Page 49 of Forever in the Country

SORREN

The sun is barely over the horizon as Tanner and I finish the last half mile of our run. I barely slept and Tanner had kicked off his covers with a growl well before our alarms went off.

He blamed me, but we were both sleeping like shit being away from home. Talking to Rhea last night made it worse. I don’t know shit about being a boyfriend but I miss her, and if she wanted a phone call I’d suck it up and do it.

“I mean,” Tanner starts, breaking me out of my daydream, “doesn’t matter to me but, uh”—he picks up the hem of his shirt to wipe his face and points at my back and shoulders—“she got you pretty good.”

I’m impressed he’s able to deliver the line with a straight face. If it had been any of the other guys it would have been an endless stream of jokes, and I seriously don’t have the energy right now.

Dragging my shirt back over my head, I nod. “Thanks.” He rolls his lips in but otherwise doesn’t comment as we walk back to the hotel. Stepping into the lobby, I pull out my phone.

SORREN: Apparently, you left marks all over my back

SUNSHINE: What?

SORREN: Probably from when I had you pressed against the shelter wall

SUNSHINE: Sorren…

SORREN: Tanner told me “she got you pretty good”

SUNSHINE: (gif of woman blushing and hiding her face)

SUNSHINE: OMG how am I going to look at him again?

SORREN: The same way I still talk to Waylon knowing what he does to my baby sister

SUNSHINE: Ugh.

SORREN: Are you saying you regret that orgasm, Sunshine? Because I remember you rather liked it…

SORREN: And the two after that

SUNSHINE: You cannot say things like that—you’re gone for so long!

SORREN: Patience baby

SUNSHINE: But I want you inside me. I want to feel every inch of you…

SORREN: I’m in a fucking elevator you cannot say that shit

SUNSHINE: (selfie with view down shirt)

SORREN: You’re in so much trouble

SORREN: Tanner asked if I was okay because he could hear my teeth grinding

SUNSHINE: Who knew being yours would be so fun?

SORREN: Big. Trouble.

Tanner whistlesas he steps off the elevator and walks toward our room.

“Seriously, why do I even like you?” I growl as I pocket my phone.

“Honestly, I think it’s by default.”

“That sounds right.”

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