Page 27 of Tucker
“Idiots,”Jeremy scoffs, cracking a smile.
“Speakingof idiots, what’s going on with you and Frannie?” Zoe asks.
“She’svisiting family,” he replies, flipping her off. Frannie is Zoe’s best friendand she’s determined to see Jeremy and Frannie work out their shit.
Ilove how these people are with each other, the way we all seem to fit togetherlike some puzzle that was scattered to the wind only to have the pieces findtheir way back together. Everyone here has had some kind of trauma orheartbreak in their lives and they’ve done the best they can with it, creatingas much good as possible. They’ve created this makeshift family with littleshared blood, but one heart.
Tuckershould be here. He doesn’t know what he’s missing out on.
Aydapractically begged me to stay the night and I’m a little relieved I don’t haveto face Tucker tonight, even though I feel bad that he’s alone. After the cardgame, we watch a couple of romantic comedies, then everyone leaves or heads tobed, and I retire to my old bedroom to argue with myself whether to text Tuckeror not.
Screwit, I need to know he’s okay.
Me:Dare put Justus in an arm bar and made him tap out. You missed it.
Tucker:It’s bound to happen again. Are you okay?
Iknow the meaning behind those words. He’s worried about my reaction.Considering he kissed me then ran away, he should be.
Me:I’m fine. I had fun. Be home tomorrow.
Ilook at the text before I send it and reluctantly change the word “home” to“back.” I don’t want him to read too much into it. Besides, it isn’t home. Idon’t really know where home is anymore.
Aydaand I go out for breakfast Friday morning before I head back to Tucker’s. “Youknow that Dare would get over it if you and Tucker end up seeing each other,don’t you?” Ayda asks, catching me by surprise.
“I-it’snot like that.”
Aydarolls her eyes. “Please, you’re a million miles away and you talk about him inrandom conversations. You’re clearly crazy about him.”
Sighing,I set down my fork. “Oh god. Who else do you think noticed?”
“Noneof the guys,” she assures me. “But if it’s Dare you’re worried about…”
“No…well,it’s not just him. Tucker doesn’t want me like that. I thought maybe he did,but I was wrong.”
Aydasits back and stares at me. “What happened?”
Ipick up a paper napkin, fiddling with it. “Just between us?”
“Ofcourse.”
“Wegot drunk Wednesday night, and he kissed me.”
“And?”
“Andthen he freaked out, ran off to his room, and didn’t come back out.”
Aydabursts into laughter. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not funny. It’s just…I’ve knownTucker for a while, and he’s always so stoic and intimidating. I can’t picturehim losing his shit over a kiss. You must be driving him crazy in the bestway.”
Thenapkin is now in tatters between my fingers. “I’m sure I drive him crazy, butnot in any good way.”
“Areyou kidding? I’ve seen how he looks at you. He’s got a beautiful girl livingwith him and it’s killing him to keep his hands off. I love it.”
Thewaitress shows up to collect our dishes and we hand them over. “Trust me. Itisn’t like that. He regretted that kiss the second it was over.”
Aydacontemplates it for a moment. “I’ve always thought there was something eatingat him that he isn’t willing to share. He’s always so guarded and quiet. Doeshe talk to you, or are you just living with grunts and nods.”
Nowthat I think about it, he talks to me a lot. Far more than the first few weeksI lived there. “We talk. Mostly in the evenings or when we run.”
