Page 22 of Dryad, Try Again
I cover the phone and say, “Aunt Hannah, we need to get to the pharmacy. And what about your groceries?”
“Tanner?” Kovi says on the other line.
I raise the phone up. “Yeah?”
“I said I could deliver your books to you.”
I scratch my eyebrows and shut my eyes. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“I offered.”
“But why?”
“Dude, your quiz is on Monday. All our studying together would be for nothing if you don’t get to hit the books today.”
I sigh. “True, but I won’t be at the library this weekend. I’ll be lucky if I make it to school for my shift at Mummy Mocha on Sunday.”
“Then I can go to wherever you are.”
“Dude, I can’t ask you to come to me.”
“Yes, you can!” Aunt Hannah chirps. I turn to her and she opens her hand. “Give me the phone.”
I eye her skeptically, but oblige. “Hello?” She smiles at me, and I can barely hear Kovi. “Yes, this is Tanner’s Aunt. Now, we’re coming home from Creelin General, but our address is 39 Wicker Street. Any friend of Tanner’s is a friend of mine.”
My eyebrows jump as she nods and smiles on the phone. “Yes…yes, we’ll be there in one hour…Perfect, looking forward to seeing you. Ta-ta!”
She hangs up and hands me back the phone, smiling victoriously. “Aunt Hannah, what was that all about?”
“I won’t let you lose out on studying with your friend. Now get to it.” She grins and taps me on the shoulder. “We have to hit the pharmacy! We’re losing daylight, Tanner.” I grimace and shift into drive, knowing I’ve lost. Aunt Hannah always gets what she wants, and today, she wants me to study with a boy I’m growing alarmingly close to.
After groceriesand medications are obtained, I pull up to my childhood home to see a familiar figure sitting on the stoop. I had texted him before we left the grocery store letting him know we were on our way back. With all my mental energy spent worrying over Aunt Hannah’s meds, I had forgotten to be nervous over my crush coming to my home.
And now he’s here; he has a backpack slung over his shoulder, and, as always, looks fine as hell.
“Oh, he’s a cutie,” Aunt Hannah mutters.
My cheeks burn and I glance at her momentarily before Kovi approaches us. I open the door and try to school my embarrassment. “Hey, man!”
“Tanner! Anything I can help you with?”
“You have my books?” I walk to the passenger side to help Aunt Hannah with the walker, and he follows.
“No, I meant with the groceries.”
“Oh, aren’t you a doll.” Aunt Hannah all but ignores me when she stands up at the walker. Kovi approaches her and they share a smile. “I’m Hannah, you must be Tanner’s friend I spoke to on the phone.”
He beams at her, and I open the trunk to unload the food. “I’m Kovi. Pleased to meet you, Mrs. McGregor.”
“So formal, please call me Aunt Hannah. If you take my keys, you can get the door and the three of us can get settled inside.”
I carry two massive bags of groceries while Kovi lets Aunt Hannah inside. I hear them small talk and it warms my heart. He barely knows me, but I could really use the help getting things settled in the house.
I drop the bags at the kitchen table then make my way to Kovi and Aunt Hannah. “I’ll help you to your room.”
“I can bathe myself, Tanner.” She waves me off. I’m glad that her bedroom and the bathroom are on the first floor right next to each other. She turns to Kovi who hands her her bag. “I swear I barely use this walker.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay,” Kovi replies. They share a chuckle, and my heart relaxes a bit more.
