before leaning in and kissing her. “And while we can totally come back here over the weekend—I’m on the schedule for Sunday afternoon and it’s only to see if this is something I want to do—what I’d really like is to spend some time alone with you. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” she said softly. Sighing, she rested her head on his shoulder. “What time are you done here? Maybe you can come over when you’re done?”

“I’m here until eight and…” He glanced at his watch. “It’s already 7:30. We can grab dinner here and then go to your house if you’d like.”

“Or…I can leave now and pick something up for us to have and we’ll eat at my place. I think I’d rather have you all to myself sooner rather than later.”

“I love the way you think.” Getting to his feet, Tanner held out his hand to her, helping her up. “Can I pick up anything?”

She thought about it for a minute before giving him a sexy grin. “Maybe just your overnight bag.”

Hauling her in close, he kissed her again. “Like I said, I love the way you think.” He gave her one last kiss. “I should be at your place by nine. Is that too late?”

“Not at all. I’ll see you then!”

---