Chapter Nineteen

Zara

I've been to Tanner's apartment several times. I've even spent the night here.

So, why does it feel odd, sitting here by myself?

Tanner left about ten minutes ago to collect Nash from school, and although Katie said I could wait downstairs, I didn't want her to see how nervous I am. She's lovely, and greeted me warmly when I arrived, which was just after two-thirty. My packing didn't take as long as I thought it might, and I came straight over, nerves getting the better of me.

Tanner welcomed me with a kiss, and introduced me to Katie, who did nothing but smile, at both me and him, and while Tanner showed me around the store, she fixed us all a coffee, which we just had time to drink before Tanner left.

Katie didn't seem to mind when I said I wanted to be alone, and I came up here and wandered around a little, before sitting on the couch and trying not to picture it all going wrong. That's exactly what could happen when Tanner gets back, because that's when he says he's going to tell Nash about us. But if he doesn't want me here, or doesn't like me, or decides, he'd prefer his dad to be single, then all of this will have been for nothing… which probably makes it just as well that everything at my house is packed into boxes. At least I can leave with a minimum of fuss.

A minimum of fuss and a broken heart, because having gotten halfway to leaving, I know it's gonna break me if I have to complete that journey…

I jump, hearing the back door open and slam closed, followed by the sound of voices, and a child's laugh.

They're back, and my palms dampen, my stomach churning as I get to my feet. It won't look good if I've made myself too comfortable already. Nash might not like that. This is his home, after all. It's not mine yet.

"Why are you coming up with me, Dad? I don't need you to help me get a drink."

"I know, but there's someone I want you to meet."

"Who's that?"

Nash is looking over his shoulder, talking to his father as he reaches the top step, coming straight into the living room. Tanner doesn't reply, but looks at me, and Nash turns, taking a moment before he recognizes me.

"Miss Howell?"

"Yes." I smile, hoping it'll help, and feeling relieved that I don't work at the school anymore. At least it will avoid any confusion about what Nash should call me. Tanner's standing right behind him, and places a hand on his son's head.

"We need to talk, son," he says, and Nash looks up at him.

"Are you guys dating?" he asks, and Tanner smiles.

"Yes, we are."

Nash nods his head. "So, Matthew was right."

"About what?" Tanner asks, pulling his hand away from Nash's head, and glancing over at me, giving me a reassuring wink.

"He told me this morning that Miss Howell had been fired because she's dating you."

Tanner shakes his head, moving around in front of Nash and crouching down. "I'm sorry you had to hear about it like that."

"So it's true?" Nash looks surprised, and part of me wishes Tanner had handled this by himself. I feel embarrassed being the subject of their conversation while I'm in the room.

"Yes, but it's not Zara's fault."

"Who's Zara?"

"Miss Howell," Tanner explains. "But as she's not working at the school anymore, you can call her Zara." He takes Nash's hand. "Are you okay?"

"Sure." Nash shrugs. "I think it's great you've got a girlfriend."

"And you don't mind that you heard it from Matthew first?"

"No. He's such a loser. That's what Billie told him when he was gloating about Miss Howell – I mean Zara – losing her job. You should have seen the look on his face."

"Who's Billie?" Tanner asks. "I don't remember him."

Nash shakes his head. "Billie isn't a boy, Dad. She's a girl. She's my girl."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. I've spent the entire summer recess thinking about her, and on the first day back, I asked her if she'd be my girlfriend."

"Is that why you were so nervous about going back to school?"

"Yeah, although I didn't need to be. She said ‘yes'."

"Naturally," Tanner says, ruffling his hair and getting to his feet. "She's clearly got great taste." Nash grins, and Tanner looks over at me, struggling not to laugh. I shake my head, just once, and he takes a breath, keeping it together. "So, you're dating Billie?"

"I am."

Tanner folds his arms, looking down at his son. "And when were you gonna tell me?"

Nash blushes. "I was getting around to it."

"Does your mother know?"

Nash frowns, shaking his head. "No. And neither does Dean. He's only interested in Mom, not me, and you know what Mom's like. She'd wanna know every little detail, and then she'd probably tell me I'm too young to have a girlfriend. But I'm not. Really, I'm not. I like Billie. A lot. And she likes me, too."

"Is she the girl I saw you with in the schoolyard? The one with dark curly hair?" Tanner asks.

"Yeah. She's got amazing blue eyes, and she makes me laugh… even when she's not supposed to."

"Then she's a keeper, son." Nash pulls off his backpack, dumping it on the floor. "There's one more thing," Tanner says and Nash looks up at him. "Zara and I aren't just dating."

"Oh?"

"No. She's gonna be living here with me during the week… and with us, at the weekends. Is that okay?"

"Sure. I like Miss… I mean Zara." He grins over at me. "Billie likes you too."

"I don't think I've even spoken to her," I say, racking my brain and coming up blank.

"Maybe not, but her little sister is in your class."

"Oh? What's her name?"

"Skye," he says.

"Oh. I know Skye."

"She knows you, too. According to Billie, she doesn't stop talking about you, and how kind you are. That's why Billie likes you… because you're good to her sister."

I smile, although it breaks my heart to know those days are over for me.

Tanner seems to notice and strides across the room, putting his arm around me.

"Are you okay?"

I look up at him. "I'm fine."

"Did I say the wrong thing?" Nash asks, and we both turn to him.

"No," I say, and step forward, releasing myself from Tanner's grasp and kneeling in front of Nash. "It's just I'm gonna miss teaching, that's all."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad."

"You didn't. It's not your fault."

He nods his head, looking up at his father. "What's for dinner, Dad?" he asks.

"Burgers," Tanner replies and Nash grins.

"Great. My favorite."

He grabs his bag and runs to his bedroom, opening the door and closing it softly behind him.

I get to my feet and turn to find Tanner standing right behind me.

"Who'd have thought that would go so well?" he says.

"Not me. I was so nervous when you left."

"Well… it seems you didn't need to be. It looks like Nash has it all worked out."

I lean back as he puts his arms around me and I gaze up into his perfect face, my hands resting on his chest. "You must take him seriously, you know?"

He frowns. "In what way?"

"In his relationship with Billie. I know he's only eight, but you can't underestimate his feelings just because he's young. It means a lot to him."

He rests his forehead against mine, and I feel him sigh against me. "And you mean the world to me."

The three of us have had a lovely evening together. It seems Tanner makes great burgers, and we sat at the table while Nash fired questions at me. He wanted to know everything, from where I grew up, to why I wanted to be a teacher… and given the way I've been treated over the last couple of days, I'm wondering that myself.

I answered him as best I could, and when we finish eating, he goes to get ready for bed, while Tanner and I clear up.

"Sorry," he says, as I pass him the glasses to load into the dishwasher.

"What for?"

"The inquisition."

I smile. "I thought it was good, didn't you? It means he's interested."

"Yeah, I think it does. It'd be so much worse if he'd sat and sulked, or didn't care less who you were, or why you're here."

He pulls me into his arms, leaning back against the countertop and holding me against him.

"I like this," I whisper.

"Hmm… me too."

"Can I sit up and watch some TV?" Nash's voice breaks into our moment, and I leap back, trying to free myself from Tanner's hold, although he's not letting go.

"Sure," he calls and looks down into my eyes.

"He'll see us," I whisper.

"And? You're in my arms. It's where you belong."

"What if it makes him uncomfortable?"

"I'm sure it won't, but I'll talk to him when he goes to bed, if it makes you feel better."

I nod my head, and Tanner kisses my cheek, letting me pull away, because I think he can sense that, even if Nash isn't uncomfortable, I am.

We all sit on the couch, with Nash between Tanner and me, although that's not intentionally done. He's not trying to keep us apart. We've just ended up this way, and it feels good. Tanner seems to think so, too. He keeps smiling at me over Nash's head… and I have to smile back.

Nash seems fairly tired and curls up, leaning against his dad. Maybe our news has had a bigger effect than we thought, or perhaps it's just been a long week for him. Whatever the reason, after about thirty minutes, and without any prompting from his father, he looks up and announces he wants to go to bed, getting to his feet, and turning to me.

"Goodnight, Zara."

"Goodnight. Sleep well."

He smiles and waits for Tanner to get up, the two of them going into Nash's room.

They leave the door ajar, and although I can hear voices, I can't tell what they're saying, and I feel guilty for trying. Instead, I focus on the movie we've been watching, although it holds little interest for me, and I wait with bated breath until Tanner comes back out, closing the door behind him.

"You can stop worrying," he says, flopping down on the couch beside me.

"I can?"

"Yeah. I just asked Nash if he's okay with me hugging you in front of him, and he says he's fine with it."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that." He pulls me into his arms, then twists us around so we're lying side by side, along the length of the couch, facing each other. "I think it goes back to what Dawson was saying about needing to show Nash how happy we are together. He's gotten used to men coming and going in his mom's life. It probably makes him feel safe to know we're gonna stay together."

"We certainly are," I whisper, caressing his cheek, and he captures my chin with his hand, kissing me deeply. I squirm against him, feeling his arousal pressing in to me, my body heating in an instant.

"Do you wanna take this upstairs?" he asks.

"Yes, please."

He smiles, getting to his feet, and switching off the TV while I stand, and let him lead me up the stairs. It's warm up here, and he throws open the windows, coming back to me and unfastening my blouse, his eyes fixed on mine.

"Oh…" I grab his hand and he stops, frowning.

"What's wrong?"

"I just realized, we can't do this."

"Can't do what?"

"We can't make love."

"Why on earth not?"

"Because you said we couldn't."

"When?" he says, tilting his head in confusion.

"Yesterday morning. You told me we had to make the most of last night because Nash would be here tonight, and we wouldn't be able to have sex."

"I didn't say sex, I said loud sex. We'll just have to be quiet."

I smile, leaning against him. "Is that possible?"

"For most people. We've yet to see if it works for you, but I'm willing to try if you are." He's grinning down at me, and I nod my head, watching as he continues to unbutton my blouse. "Did you honestly think we wouldn't be able to make love at all?" he says, shaking his head and still smiling.

"Yes."

He pushes my blouse from my shoulders and undoes my bra, letting it fall, and releasing my breasts, his breath catching in his throat as he stares at them, and then raises his eyes to mine.

"How exactly did you think that was gonna work?" he asks.

"I don't know. I assumed we'd have to abstain at weekends."

He nods his head and kneels, unfastening my jeans and staring up at me. "And if we go to court and get custody of Nash? Were you planning on abstaining for the next ten years until he goes to college?"

"Oh… I hadn't thought about that."

"I had." He yanks down my jeans and panties and shakes his head, leaning in to kiss the tops of my thighs before he stands and captures my face between his hands. "I struggle to survive without you for ten minutes. Ten years would kill me." He silences my giggle with a kiss, pulling back after a couple of seconds. "You get the concept of being quiet… right?"

"I think so."

He lowers me to the bed and crawls up my body until his face is above mine. I feel the tip of his erection pressing in to me, and raise my legs, parting them wide.

"Try to stay as quiet as you can," he says. "And when you come, do your best not to scream or cry out my name."

"Can I whisper it?"

"Of course." He smiles down at me, pushing inside, and I gasp, clamping my hand over my mouth to stifle the sound. "You're so fucking tight," he murmurs. "The way you grip my cock…" His voice fades, but his words linger, quivering through my body.

"Are you trying to make me come?"

"You bet I am," he says with a smile. "There's nothing I love more than watching you come, and feeling you come, and hearing you come."

"Well, you won't be hearing me… not tonight."

"I'll use my imagination."

I giggle and he takes me even harder, quietening me in an instant, although my body responds and I pull my legs up even higher, raising my hands and tweaking my nipples between my thumbs and forefingers. They're stiff and hard, and I feel a tingling jolt rushing straight down to my pussy.

"I'm so close," I whisper.

"Already?" he says, and I nod my head. "Then come, baby. Come on my cock."

"Oh… Tanner…" His name leaves my lips in a louder tone than I expected and he bends his head, kissing me, as my body spirals out of control. For a second, I want to twist my head away, to scream, to cry out for him, but then something changes. I don't know if it's me, or Tanner, but it's like everything intensifies. His tongue on mine feels like the softest silk. Our flesh seems to fuse where it touches. His cock is harder than ever, driving me onward and onward, while his body towers over mine, drawing me into the most shattering orgasm I've ever experienced… one that leaves me breathless, and spent.

"Well done," he murmurs as I drift back down from that new and special high.

"I wasn't too loud?"

"No."

"It felt different," I say, and he lowers himself to his elbows, looking concerned.

"Good different?"

I nod my head. "There was something about it. I can't explain it properly, but it was something… something kind of eternal."

"Eternal sounds better than good, baby."

"It does."

"You want more?" he asks and I nod my head, which makes him smile as he rolls us over, so I'm on top of him. "Be gentle with me," he whispers, and I giggle. "I get the feeling it's gonna be a long night."

"I hope so, Tanner. I really hope so."

He wasn't wrong.

I don't know what time we eventually fell asleep, but we're both feeling a little jaded this morning. We've showered separately. Tanner went first and when he came back upstairs, he reminded me to take some clothes with me into the bathroom. Then, while I was in there, he fixed us breakfast, which we're eating at the table.

"You remember last night, you said you came from a small town in Vermont?" Nash asks, taking a bite of his toast.

"Yes."

"Do you ever go back there?"

I wonder if he's worried about me leaving, especially now I don't have a job.

"Actually, I've got a confession to make about that," I say.

He frowns, looking concerned, and I smile, hoping to reassure him. "A confession?" Tanner says, and I glance at him.

"Yes. I meant to tell you, I had a conversation with my mom the other day. I forgot to mention it."

"I guess that's understandable. We've both had a lot going on."

He's not kidding. "I know, but I should have remembered."

"You can tell us about it now, can't you?" he says.

"Sure. She called to let me know she was going to stay with my aunt for a while, because she's broken her wrist."

"Your aunt, or your mom?" Nash asks, and I smile down at him.

"My aunt. Her name's Charlotte, and she's really bossy."

He pulls a face. "Okay."

"Don't repeat that," Tanner warns, and I wonder if I should have kept my mouth shut. Still, it's too late now.

"Anyway, we got talking, and I told Mom about both of you, and… and she wants to meet you."

"You told her?" Tanner says, smiling. "About both of us?"

"Yes."

"And she wants to meet us?"

"She does. I—I suggested we could go there for Thanksgiving. It's a couple of months away yet, but I imagine it'll take a while before Aunt Charlotte's ready to cope by herself, and it seemed like the ideal chance for us to spend a few days up there… if that's okay?" I nod toward Nash, trying to get Tanner to understand the possible pitfalls, but he just smiles.

"That sounds great, doesn't it, buddy?"

I'm not sure he should have said that without asking Sabrina first, but it's too late now, and Nash grins back at him, nodding his head, before he finishes his juice and asks to get down from the table. There's no doubt in my mind which of his parents is responsible for his good manners, but before I can comment, Tanner switches seats and comes to sit beside me, taking my hand in his.

"You really spoke to your mom about us?"

"Yes. I told her I'm in love with you."

"You did?"

"Yes. That's why she wants to meet you. Only…"

"Only what?"

"Well… she said it might not be easy for us."

"Why not? What's the problem? Is it my age, or that I've been married before? Or is it Nash?"

I shake my head. "It's none of that. Not really. It's just that we were talking about visiting, and … well, the way she put it was that I won't get to call the shots when it comes to family plans, because you have a child and an ex-wife. It made me realize things like Christmas and Thanksgiving, and family vacations won't be as simple as just deciding what we want to do."

"No, but Sabrina and I talked about all that once we'd finalized the access arrangements. We agreed to discuss vacations in advance… although she kinda blew that one away with her recent trip to Mexico." He rolls his eyes and moves a little closer. "And we decided to take it in turns with things like Thanksgiving and Christmas. She had Nash for Thanksgiving last year, so it's my turn this year."

"Does that mean we can go?"

"It does," he says, nodding his head.

"Assuming you're not fighting your way through the courts by then."

"She can fight, baby… doesn't mean she's gonna win."

I spent all day yesterday moving my things in. Tanner had to work, but Nash said he wanted to help, and we walked to my place together.

"You've got a lot of books," he said, helping me load one of the larger boxes into my car.

"I know. I like reading."

"So does Dad." He grinned at me, and I had to smile back. I felt accepted, and that seemed like an enormous step forward.

By the time Tanner closed up the bookstore, Nash and I were too tired to do anything, so Tanner cooked us spaghetti and meatballs, which he assured me is one of Nash's favorites – after burgers, of course – and once we'd finished, we crashed on the couch and watched a movie.

"I guess we'll be unpacking tomorrow," Tanner said, staring at the boxes we'd left piled against the wall.

"No. I can do that on Monday." I was leaning against him, but he pulled back and raised his eyebrows at me. "If it's okay with you two, I thought we could spend some time together… just the three of us."

He smiled and glanced at Nash, and I turned to see him nodding his head.

"What did you have in mind?" Tanner asked.

"I was thinking about a picnic down by the creek… although I probably should have planned it better. Do we have enough food to make a picnic?"

"I'm sure we can throw something together," he said, smiling, before he returned his gaze to Nash. "How does that sound to you, buddy?"

"Sounds great."

Not long after that, Tanner took Nash off to bed, returning to me just a few minutes later.

"He's exhausted," he said, sitting beside me and turning off the TV.

"I'm not surprised. He worked really hard today."

"He said he enjoyed it."

"I did too." He pulled me into his arms, kissing my forehead. "Do you always put him to bed?" I asked and he leaned back, looking down at me.

"Yes," he said. "I know he might seem a bit old for things like that, but I look on it as a chance to make sure he's okay… to check there's nothing he wants to talk about."

"It wasn't a criticism," I say, reaching up and caressing his cheek. "I love the relationship you have with him."

He smiles and kisses me again. "I know. So do I, and thanks for suggesting the picnic. He really enjoys being down by the creek, and it'll be good for us to spend some time together, as a…" He stopped talking and I sat up.

"As a what?"

"Nothing."

"You were gonna say, ‘as a family', weren't you?"

"Yeah, I was."

"Then why did you stop?"

"Because I wasn't sure how you'd feel about it. It's been a crazy few days. I didn't want to make assumptions about giving us a label."

"Even when it's such a lovely label?" I said, and he smiled.

"It is, isn't it? I think we wear it well."

"I hope so."

He kissed me then, and after a while, without either of us saying a word, we went to bed.

We made love slowly, as befitted our exhaustion, and fell asleep in each other's arms, waking this morning to a bright sunny sky.

"Your refrigerator is incredibly well stocked," I say, rummaging through it, while Tanner clears the breakfast things.

"It probably helps that you brought over the contents of yours."

"Yeah. I guess." I grab some ham, cheese, pickles, tomatoes, and cucumber, and dump them on the countertop, alongside the bread. "If you can make the sandwiches, I can throw together a potato salad, if you like?"

"Did someone mention potato salad?" Nash pokes his head out of his bedroom door, and I turn to Tanner.

"How did he hear that?" I whisper.

"You said potato salad. He's trained to hear those two words from about a hundred yards."

I chuckle and turn back to Nash. "Yes, I did. Can I assume you'd like some?"

"Yes, please." He comes bounding over. "What are you putting in our sandwiches, Dad?"

"I'm guessing you want ham and cheese? Just for a change?"

Nash nods his head and turns to me. "Do you like ham and cheese?" he asks.

"I do, although I like tomato with it."

He pulls a face, which makes me laugh, and I set about making potato salad… for three.

"He's soaked," I say, smiling up at Tanner as we both watch Nash splashing in the creek. We've found a shady spot to sit, and Nash has been in the water almost since we arrived. I'm sitting on the rug between Tanner's parted legs, leaning back against him, and he leans forward and kisses the top of my head.

"It's fine. We'll have time to get him dried and changed before he goes back to Sabrina's."

"How are you gonna handle that?" I ask, twisting around so I can look at him properly.

"I don't know. I guess I'll have to see what she says. If she says anything at all."

"I love to come with you, so I could give you some moral support, but I don't think my presence would help."

He shakes his head, gazing at Nash. "No, babe. I don't think it would."

"Is it time to eat yet?" Nash asks, kicking up water, but looking directly at us.

"It can be if you want," Tanner replies.

"Great. I'm starving."

"I doubt that." Tanner chuckles, and I kneel up, getting out our picnic, while Nash comes and sits down, his father wrapping him in a towel he brought with us.

He takes a huge forkful of potato salad and nods head, watching while I hand Tanner a can of soda, and sit beside him.

"Is that good?" Tanner asks.

"It's the best."

"Nash is something of an expert on potato salad, so if he says it's good…" He lets his voice fade, helping himself, and then he closes his eyes and lets out a soft, almost sexual sigh. "Man… I thought Laurel's potato salad was good, but this is something else."

"Laurel's?" I say and he nods his head.

"Yeah. She always brings an enormous bowl of it to the Fourth of July picnic, and it goes in no time at all."

"But this is better," Nash says, and I feel myself blushing.

"I wouldn't tell Laurel that, if I were you."

"I'm not going to," Tanner says. "Your potato salad is gonna be our secret, babe."

We all laugh, and then Nash clears his throat. "This is lovely, isn't it, Dad?"

"It sure is," Tanner says, smiling at me.

"But just think how much better it would be if we had a dog," Nash says, with a smile.

"Not this again," Tanner replies. "I thought you'd gotten over that." Nash shakes his head and Tanner turns to me. "My ever-loving son has been asking for a puppy for months now, even though he knows his mom would never agree."

"Why does Mom have to agree?" Nash says. "The dog could live with you, couldn't it?"

"Oh, I like this plan." Tanner shakes his head. "You want a dog, but I'm the one who has to look after it." I can't help laughing, and Tanner turns to me. "What's funny?"

"Nothing… except my mom is talking about getting a puppy, too. I've told her I think it's a crazy idea, but she wants one to keep my aunt away from the house." Tanner frowns and even Nash tips his head to one side, neither of them understanding a word I'm saying… or so it seems.

"Like a guard dog, you mean?" Nash says, and I shake my head.

"No. It's just that my aunt doesn't like dogs," I explain, and they nod, their faces clearing, right before they both laugh. "I'm hoping that Mom's enforced visit to Aunt Charlotte will help her realize she doesn't need to do anything so drastic. She just needs to be more assertive… because otherwise, she might get back home, and give in to the temptation of Mrs. Hall's puppies."

"And who's Mrs. Hall?" Tanner asks.

"She's one of my mom's neighbors and her Golden Retriever has just had puppies. As far as I know, at least four of them are going spare."

"Really?" Nash puts down his sandwich, leaping to his feet, and then turns to his father. "Can we, Dad?"

Tanner turns to me, narrowing his eyes. "Anyone would think you did that on purpose."

I shrug my shoulders. "Who? Me?"

He shakes his head, looking back at Nash. "Did you put her up to this?"

"No."

Tanner grabs Nash, wrestling him to the floor. "I don't believe you," he says.

"Save me, Zara," Nash cries, and I leap up, clambering onto Tanner's back. He falls forward, avoiding Nash, and the three of us roll around, giggling.

It's fun, and it's funny… and I don't think I've ever felt so happy in my life.

The time for Nash to leave comes around all too soon, and once he's changed out of his wet clothes, and got his things together, he comes over to me in the kitchen.

"Thanks for a great weekend," he says.

"Thanks for all your help."

He shrugs. "You'll be here next Friday, won't you?"

"Of course I will."

He grins and steps forward, throwing his arms around me. I hug him back, struggling to hold my tears in check, and glance up at Tanner, who's leaning by the wall at the top of the stairs. He gives me a smile, and then Nash pulls back, and runs to his father.

"You okay?" Tanner calls, and I nod my head, watching as the two of them leave.

I'll admit to feeling nervous about how Sabrina's going to react to seeing Tanner… and how he'll respond to seeing her, but I'm also thrilled by how well the weekend has gone. The nerves I felt on Friday seem so unfounded now, and I sit on the couch and lean back, letting out a long sigh.

It's been good. So much better than I expected, and I can't wait for next Friday…

I don't know if I drifted off to sleep, but I startle when the door opens downstairs, hearing it slam shut, and wonder if that's an omen. Did it go badly?

I sit up, waiting while Tanner's footsteps echo around the apartment, my breath catching in my throat when he appears at the top of the stairs.

"Well?"

"Nothing happened," he says, coming to sit beside me, dropping his keys on the table in front of us. "Dean answered the door, and there was no sign of Sabrina."

"Do you think she was avoiding you?"

"It's impossible to tell. I gave up analyzing her motives years ago." He leans in a little closer. "Thanks for everything you did this weekend. Nash didn't stop talking about you all the way home."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He wants to know if we can go to the creek again next weekend."

"What did you say?"

"That I couldn't see why not, as long as the weather's okay."

I nod my head. "We'll try to organize a better picnic. And maybe Nash could invite Billie to come with us?"

Tanner turns toward me. "You think that's a good idea?"

"They can hardly date like a conventional couple, can they?" I say, smiling up at him. "They're eight years old."

"Exactly," he says. "That's why I'm asking if it's a good idea."

"I don't see it can do any harm. It'll be good for them to spend some time together outside of school, and we'll be there to make sure they behave."

He nods his head. "I guess."

"It'll make him happy," I say and he lets out a sigh, which sounds like agreement.

"It will… although I'm not sure even a picnic with Billie can compete with how happy he was when I told him I'd get you to call your mom to ask if there were still any puppies available."

I lean in to him. "You mean that? You want me to call her?"

"Yeah, but not right now." He sits forward, and then stands, holding his hand out and waiting until I take it. "Right now, I wanna take you to bed and hear you scream my name." He pulls me into his arms, staring down into my face.

"Oh… yes, please."

He leads me toward the stairs and before I know it, we're running, giggling, so full of laughter and love that nothing else matters…

"I'll speak to Evelyn this afternoon," Mom says, once I've explained the reason for my call. She was more than surprised to hear from me on a Monday morning, and it took me a while to spell out everything that had happened since we last spoke.

She was livid about Miss Montgomery's attitude and upset that I hadn't called her at the time. But I'm pretty sure she's pleased with the way things have turned out, and she can't wait to meet Tanner and Nash.

"You're sure you'll be home in time for Thanksgiving?" I ask, just to check.

"I'll be there, even if I have to bring Charlotte with me," she says, and I have to laugh, although the prospect of introducing Tanner and Nash to my aunt isn't exactly inspiring. I'm fairly sure Mom's only kidding, though, and she promises to call me back before the weekend with an update from Evelyn Hall.

Before I get started with my unpacking, it makes sense for me to call my landlord, to inform him I've moved out. I probably should have done so before, but everything's happened so quickly, it slipped my mind. I don't have his number on my phone, but I look it up on the emails he sent me and wait for him to answer. It takes a while, but when he does, and I explain the situation, he sounds a little gruff.

"I understand things happen in life," he says. "But you're leaving me in the lurch here."

"I know, and I'm sorry."

"Hmm…" There's a moment's silence. "Give me a couple of days to work out how much you owe me, and I'll get back to you."

"How much I owe you? But I paid you two months in advance, and I've only been living there for three weeks."

"And you seem to have forgotten that your tenancy was for six months. There's a penalty for ending it early."

"Seriously? I don't remember reading anything about that in our agreement."

"It's standard practice. And I'll need to inspect the property to see if there's been any damage."

"There hasn't. I can assure you of that."

"I'll inspect it tomorrow and let you know what's due by the end of the week. Now… where did you leave the keys?"

"I didn't leave them anywhere. I've still got them."

"Really? Well, can you go back to the house and leave them there, please? You shouldn't have brought them away with you."

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't realize." He huffs out a sigh, and then he asks for my new address. "I'm staying with my boyfriend. His apartment is on Main Street, but I don't know what number. It's above the bookstore."

"I know the one," he says. "I'll be able to find you."

"Why would you need to? You've got my number and my email address. You can contact me that way."

"I like to know where people are, just in case."

That sounds like a threat, and I suddenly feel uneasy. Is he going to come here and demand the money in person? I hang up, feeling fearful, just as Tanner comes up the stairs, looking dejected.

"Have you heard from Ezra?" I ask, getting to my feet and going straight to him.

"No."

I put my hands on his shoulders and look up into his eyes. Something's wrong, but if it's not about Sabrina, then I'm at a loss.

"What's happened?" I ask.

"It's Katie."

"What about her?"

"She's just told me she wants to cut her hours."

I lead him to the couch and we both sit side by side. "Is this because you keep taking time out to deal with Nash… and me?"

"No. I asked her that, and she said that's got nothing to do with it. It's because she's met someone."

"A man?"

"Yeah. They've been seeing each other for a while, and she wants to spend more time with him."

"That's fair enough, Tanner."

He turns, looking at me. "I know, and I get how she feels. I wanna spend every second of the day with you." He leans in and kisses me, just briefly. "The thing is, being completely selfish about it, I rely on Katie, and if I get custody of Nash, I don't know how I'm gonna manage."

I tilt my head, frowning up at him. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?"

"Me. Nash and I get along okay, so I'm happy to help with him… and I'm unemployed, too. I used to work in a bookstore, and I'd love to work with you, if you'll have me."

"If?" He chuckles and lifts me onto his lap. "Damn… I must be getting old. Why didn't I think of that myself?"

"Hopefully because you didn't want me to accuse you of taking me for granted?"

"That would be it," he says, smiling, as he holds the back of my head and kisses me. "I was feeling so despondent when Katie said she wanted to reduce her hours. I couldn't work out what to do. That's why I came up here… because I knew you'd make me feel better, and not only have you done that, you've given me a solution." He shakes his head, shrugging his shoulders, like he's confused. "I don't know how you do that. I don't know how you always make everything feel okay. But I love you for doing it."

"Nowhere near as much as I love you."