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“Snooze you lose! We’ll see you at the top!” I yell back at them on the chair behind us, catching my breath from racing to get past them in line.

I’ve been dying all morning for just a few seconds alone with Tanner. Not sorry guys.

“I was hoping you’d do that.” Tanner’s reassuring, deep voice immediately gets my attention back and away from them, now solidly out of earshot.

“So… what’s the plan today, Tanner?” I look into his eyes, placing my hand on his. Our bodies are shielding us from the view of Collin and Lizzy on the chair way behind us, not that they could see anyways.

“Plan? That’s your department, Ronni,” he says with a smirk.

“Very funny. But really, no crazy plans for the chairlift?” I ask, knowing the answer isnoas we aren’t hidden inside of a tinted glass gondola, but still somehow hoping he has something in mind.

“Nope. I just wanted to sit next to you. Talk and enjoy the day.”

I look into his eyes, taking in his smile, those dimples. Ugh. I just don’t know how I’ve never seen this before, all these yearsI’ve known him. He’s fucking gorgeous, a timelessly beautiful man. And I think he’s obsessed with me.

“Alright. So, carryout and hot tub tonight? Should be fun.” That gets me a sly grin with an uncharacteristic look of caution in his eyes. No, not caution. Maybe fear? It’s still so new to me to see anything other than quiet calm and confidence in Tanner, but I feel like I’m becoming a quick study.

“I’m actually both excited and incredibly terrified,” he says, lowering his gaze to our hands on his thigh, squeezing mine tighter.

Damn, I was right on with that one.Terrified. I guess I am a quick study in the emotions of Tanner Chapman.

“What?” I let out a laugh. “Why? What on earth do you have to be terrified about?”

“Fine. I’ll tell you, but no more laughing, alright?” He looks genuinely embarrassed for some reason.

“Promise,” I say, my curiosity now piqued.

“Ok. So do you remember your twenty-first?” He asks, the look of caution still in his eyes.

“Umm yeah, how could we forget that?” I try to contain my laughter. Seriously, how could I forget. We talk about that night every time we’re out here, and Collin and I still talk about it back in Ohio.

“Well, what about the day after? Do you remember that?” His face is still oddly serious.

My mind drift backs. The river? I do remember that day. We were so hungover, but it was a beautiful day, just the three of us. I don’t remember anything out of the ordinary about it though. Just a laidback day swimming in the sun, out behind his cabin.

“Yeah, we were all swimming at the river. Why?” I’m trying to contain the eager curiosity. Why this day so many years ago? Why is it triggering him like this? I’m dying to know what has Tanner running through shades of embarrassment and caution.

“Ok. Good. You do remember. Well, for all these years I can never get the image of how fucking sexy you were that day out of my mind. Your bare stomach, your shorts hanging off your hips. Your nipples were showing through your Teal Tigers crop top you were wearing all summer. That image has been burned into my brain for years and would come back any time I hear their songs.” He finally looks back at me, the caution in his eyes now replaced with desire.

Fuck. He’s been this into me for that long? I can barely remember what I was wearing that day. It’s actually kind of hot hearing him describe it this way. The way he remembers everything, every little detail like he has a little Veronica library in his brain.

“Damn. Good memory. But you’ll get to see me in a little bikini tonight. So why are you terrified?” I’m still curious, obviously.

“Because I had a raging hard on all day and I was terrified that you or Collin would notice,” he says, shifting awkwardly on the chairlift, clearly uncomfortable.

“Ohhhhhhh. Now, that’s why you sent us to go get the truck while you were still in the water, isn’t it?” I look back at him, the look of caution has faded completely.

“Yeah. Exactly,” he says, the look of desire and confidence in full control of his expression now. “And now I’m excited that you’re going to look just as fucking good tonight and I’m terrified that I’m going to have to hide my hard cock from Collin and Lizzy all night in a cramped hot tub.”

He looks into my eyes. I can practically feel how much he wants me right now. I squeeze his hand and lower my voice.

“I guess it’s my turn to have images of you burned into my mind. Remember, I woke up wet the last two mornings, just thinking of you.” My voice is hushed and slow, clearly havingthe impact I wanted. I feel him shudder and squeeze his thighs together.

“Careful now, Tanner. Don’t get yourself too worked up. Don’t want you having to hidethatat lunch too.”

“Fuck me.” His voice is muted and raspy, practically a groan. “It’s going to be a long day and night, isn’t it?”

I hope so.

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