The Right Side of Tanner (Available through the end of Feb. 2025)

Chapter 18

Jenna

It's been a few weeks since the whole 'Lindsey kicked Val's ass at the bar' thing. Okay, she didn't actually kick her ass, but she slapped the bitch, and that still counts as badass in my book. Even Liam will admit that.

Things with her and Chase have been incredible. They're so lovey-dovey, living on cloud nine. It's like a made-for-TV love story is playing out right in front of me. Liam has finally gotten used to it. Though, it took him at least a week to stop making faces when he'd see them holding hands. When they brought up Lins moving into Chase's room and giving Liam his bedroom back, I thought he was going to have a conniption. I don't even want to mention what he did when he saw them making out that first morning after the bar incident. Let's just say I'm happy he wasn't actually having a stroke.

As happy as I am that the two of them have their love life in order, I'm also a little upset. Not because I'm jealous of their happiness. It's just with their problem sorted out; it means I now have time to focus on my own problematic love life. And that's not something I'm ready to tackle yet.

That night at the bar, Tanner was so sweet and attentive. He didn't even seem like the same person I met at the beginning of the season. It's like he matured a lot since then, and I'm not sure how to feel about it yet. Don't get me wrong, him maturing into a better person is great and all, but it doesn't help my frantic mind in figuring out where I stand in the Tanner department.

The angel on my shoulder wants to believe that he's genuinely changed, and there is hope for him as a potential romantic interest. The devil on my other shoulder keeps telling me that it's all an act and underneath his façade is still the playboy he was known to be. The devil on my shoulder also keeps poking at me, telling me just to jump in and ignore the fact that he's just acting and have my filthy way with him regardless. She's turning into a real pain in my ass.

It doesn't help that I have an itch that needs scratching badly. And Tanner's hot. I mean, really hot. If you looked up words like 'sexy,' 'filthy,' 'dirty,' or 'sex-god' in the dictionary, I'm sure there would be an image of him right next to the definitions. I can't deny my physical attraction to him. I'd have to be blind not to see how good-looking he is, but is that enough?

I could give in, give the devil what she wants, let my defenses down and say screw it, and hop into bed for one night of fun with Tanner 'hot stuff' Levine. My only concern is my ability to keep it strictly physical. I don't know if I can pull off 'no strings attached,' as much as I'd sometimes like to.

So, my solution to my problem, for the time being, has been to avoid him. Yep, I've been avoiding him as much as possible the last few weeks, thinking I'd be able to sort through my messy mind and figure out what I'm going to do. Yeah... that hasn't happened. A solution to my problem still escapes me.

I sigh to myself as I ponder my dilemma, still stirring the pasta Lins and I are making for dinner tonight. That's when Chase and Liam walk through the door, fresh from practice.

Liam heads our way after setting down his bag in the living room. "Ladies."

Lins and I reply at the same time. "Heyy" and "Sup," respectively.

Chase bellows his quick greeting, then walks over to where Lins is standing. He smiles fondly at her before giving her a quick kiss.

Chase doesn't miss how Liam wrinkles his nose at them. "Aw, Liam, do you feel left out? Do you need a kiss too? Come here." He then proceeds to chase around the apartment, trying to plant a kiss on him.