Page 64 of Mr Nice Guy

My head snaps up in surprise. “Skyler? What the hell does he have to do with anything?”

Tanner just shakes his head. “Never…never mind. I’m just trying to figure out how Stapleton found out.”

Stapleton.It’s unsettling hearing him say my own name with such disregard. I know he’s not actually talking about me, but still… “He has pictures. He got a fucking PI to dig up stuff on you because of whatever the hell this deal is that you’re not backing down on, and there was a picture of us from that first night at the bar.”

“He didwhat?”Tanner demands. “What was he planning to do? Blackmail me or some shit?”

I shake my head. “No, he wouldn’t do that. I don’t know what the plan was. But I’m not here about my brother anyway…”

Tanner’s brow furrows. “What do you mean? Why are you here, and why do you still look upset if you’re not bothered by any of that stuff?”

“Because I need to know…” I pause for a moment to draw in a deep breath. Fuck, I don’t know if I can get this question out. What if Sullivan’s information is true? “He told me that you’re…married.”

Tanner’s face turns ash white, and I know without him having to say anything that it’s true.

Fuck.

I still need to hear it, though. “It’s…true?” I manage to press on. “You’re…m-married?”

“It’s complicated,” he rasps out, sounding as though talking is difficult for him right now.

“It’s a yes or no question, Tanner.”

He screws his eyes shut for a moment, before opening and fixing me with a level look. “Yes.”

“Are you getting a divorce?” I ask, my optimistic nature unable to let go just yet.

He swallows hard, before shaking his head. “No.”

And there it is. Jesus Christ, I feel like I’ve been stabbed in the guts and left to bleed to death. And for some reason, I can’t let it be over just yet. “Were you ever going to tell me?”

“I don’t know,” he admits. “It’s not…” he screws his eyes shut again, his breathing harsh. “It isn’t…fuck.” He lifts a hand to his forehead to knead at the skin there; it’s a sign I’ve come to recognize as him struggling to focus his anxious thoughts, but right now I just can’t…I can’t be the understanding, empathetic Mr Nice Guy while he tries to justify his behavior.

I’m just…done.

CHAPTER24

TANNER

Idon’t think I’ve ever felt more pathetic as I did last night when I watched Deacon walk out my door, hurt and heartbroken, while I struggled and failed to find the words to explain my situation.

They just wouldn’t fucking come. I let the panic and anxiety I was feeling over hurting Deacon and the fear of losing him from my life completely overpower me. And he just left.

So now I’m lying on the sofa in the penthouse, eating leftover waffles and watchingPretty Woman, because I can’t seem to function enough to go to work, and I can’t go home and let Izzy see me like this. Okay, maybethisis the most pathetic I’ve ever felt.

There’s a knock on the penthouse door, and I pause the movie and get to my feet, stumbling a little as I make my way across to the door because it’s been so fucking long since I moved from that sofa.

When I open the door, it’s to find Piper at the threshold. She scans her eyes up and down my body, curling her lip in distaste. “Oh my god, Dad. You look like you’ve gone feral.”

I glance down at myself to see the sweater I’m wearing is covered in syrup and Cheetos dust. And my pajama pants have a splash of coffee on them. Combine that with my the bed hair I haven’t bothered taming this morning and, yeah, I guess I probably do look pretty gross.

“What are you doing here?” I ask curiously, moving back into the living room as she trails after me.

“RJ said you didn’t come in today, so I assumed you were on your death bed. Then Kit said you weren’t at home and I should look here.” She casts a curious glance around the place, her eyes zeroing in on the mess I’ve made of the couch, and on the movie I’ve got paused on the TV. Then she lets out a gasp, her mouth falling open in horror. “Holy shit. This is a break up.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I grumble.

She rolls her eyes. “For fuck’s sake, Dad. You haven’t showered, you’re binging on food. WatchingPretty Woman?This is break-up 101.” She casts me a hesitant look. “Was it…un…that guy you told RJ about?” I can tell asking the question is making her uncomfortable as hell, but I don’t know if it’s because Deacon’s a guy, or because talking about my love life is uncomfortable in general.

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