Love Surfaced Page 8

  “Are you ashamed of me?” he asks with a low voice.

  I step further, locking my arms around his waist. “No,” I quickly reply. “How could you think that I’d ever be ashamed?” I argue his absurd question.

  Then, he picks up his head, and I notice a sparkle in his eyes as his lips turn up. Swatting at his stomach, I shake my head, and he laughs.

  “Jerk.”

  I can’t make my escape fast enough before his arms tighten around me, and he pulls me close.

  “Aw . . . come here, baby.”

  “Whatever,” is my best comeback right now.

  “I was kidding. I’ll give you a little more time, but I’m growing tired of it, Piper.” His lips straighten, and the playfulness ends immediately.

  “Okay,” I nuzzle into his hold, loving the safety it leaves with me. “I could stay here all night.”

  “Me, too.”

  This time, I believe him. He’s winning me over, and I pray he doesn’t break my heart.

  “Now, go in there and have Bea drive you home. I’ll stay for fifteen minutes, and then I’ll be right behind you.”

  Pushing back from his hold, I notice his face is relaxed and easy. “You sure? You’re okay with waiting to tell everyone?” I need to reinforce that we’re on the same page.

  “Yeah, but not long, okay?” He twists me around to face the door.

  He smacks my ass, and I jump.

  “Now, hurry because I can’t wait for your ass to be bare for my taking.”

  A huge echo of laughter pours out of him, only spurring my own giggling.

  seven

  Tanner: Be there soon. Strip down, and be waiting for me to tie you to the bed.

  FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME, I read the text Tanner sent to me five minutes after Bea had dropped me off, worried where he might be. The sun is now streaming in through the curtains, and my ten phone calls and the equal amount of text messages have gone unanswered. The sleepless night I was expecting went a completely different route than I thought it would have last night. Eventually, I was unable to stay awake any longer, and somewhere between a Friends and a Seinfeld rerun, I lost the battle.

  Me: Tanner? I’m worried.

  It’s my last attempt before I have to set a plan in motion. If I call Brad, he’s going to question why I’m interested in Tanner’s whereabouts, especially this early in the morning. Thinking I need some brains—hopefully, well-rested brains—to help me figure this out, I call Bea.

  “What?” she yells into the phone.

  I pull my ear away from the receiver.

  “You do realize, it’s, like—”

  A loud crash echoes through the phone.

  “Fucking seven in the morning. What the hell, Piper?” she screams.

  I can tell she’s fumbling to pick up whatever dropped.

  “I’m sorry, Bea.”

  “Shouldn’t you be wrapped up in some swimmer’s arms? Or shouldn’t he be wrapped inside you?” She laughs at her own joke while I remain silent. “What’s wrong?” She sighs, probably assuming that Tanner and I got into some huge immature fight.

  “He never showed up.” I bite my nails and pace the floor in front of my television.

  “Call him.”

  “You think I haven’t tried?” Annoyance is clear in my tone.

  “Well, Tanner does bring this insecure schoolgirl crush side of you out to play.”

  “What? He does not.”

  “Does to.”

  “Does—ugh, whatever, Bea. Listen, I’ve called and texted him a billion times.”

  “I doubt a billion.” She laughs.

  I huff, “Take this seriously, Bea. What do I do? He hasn’t responded at all.” I stop pacing and look out the window, searching the parking lot for his Jeep.

  “All right. Hold on. Let me sit up, so my amazing brain is at its full potential. Let’s see. You don’t want to call Brad.”

  “No!” I yell into the receiver, my heart rate skyrocketing with the thought.

  “Um . . . that’s why I said you don’t,” she says, stressing the last word.

  My body relaxes.

  “I’ll call him,” she says.

  “Why would you call my brother, Bea?”

  Silence creeps on the other end because she realizes that would be more absurd than if I called him.

  “Well, crap. Call the police. I don’t know.”

  I can practically imagine her in her bed, throwing her hand up in the air in defeat.

  “Ugh . . .”

  Maybe Tanner got hung up with Brad somewhere and couldn’t sneak away, but then his Jeep would be in the parking lot.

  My bottom lip is practically raw from my teeth nibbling on it while I’ve been trying to figure out where the hell Tanner is. Just then, my phone beeps. Pulling it away, I see Brad’s name flashing across the screen. Perfect.

  “Hold on, Bea.”

  She doesn’t respond. Most likely, she’s already fallen back asleep.

  I compose myself from the hot anxiety mess I am and answer the phone in a casual voice, “Hello?”

  “Pipe, Taylor thought I should call you.”

  My sinking boulder develops in my stomach.

  “Tanner was in an accident last night, so we’re about to head out to the hospital. I didn’t get word until twenty minutes ago. He’s fine though. They kept him overnight to make sure he didn’t have a concussion. So, now, you know, and I’m sure Taylor will be happy with me.” He’s about to disconnect.

  My heart pounds in my chest as I think of Tanner lying in a hospital bed, injured from a car accident. The gut-wrenching image makes me call out, “I’ll go with you. Hold on one sec.”

  I click over to Bea, “Found him. He’s at the hospital. He’s fine, gotta go.”

  “Whatevs. Call me later.” The phone goes silent and I click over to Brad.

  Scrambling to my bedroom, I shed my jeans and replace them with yoga pants. If I show up in the clothes from Taylor’s party, Brad might notice and think I was with someone. There’s no way I want to play Twenty Questions with him.

  “Okay?” Brad’s voice is curious.

  I don’t blame him. Normally, I would go up to see Tanner after he returned. A week ago, I would have played the nonchalant sister role, but there’s no way I’m not going to the hospital. My need to see Tanner and make sure he’s okay is too great. I cross my fingers that Brad doesn’t sense anything about me wanting to go now.

  “I want to make sure he’s okay. He’s my friend, too.” I put up a little too much of a fight.

  “Fine. We’re about to leave. Meet me downstairs, like now, Pipe.” He hangs up.

  A man of few words.

  I toss my shirt into the laundry and grab the sweatshirt lying across my chair. Leaving my apartment in a frenzy, I weave my fingers through my hair into a low ponytail.

  When Brad and Taylor meet me in the lobby, Taylor sneaks a devilish grin to let me know of her antics. After Brad walks right past me, I mouth, Thank you, to her, making her smile wider. She’s helped me so much in leaving Brad in the dark that I concentrate on the wet asphalt in guilt for prejudging the girl.

  “Let’s go, girls!” Brad yells in front of us.

  Taylor quickens her steps, and at the same time, I begin to lag. Brad cocks his head when I shuffle my feet to the car, and he taps his foot on the ground.

  “You’re the one who wanted to go, so get in the damn car.” He has the door of his Mustang open with the seat already pressed forward for me to climb in the back.

  Without saying a word to him, I slide in my seat.

  During the ten-minute drive to the hospital, I shoot Tanner another text. If he’s not unconscious, he should have answered my calls and texts from earlier.

  By the time we pull into the sparse parking lot, no dings or vibrations have alerted me of any responses from him. Taylor swings her arm through Brad’s as the three of us venture through the sliding doors. After kindly asking the receptionist at the help desk where
we need to go, we step single file into the elevator, silence encompassing the confined space.

  When the bell dings, I try to show restraint, and I plan on waiting for them to exit first. The doors slide open, but Taylor grips Brad’s wrist to allow me to go first. My feet beg to run to room 346 and push the door open before hopping onto his bed. But I can’t, so my steps steadily increase as my head scans from right and left, looking at each room number. By the time we come upon 344, a jittery excitement speeds my heart rate at the thought of him inside the next room—on a hospital bed, in a gown with nothing underneath.

  Get a hold of yourself, Piper.

  The large door is open a sliver, and I hear talking behind it. Peering over to Brad for his thoughts if we should enter, he cringes and bites the inside of his cheek in question. The three of us waver in the hallway, not wanting to interrupt anything, until the door springs open, and a nurse startles back.

  “Can I help you?” she asks.

  She’s cute and young, making me second-guess Tanner’s reasons for not calling me.

  “We’re here to see Tanner McCain,” Brad informs her.

  She smiles.

  “Brad?” Tanner yells, indicating we’re at his room.

  I place my hand on my stomach when it flips just from the sound of his voice.

  “Yeah, it’s us.” Brad looks at the nurse. “Can we go in?”

  “Yeah, I was just going to get his personal belongings at the nurses’ station. Go on in.” She steps out of the way, slowly appraising me and Taylor, before she heads down the hall.

  Brad walks in first, his hand linked with Taylor’s. Tanner lights up when he spots Brad, but when he catches me following, his eyes beam. His reaction is everything I hoped for, but it still doesn’t change my insecurity about him not calling.

  “What’s up, man? Shit. How are you?” Brad asks Tanner.

  Truthfully, Tanner appears fine to me. His face has a few scratches, maybe a bruise here or there, but no casts or braces. Why couldn’t he call me last night?

  “I fucked up my back.” His vision peers over to me and his hands fist the sheet.

  I stare to the floor, continuing with the awkward space between us.

  “Hey, Piper.” His voice is so soft that I barely hear it.

  When my head picks up, Taylor gasps next to me just as quickly.

  “Hey, Tan,” I say, following Taylor and taking the seat next to her.

  “How bad? Are you out?” Brad panics, pacing the floor “Shit, man, we got Georgetown next week.”

  “Coach was here about an hour ago. Doctor told him that I could be out for the season.”

  I watch as Tanner’s hands ball the sheet. He’s trying to conceal how upset he is by this news. Any of us would be.

  “What?” Brad screams, tossing his hands in the air. “We have no shot without you. We’re screwed.” He violently shakes his head from side to side.

  “Jeez, Brad. Don’t make me call the psych ward on you,” I joke.

  Brad glares over to me.

  “I’ll do whatever I have to. You know it won’t take me long.” Tanner presses a palm on the bed and winces from pain when his body shifts.

  “You’d better, man, because . . . damn,” Brad continues his childlike tantrum. He’s putting pressure on Tanner to force his body to heal before it’s ready, which will only jeopardize him in the long run.

  “Here you go.” The bubbly nurse sashays into the room with a plastic bag her hands.

  I’m fairly certain she exaggerates her bending over to place it on the table.

  I rub my palms against my pants and watch Tanner’s reaction to her. He only thanks her and smiles before turning back to Brad with a short glance my way.

  Brad snatches a brown envelope from the bag, tearing it open, before Tanner can get his hands on it. Brad tosses Tanner’s wallet along with his keys on the table.

  When Brad pulls the phone out, he laughs and then hands it to Tanner. “Whoever Ashley is, she’s been trying to get a hold of you all night.”

  Brad continues to be amused while I struggle to breathe. Taylor reaches over and grabs my knee, squeezing it, but I breathe deep and release. It’s just not fucking working. My worst fears are coming true.

  “There must be, like, ten missed calls.”

  Tanner’s eyes flick to mine, and I once again divert his stare, enjoying the scenery of the linoleum floor much better.

  “Give me the phone again. Let’s count,” Brad prods.

  My heart falters.

  Standing up, I never look at Tanner. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.” My voice is weak and broken. God, I hate that he’s done this to me.

  “Wait up, Piper,” Taylor calls out.

  I don’t stop.

  By the time I reach the door, she must realize that she needs to make an excuse. “I haven’t eaten breakfast, so I’m going to find a vending machine.”

  Neither Brad nor Tanner respond, and soon, we’re both outside the door of his room. I lean against the wall and sink down to the ground. Placing my head in my hands, I pull a little on my strands to knock some sense into myself. How did I allow my feelings for Tanner to go this deep? I should have kept my guard up, never stepped over the line.

  Taylor’s purse falls to the floor, and then, her ass is right next to mine. As much as I want to be indifferent to Taylor, her interest in my love life is nice.

  “Just because girls call him doesn’t mean he calls them back.”

  The ache in my stomach lifts from her advice.

  “What?” I ask. What she said actually makes sense.

  “Maybe she’s one of those stalker chicks. Maybe he slept with her a long time ago, which sucks, but it doesn’t mean he’s seeing someone else.” She squeezes my knee firmly between her manicured nails. “Hey . . .” She patiently waits for me to lift my head. “I have a pretty good intuition with people, and the boy through that door loves you.” She smiles her perfectly white teeth.

  With her confession, my cheeks heat from embarrassment because I’m a sensible girl. I like to think I have a good head on my shoulders with a lot of common sense.

  Standing up, I wipe off my butt from the dust of the hospital floor. “You’re right. Thank you, Taylor.”

  I nod my head, and her face beams.

  Crap, I really should be a little nicer to her.

  “No thanks necessary. Now, I’m going to go in there and manipulate your brother to leave, so you can clear up this miscommunication.” She turns around and disappears through Tanner’s door.

  I overhear her sweet and whiny voice wrap Brad tightly around her finger. Before I blink, the two of them are exiting.

  Brad turns to me with a confused expression across his face. He’s probably speculating why I’m just standing there. “Hey, Pipe. We’re going down to the cafeteria. Come on.”

  He swings his other arm forward, but I don’t join them.

  “Nah, I’m good.” My stomach rumbles, and I place my hand over it to hopefully disguise the sound.

  “We’ll bring something back?” Taylor offers.

  Brad scrutinizes me but says nothing.

  “That would be great. Just a yogurt is fine.” I smile.

  Brad slowly nods his head. “You sure?” he asks.

  “Yes. Thanks, guys.” My phone rings in my pocket, and the distraction is perfect. “Hello?” I answer.

  Brad’s about to step forward.

  “Hi, Mom,” I say.

  That makes Brad step back to Taylor.

  “We just found out. He’s fine. We didn’t know. We wanted to get here as soon as possible.” I’m answering the questions my mom is spitting at me.

  Wanting no part of my mom’s third degree, Brad chuckles and turns around, leading Taylor down the hall.

  “Okay, I’m going in there now. I’ll let you know, Mom.”

  She continues to ramble in my ear about how we all need to protect one another and make sure we take care of Tanner.

  “I
will, Mom, promise. Let me call you back when I have more information.”

  Thankfully, my quest for details appeases her, and she allows me to hang up.

  When I walk into the room, Tanner condescendingly smiles at me, and I glare, taking a seat in the chair across from him.

  “Where are the other two?” he asks, muting the blaring ESPN on the television.

  “Went down to the cafeteria.” I focus on the floor, unable to look at him.

  “Then, why are you so far away? Come here.”

  The sweetness from his voice makes my feet flitter to move.

  “Who is Ashley?” I whisper.

  My arms wrap around my stomach when he releases a deep breath.

  “Piper, do you doubt me?”

  I hear the shuffling of his body on the sheets, but I’m too chicken to look up. They have a way of luring me do things I don’t want to, and I need to find out this answer now.

  “Answer the question.” I allow my voice to be monotone, trying like hell to show indifference, although it’s pointless.

  He knows full well how much I care for him. How could he not?

  “Come here.”

  I finally pick up my head, and see his hand is held out for me to take.

  “No.”

  “Come. Here.”

  I shake my head.

  “Why?”

  This time, I look up and stare into those soft concerned eyes. “You’ll convince me that she’s no one, and I’ll weaken.”

  “I make you weak? I didn’t know I contained a power like that. I’m a superhero, and I didn’t even know it.” He looks at both his palms, examining them, and then chuckles. “Get your ass over here.”

  “Tell me who she is first,” I demand, standing up but keeping my feet firm on the floor.

  “Do me a favor. Can you call my phone really quick?” He grabs his phone from the rolling cart.

  “No. Why?”

  “Just do it for me.”

  “My number appearing on your phone won’t erase her name.” During this whole exchange, my heart breaks piece by piece.

  “Piper, I’m pleading. We have maybe fifteen minutes, and I need to touch you, to kiss you.”