Page 105 of Trusting Tanner
“You expect me to believe he hasn’t come out of his room at all? Not even to eat or use the bathroom?” She snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“He’s depressed. Like full-on, sit in the corner and let the house burn down around him depressed. I can’t stand to see him like this. I’m worried.”
Juliana chewed on her lip, her heart racing despite the tightness in her chest. It was easier when she’d thought Tanner was doing okay. But to know he was hurting as much as she was… She took a deep breath. “Why are you telling me this?” Her voice wavered.
“Because you’re the only one who can fix this. He needs you, Jules.”
She sat up, and the sudden movement had her stomach rolling. Was she really considering going to New York?
“Will you please come here for Christmas?”
“You really think me showing up there is going to help him? What if this is just his way of getting over me? Like a mourning period or something. What if he doesn’t want me there?”
“I know my brother. He’s not getting over you. He’ll never get over you.”
She fought against the tears that seemed to be a permanent feature lately.
“I’ll pay for your plane ticket, and if things don’t work out with Tanner, then I’ll drive you back after New Year’s.”
“You want me to spend two weeks there?” Her eyes widened, and her heart lodged in her throat. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea.” No matter how much she missed Tanner or how badly she wanted to see him, flying to the Hamptons to shack up in his parents’ house for two weeks was not the way to handle the situation. What was Xander thinking? “Besides, what happens if things don’t work out? I am not going to be trapped there with him for two weeks.” She shook her head.
“Then I’ll buy you another plane ticket, and you can go home whenever you want. But I promise you, once you see for yourself how Tanner’s acting, you’ll be thanking me for harassing you right now.”
She chewed on the inside of her cheek as she continued to contemplate his offer. Even though she’d insisted she wanted to be alone, she really didn’t. And she missed Tanner so much. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I don’t know…”
She’d taken a leap of faith with Tanner, and it hadn’t turned out as she’d hoped. Could she now make that same leap again? She had forgiven him, and wasn’t that the hardest part? With time, she could forget all about those pictures. Couldn’t she?
“Well?” Impatience crept into his voice. “He needs you, Jules. You’re the only one who can get through to him. No matter what’s happened, I know you love Tanner. It’s time to prove it.”
His words were like a punch to her gut. “I swear to God, Xander, if I get there and you’re lying to me…”
“So that’s a yes?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Pack warm. It’s cold enough to freeze your nipples off.” Then he ended the call, not giving her a chance to say anything else.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
As much as Tanner wanted to stay locked up in his room, his growling stomach had other plans. Groaning, he rolled out of bed and trudged downstairs. He’d been calling and texting Juliana all morning, and she hadn’t responded once. Either she was intentionally avoiding him, or something was wrong. He hoped it was the former because he’d never be able to live with himself if something had happened to her. He was bordering on desperation and had even considered calling Devon to check in on her.
“Hey, I was just coming to find you.” Ryder stood at the bottom of the stairs, blocking him from getting by. “I’m heading over to Chelsea’s to meet up with her and Charity. We’re going to go catch a movie. Want to go?”
“Nope.” Tanner pushed past him and headed for the kitchen. Hanging out with his bubbly cousins, listening to them ramble on about how perfect their lives were, wasn’t anywhere on his to-do list. Eating was, though.
Ryder followed. “You’re really gonna mope around in your room the entire time you’re home? Or are you going to take off back to Florida like you did for Thanksgiving?”
“Nope. I’m staying here and moping around.”
“Well, this is going to be a fan-fucking-tastic Christmas.” Ryder shook his head and walked out of the kitchen with a muttered curse and something about how they shouldn’t have to pay for Tanner’s fuckup.
What the hell did Ryder know anyway? It’s not like he’d ever met the one who didn’t give a shit, the one who stole his heart and then crushed it when she wouldn’t give him a second chance. Ryder had no fucking idea what any of that felt like, and he had no right to judge him for not wanting to be Mr. Social.
He grabbed a can of soda from the fridge and a bag of chips from the cabinet. Not exactly healthy, but it would quell the rumbling in his stomach. Shoving a handful of chips into his mouth, he left the kitchen and hesitated near the den door. Mom hated when he ate in his bedroom, but he didn’t really want to sit at the kitchen table. To hell with it. He turned back toward the stairs, but then stopped when he heard Xander in the foyer.
“Mom set you up in the guest room. It’s close to Tanner’s room, so that will work out well for you.”
Tanner’s heart raced. Who the hell was he talking to?
