Page 56 of Trusting Tanner
“She has a guy.” Tanner pulled Jules to his side.
Rebecca scowled and got in his face. “And now she needs a real man.”
Beside him, Devon nearly spit out his beer. Lucas couldn’t stop coughing, and for a second, Tanner wondered if he was going to choke to death.
“That’s enough.” Juliana pushed herself between him and Rebecca. “I’ve told you from day one. I don’t need you to help me find a man. Stop it with all these games and lies. It’s not funny.”
“Oh, sweetie. I’m doing you a favor. Trust me. You can do better thanhim.” She jutted her chin out in Tanner’s direction. Her friends snickered.
He balled his hands into fists, the vein in his neck throbbing. If she continued to talk about him like he wasn’t standing right there, he was going to lose his shit, and that wasn’t something he wanted Jules to see. He shifted on his feet and took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring.
“You listen to me,sweetie.” Mariah’s tone was saccharine sweet and condescending as hell. “My girl Jules here”—she had one hand on her hip and the other waving a finger in Rebecca’s face—“knows how to keep her man happy, so she doesn’t need a new one. Unlike you, who gives every guy a free test ride and then trades them in for a new model.”
Tanner’s eyebrows lifted to his hairline.Holy shit.He’d never heard Mariah talk like that before.
“Whatever, bitch.” Rebecca crossed her arms. “Clearly you don’t know shit, or you’d know that’s so far from the truth. Just ask Jules’s ex. She couldn’t keep him happy.” A sinister grin appeared on her face.
Oh, fuck no. She was not getting away with this. Tanner slammed the beer down on the nearest flat surface, not caring that it splashed out onto his hand. “You listen to me, you—”
Before he could finish speaking, Juliana spun on her heel and rushed out of the frat house.
“Jules!” Devon was right behind her and out of the house faster than Tanner could process what was happening.
“Didn’t I tell you it wasn’t me you had to worry about?” Rebecca nodded toward Jules and Devon. “Those two have been fucking for weeks now.”
The air rushed from his lungs, and he almost doubled over from how sharp and painful her words were. There was no way Jules was sleeping with Devon. She wouldn’t do that.
“Go be a bitch somewhere else. No one wants you here,” Tanner said to Rebecca. “Jules!” He chased after her. She was standing in the front yard, face buried in her hands. Devon stood with his arms around her, and even though she wasn’t hugging him back, Tanner saw red. His vision was sharp as he stomped toward them.
“Do you want me to take you home?” Devon asked.
From where Tanner stood, he couldn’t see or hear Jules’s answer, but it didn’t matter. “If anyone’s taking her home, it will be me.” Tanner gently pulled her away from Devon and turned her into his chest. She was trembling. “Hey. It’s okay, honey. Ignore her. She’s just pissed and lashing out.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I’m so tired of her shit, thinking she can talk to me and about me however she wants.”
“Do you want to get out of here? We can go back to my place.”
She nodded. Without moving away from his embrace, she turned to look at Devon. “I’m gonna go home with Tanner.”
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Devon nodded.
Juliana stepped out of his hold and moved toward Devon. “Thank you.” Then she hugged him.
A mixture of bile and red-hot jealousy rose in the back of Tanner’s throat, and he swallowed hard.They’re just friends.
She released Devon. “I’ll call you later, okay?” Moving back to Tanner, she took his hand and laced their fingers. “Please get me the hell out of here.”
Jules may have taken some comfort from Devon, but she was leaving with him, and that was the only thing that mattered. Bringing their interlocked hands to his mouth, he kissed the back of her hand, and then led her to his car.
Chapter Eighteen
As soon as Juliana was in Tanner’s apartment, she kicked off her shoes and made a beeline for the bathroom. She quickly took care of her business and washed her hands. Then she stood, gripping the sink, staring at her reflection. Rebecca’s words had sliced straight to Juliana’s soul, reawakening one of her biggest fears—she wasn’t good enough and couldn’t keep a man happy. Would Tanner feel the same way? Would he get tired of her and go elsewhere? She’d have to actually do something more than kiss him first. He couldn’t be dissatisfied with something he didn’t have.
“Want something to drink? Holly left a couple wine coolers in the fridge.” His voice sounded like he was standing outside the bathroom door.
The mention of alcohol had her stomach rolling. She’d only had three beers at the party, and she wasn’t anywhere close to being drunk. A little buzzed, maybe. Definitely relaxed. “No thanks.” Her phone dinged with an incoming message from Mariah.Hope you’re not mad at me for saying something to Rebecca. The bitch pisses me off!!!
Juliana chuckled.No. I’m not mad. Thanks for having my back.
