Page 58 of Full Send

“True. That’s a start. But talk to someone else too. Like your grandparents. They’re in town a decent amount,” I say, noting the surprised and then almost guilty expression.

“It’s funny you mention that. I might have opened up to them today,” he says, still wearing the same expression.

“Why do I get the sense I’m not going to be thrilled about this?” I furrow my brows looking at him sternly.

“Well we were talking about you guys being in town and one thing lead to another and yeah. I might have let it slip that something is going on between us.” He shrugs, his hands raised and palms out turned.

I stand in silence. On one hand, I’m thrilled he opened up to them. On the other hand, I’m terrified about what they know.

“I know. I’m sorry. I should have asked you. It just felt like I needed to get that off my chest and it was such a relief.” As he says this, I can see his body visibly relax. “Please don’t be mad?”

I rest my head back on his chest, hugging him tightly again. “I’m not mad, Tanner. But if we tell anyone else, can I be the one to do it?”

“Deal,” he says, planting a kiss on top of my head.

I wriggle out of his hug and peak toward the bar, seeing Collin and Lizzy still with the cowboy. With the coast clear, I lean forward, holding him closely, feeling his chest on my cheek, listening to his heart pound. Until that moment is interrupted by a buzz in my pocket.

I slide my phone out, checking the notifications. Lizzy texted me saying she’s got news. I assume that’s about the cowboy I justsaw her with. But something else catches my eye. There are three new notifications on my office messenger app, all from Jeff. I just checked it this morning. It’s a holiday. Really, can he be serious? I open the first two, both questions about Earth SnaX I’ve already told him the answer to a dozen times at least. I just can’t catch a break from work, even on vacation.

I sigh and feel that familiar sense of dread come back over me. As if he could sense it too, I feel Tanner pull away from me, the warmth of his chest gone.

“Hey. It’s my turn to ask what’s wrong?” He looks down at me, a look of caution in those green eyes.

“It’s just work. I don’t get it. It just seems like I can never do enough for this guy, no matter how much I prepare and how hard I work.” I lean back against his chest, loving the feeling of being in his arms.

“I don’t know why you let it bother you so much. You should find something you actually enjoy. You could do anything you set your mind to. I mean it,” he says, resting his head on mine.

I laugh into his chest. “Remember, Tanner. Real world. Some of us have careers we want to keep building. What was it you said again? It’s not all fun and games here anyways?”

I note how his body tenses at my response. “Sorry. I just… don’t like seeing how it upsets you.”

I pull back from his embrace. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” I say, hand gesturing back towards the jukebox. “Now, how about something a bit more uplifting?”

“Ok. We can have some more fun, but you have to promise me to stop looking at your work email and messages so much while you’re here. Deal?”

I groan in exasperation. “Fine. If it keeps that smile on your face and I can keep seeing those dimples, sure. I will try to ignore my phone more. You’re right. It’s my vacation after all.”

“Good,” he says, now looking back up, his beautiful ear to ear smile returning, “Now how about we play some tunes?”

I move past him to the jukebox. It’s an old fashioned one that still has the hand placed paper labels for each song. I spot a familiar one, pointing it out to Tanner.

“That one.”

He looks down and smiles.

“Why did I even ask… I should have already known,” he says shaking his head, as he puts a quarter in and keys in the song.

“It’s too bad they haven’t released anything new in years. Since you’re such good friends with TJ, tell him to write a new song.” I nudge him playfully with my elbow.

“I’ll be sure to pass that along,” he says with a laugh.

I smile as the Teal Tigers’ song starts in the background, thinking about how many times I’ve listened to this song and now thinking about the night I shared with Tanner at TJ’s guesthouse. But there’s a small part of me that’s sad hearing it, thinking about how much I’d love to dance out on the floor with Tanner, in the open, not afraid to be seen.

I glance back over to the bar, now only seeing Lizzy talking to the cowboy. Shit. Where’s Collin? Did he see anything? Tanner senses my anxiety, seemingly reading my mind.

“Relax. I’ll find Collin. I’m pretty sure I know where he is,” he says. “Go have fun with Lizzy for a bit. We’ll catch up with you.”

I walk over to the bar, right as Lizzy waves to the cowboy walking away from her.

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