The Pass (Smart Jocks #5) - Rebecca Jenshak Page 0,55

out on the lake that I can feel it easing my worries. It’s the change in Tanner’s tone that snaps me out of my serene moment.

“I told you that’s over,” he says, and his shoulders stiffen.

“But you didn’t say why, and Amelia won’t say a word either. She seemed so good for you. You can’t keep breaking up with girls every time you get bored or things get hard. Relationships take work.”

“I know… that’s not…” He glances over his shoulder and I’m quick to lookout into the water to give them the illusion of privacy. “It doesn’t matter. Sydney and I are together now, so you can stop worrying about me dying a single bachelor. I swear you’re worse than mom and grandma combined.”

21

Tanner

“Do you want another drink, babe?” I ask as I scoot back my chair.

“No, I’m good.” Her voice is deep and husky. She’s tired as hell but being a trooper to hang out with my sister.

Corinne went to bed an hour ago, but Tara is still drinking and chatting with no end in sight. I don’t get to see her as often as I’d like, so I suck up my own tiredness and grab two more beers from the fridge.

Sydney’s curled up, arms wrapped around her bare calves and face tilted resting on her shoulder. Tara’s staring down at her phone.

“Here you go.” I place one of the beers in front of Tara and then take a seat. “Last one for me. I’m beat.”

“I think I’m going to go to bed now,” Sydney says. She smiles apologetically to Tara. “It’s really great to finally meet you. I hope we can hang out more over the next week, after I’ve slept.”

Tara sets her phone on the table and wraps her fingers around the neck of the beer. “You too.”

I stand as Sydney does and place a kiss on her lips. “I’ll be there soon.”

Sydney nods and glances at Tara. “’Night.”

She slips inside the house and I drop back into my seat at the table.

“So, what else is new?” I ask.

“No, no. We’re talking about you.”

“You already know everything. I still haven’t made a decision about next year, so if Mom and Dad sent you to get answers, you’re not going to get any. Or maybe it’s your own initiative—annoy me into doing what you think is best.”

“Well, I am curious about where your head’s at, but I promise I’m here only for the lake. And, seriously, give me a little credit,” she huffs. “I’d never do Mom and Dad’s bidding.”

“Sorry, I know. I got an email from Coach Wiles yesterday. He wants to set a meeting for when I get back to Valley.”

“About what?”

“If I had to guess, he found out I’m considering quitting baseball to focus on basketball.”

“Are you though?”

I squirm in my seat, not wanting to think about it, let alone talk about it. “I don’t know.”

“You’ll figure it out, T, and Mom and Dad will be fine with whatever you decide. Has Dad been calling and asking you?”

“Not since I left Valley. I told him I wanted the summer to decide and he’s respected that.”

“They just want to feel involved.”

With a sigh, I sit back in my chair. “Yeah.”

“What’s the plan for the Fourth?” she asks. “I invited so many people I’m not sure how we’re going to fit them if they all show up.”

“I have an idea about that actually. What if we had the party at Jonah’s? He’s got more room and that killer pool.”

“He’d be okay with that?”

“Yeah, he already mentioned it. We’ll help him pitch in for booze and whatever else he needs.”

“Mom and Dad really should have bought a house with a pool.”

“The pool is right there,” I deepen my voice to mock my dad and motion to the lake.

“And it’s free to heat,” we say together and then laugh.

“I missed you, T,” Tara says.

“Missed you too. I’m glad you came down early. We can hang out more and you can get to know Sydney.”

“No offense, but spending quality time with your fuck buddy is not what I had in mind for my extra week at the lake.”

I scrunch up my face at the phrase coming out of my baby sister’s mouth. “Fuck buddy? Seriously?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, your best friend.” She air quotes the last two words and then rolls her eyes. “It’s no wonder you can’t keep a girlfriend. Amelia was worried about her, seems with good reason.”

“Okay, pump the breaks. Sydney was my best friend. She still is,