Page 57 of Why Not Forever?

“I haven’t seen this one,” he says. “So I have no idea if I’ll like it or not.”

“You wouldn’t rather see an action movie or something?”

He looks at me, pushing up his glasses when they slip down his nose. “I want to watch this movie. With you. Now be quiet. It’s starting.”

I’m overwhelmed by the sudden desire to kiss him. He’s taken such good care of me over the last day, making sure I have as much to eat as my stomach will let me, making sure I drink water and take Tylenol, making sure I’m not alone. And now he’s putting on one of my favourite movies, even though it’s not something he’d usually watch, simply because I like it.

I reach up and kiss him softly. It’s the same way I’d kissed him at the restaurant, but the difference is, I’m snuggled up next to him now. When I pull back, the way his dark eyes search mine, telling me just how much he wants to kiss me again, makes me want to let him.

But we’d agreed. Sex would complicate things. Not that I could have sex right now, anyway. Making out with him would complicate things just as much.

I clear my throat. “Thank you. For everything.”

He blinks and we each take a mental step back.

He grins. “Anytime you want to thank me, Vic, I’m here for it.”

It’s then I realize what he’s doing, being the ridiculous flirt to allow me the space I want. Can he read me so well that he knows when I’ve let him a little too close?

I laugh and roll my eyes, falling back on my habitual response, even if it’s a little flat this time.

I settle in next to him and focus on the movie. When it’s more comfortable to lean my head on his shoulder, I do. The way his arm holds me close, the way his hand rubs absently up and down my side, feels nice, and I don’t fight it when my eyes drift closed.

It’s not until much later that I wake with a start. The TV is showing a hockey game and Tanner is on his phone.

“Oh good, you’re awake,” he says.

“How long have I been asleep?” I ask.

He chuckles. “Long enough for the movie to be over. You barely watched half.”

“Sorry.” I sit up and he lets me go. I kind of wish he hadn’t.

“Don’t be. You’re cute when you snore.”

I give him an indignant look. “I do not snore.”

He just smiles. “I wanted to ask about this weekend. Do you still want to go to Whistler? Or do you want to cancel?”

An image flashes through my mind of Tanner and me, naked and sweating, tangled together. The image is part memory, part fever dream, because I’d definitely imagined him with me a few times during the hours of half-sleep.

“Um. Can I let you know tomorrow? Dad booked it, so I’m not worried if he can’t get a refund.”

Tanner chuckles and stands, stretching. “Sure. You want some more of that soup for dinner? I was going to order myself something and have it delivered. I could order you something as well if you want.”

My stomach grumbles like it had earlier. “Soup is better for right now. I can get it myself though.” I stand to do just that when he points to the couch.

“Sit down.” His tone brooks no argument.

I blink at him and do as he says.

He smiles. “Good girl. I will get you something to eat. You sit and relax. The remote is there if you want to change it to something else.”

He walks to the kitchen and I watch him go. Fuck if my insides didn’t go a little melty and my pussy didn’t get a little wet at those two words.Good girl. That, combined with those motherfucking sweatpants, has me aching.

As I’m turning back to the TV, considering changing the channel, my eyes snag on the china cabinet. There’s the paper flower on its green pipe cleaner that he’d given me years ago. He hasn’t mentioned it once since moving in. I hadn’t thought to move it until about a week after that and figured moving it then would just draw more attention to the fact that I kept it.

“Tanner?” I say.

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