Page 120 of Keeper
I frowned. It hurt to think about, but it’s not like what he was telling me was a surprise. He’d already admitted as much earlier, and besides, I’d seen it in his eyes the moment we’d met.
“But I’m done with all that,” he continued. “I didn’t realize it until I met you. But I’m finally in a place where I want something stable now. I’m ready for it, you know? That’s why, when I asked you to be my girlfriend, Imeantit. I meant it seriously.” He stared deeply into my eyes and shook his head one last time. “So no,hellno, I’m not messaging other girls anymore. I found you, Ainz, and I don’t want anyone else.”
I wasn’t sure what to think. Iwantedto believe him, and I thought his words rang true. But how else could Marta have gotten those pictures? It didn’t make sense. I didn’t know who or what to believe. How could Ievertrust the people closest to me when it seemed like everyone I let in turned out to be a liar or a cheater in the end?
Before I could go crazy with doubts, Tanner reached over and cupped my face with his strong but gentle hands. Like he’d done so many times now, he leaned in and pressed his mouth to mine.
His warm caress had a way of quelling all my worries, and his sweet lips swept the sorrows from my heart. The healing power of his kisses told me all I needed to know: he was telling the truth. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind anymore. I knew I could trust him and I knew we could get through this together.
“I believe you, Tanner,” I said guiltily, clinging to his thick forearm. “I’msosorry I had to ask you that.”
“Hey, that’s okay,” he said, wiping a tear from my eye. “You hadto, Ainz. And I’m glad you did, because I don’t want you having doubts about me. I just wish I had a better answer for you because Ireallydon’t have a clue how she got that picture. I’m stumped and weirded out all at once.”
“Me too. It feels so violating.” I sighed. “Ugh, and I feel so stupid for letting her plant that seed in my head. She’s obviously trying to get between us, and I almost let her.”
“She won’t win.” His features hardened with conviction. “But wait. Let’s pause for a moment and try to think this through.”
“Think what through?”
“How she got the picture. Did you share it with anyone, Ainz?”
I shook my head. “No. I didtellthe girls we had phone sex earlier today, but I would nevershow them the picture, much less send it to them. And no one else has had their hands on my phone but me.”
“Okay.” He stroked his chin, deep in thought. “I didn’t share it with anyone and you didn’t, either. It’s only on two phones. So how could she possibly get it?”
“She’d have to have access to one of our phones,” I said.
“It can’t be mine,” he said. “It’s been with me all day. Unless she managed to sneak past arena security and broke into the locker room or something during the game … but that’s a hell of a stretch.”
“My phones been with me all day, too,” I said. “Maybe she hacked one of our phones?”
“Is that possible?” he asked, his eyes crinkling with doubt. “Marta doesn’t strike me as the hacker type.”
“No, she’s definitely not a hacker,” I said. “But I’d be willing to bet some of her Instagram followers are. And those guys are obsessed with her. They’d do anything she asked.”
“Ugh. Great.” He set his phone down on the dashboard and scowled at it. “So I’ve got nerds digging through my phone right now?”
“Maybe? I really don’t know,” I said. “It might be my phone. I havebeen the subject of a lot of attention these past few days, after all.” I paused, my brow growing heavy. “God, Tanner, I’m so sorry I dragged you into this mess. I feel like such a burden.”
He shushed me. “It’s not your fault, Ainz. And I know it seems like a lot right now, but trust me, this is gonna blow oversofast.”
“But aren’t you embarrassed? Aren’t you ashamed of me?”
He scoffed. “No. Why would I be?”
“Because your new girlfriend has nude pictures blasted all over the internet,” I said, with a heaping dose of self-pity.
“So does your new boyfriend,” he said. “Are you ashamed of me?”
“No,” I said. “Of course not. I hate the idea of Marta and other girls ogling your pictures, mind you, because I want you all to myself. But I amcertainlynot ashamed of you.”
“Then you know exactly how I feel,” he said, stroking my hair.
My whole body felt so tingly and warm and fuzzy when he gave me his big eyes. I couldn’t believe how a simple smile, dimples and all, could make me feel so content and at peace with the world, when the rest of my personal life was in total shambles. Tanner just made everything else seem so trivial and unimportant.
“So what should we do now?” I asked.
He reached for his phone. “I should call my lawyer. He’s not gonna believe this shit, but he’ll know what to do.”
