Still The One - Carrie Elks Page 0,86

that every muscle in his body hurt.

She walked out on him. Again. God, he wanted to hit something. He raked the hair from his face and looked at his older brother.

“I can’t go. Not until everybody leaves.” His jaw muscle twitched. “It’s my party, remember?”

“Gray and Maddie are going to make sure everybody leaves. You’re too worked up to be of any good here. Let’s just go.”

Tanner strode to the window on the far side of the office. From his vantage point, he couldn’t see the screen, but could see the flashing lights of the movie reflected in the glass.

“Just take me to my place,” Tanner said, his voice full of grit. “I need to be alone.”

“No can do. I’m under instruction. You’re a big guy, but I’m bigger. I think I could drag you if I had to.” Cam shrugged. “Just come home, okay?”

Cam was silent as he drove them both back to their father’s. Cam leaned forward and turned on the stereo in his rental car, cranking it up so the heavy beats filled the space between them. Tanner leaned his head on the window, his jaw still tight as they drove through the exit, passed the cornfields, and into Hartson’s Creek itself.

When they pulled into the driveway of their dad’s house, Tanner climbed out and walked up to the steps, Cam shadowing him as Logan and Becca waited for them on the porch.

Cam gave him a wry smile. “Sorry, dude. Looks like you have a welcoming committee.”

“Come on,” Logan said, as Tanner and Cam reached the door. “I’ve opened a bottle of whiskey.”

“One of yours?” Tanner asked Becca.

“Yeah. A good one. Retails for a hundred dollars.”

He gestured at the kitchen. “In that case, pour away.”

They sat around the kitchen table and Logan poured out four tumblers of whiskey, passing them to his siblings. He lifted his glass and held it out to Tanner. “Congratulations on the opening night,” he said, then took a sip. Tanner followed suit, letting the bitter liquid coat his tongue before burning the back of his throat as he swallowed it down.

“Was Van okay?” Tanner asked when he replaced the empty glass on the table. “And Zoe?”

“Zoe’s fine,” Becca said. “And their mom’s sleeping everything off. As for Van…” she trailed off, shrugging.

“I asked her if she wanted me to have you call her once you got back,” Logan told her. “But she was pretty vehement that she didn’t. From the look on her face I’m guessing something went down between the two of you.”

Another rejection. He was racking them up. Tanner held his glass out, and Logan lifted an eyebrow. “One more,” Tanner told him. “And then I’m heading to bed.”

Once filled, he took another big mouthful of whiskey, swallowing it faster this time. Sighing, he looked up at the three of them, his chest contracting as they all stared back.

“We’re over.”

Cam frowned. “Who’s over?”

“Didn’t you hear anything tonight? Van and Tanner are in a relationship.” Becca sighed. “What were you doing? Stuffing your face with burgers?”

“It’s off season.” Cam shrugged, then lifted his glass to his lips.

“Who ended it?” Logan asked.

Tanner caught his gaze. “She did.” He sighed, remembering their harsh words.

“Oh Tanner.” Becca slid her hand over his. He gently pulled away, making her blink.

“You wanna talk about it?” Logan asked.

Tanner shook his head. “No.” He was certain of that. “I just wanna go to bed and forget any of this happened.”

“You’re gonna have to talk some time,” his brother told him. “You know that, right?”

“Whatever. Not tonight.” The thought of it made him want to hurl.

“Your bed’s still made up,” Becca told Tanner. “Aunt Gina’s old habits die hard.”

“Where is she anyway?”

“With Gray and Maddie. So’s dad.” Logan checked his watch. “They should be back soon. Gray messaged to say they were closing everything up. He and Maddie are gonna drop them off.”

Tanner finished his second whiskey and pushed his glass away. “I guess I’ll head up before they get home.” He couldn’t face having to explain himself to them. Aunt Gina would give him the look that reminded him of his mom. Soft, and concerned and completely guilt-inducing. And for his dad, he didn’t have a soft bone in his body.

He needed to get over this. Forget the way she made him feel. The way she felt in his arms. How for a few weeks it had felt as though the light had been switched on inside his soul again.

“Good night,” he told them. “And thanks.”

As he walked