Looking Back

Chapter 10: Thursday

Tamara's POV

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of bacon, sausage, toast, and scrambled eggs. Not sure how I knew all of that, I woke up.

"Dad," I called sitting up and rubbing my eyes.

"It's about time you got up," said a familiar voice, but it wasn't my dad's.

"Tanner? What are you doing here," I asked still half asleep.

"I live here, silly."

"What?"

"Remember last night."

"That wasn't a dream?"

He laughed. "Last night definitely wasn't a dream. It was real, just as real as you stayed at my house last night."

I opened my eyes taking in and remembering everything that happened last night. All of it seemed so unreal. Him getting me blankets, and fixing me hot chocolate, him rubbing my back to keep me warm, and holding my hands to bring feeling back into them. He did all of it for me. I don't think I've been showed that much kindness out of all the times in my life.

I looked at Tanner.

He stared back.

"Tanner." Mrs. Stone's voice made me jump.

Tanner smiled. "Don't worry. I already explained everything to them," he whispered to me, and then to his mother, "Coming."

"Go wake up your brother, so he can wash up and eat."

"Yes, ma'am," answered Tanner. "Come on, Tamara. That means you too."

It made me happy that Tanner included me. I followed Tanner down the hall, passed his parents who were in the kitchen talking, and into a room full of toys and a...dog.

The dog immediately began barking and growling at me. Frightened, I took a step back.

"Stop it, Spike," ordered Tanner.

The dog sat down with a sad look on his face.

"Sorry about that."

"Hi, Tamara," said Tommy wide awake. "What are you doing here?" He looked from me to Tanner asked, "Is she your girlfriend?"

I blushed.

Tanner laughed nervously. "Umm, I'm not sure." He rubbed the back of his neck while sending me his cute, shy smile.

I wished I had a camera so I could capture the image and keep it forever.

"Then why is she here?" The little boy looked at me curiously.

"She needed a place to stay for the night. Listen, go wash up. We're having your favorite."

"Blue berry pancakes?" Tommy's eyes lit up.

"Yep, go wash up," Tanner told him again.

Tommy climbed out of the bed hurriedly and ran to the bathroom.

Tanner laughed, embarrassed. "Sorry about that."

"It's okay." I smiled. "He's so cute."

"Yeah, and a handful," he added.

"He looks a lot like you."

"What can I say, we're brothers."

Leaving Tommy's room with Spike sniffing me the whole way, we went to the bathroom to get washed up.

As I squirted soap on my hands, Tanner asked, "So are we just friends or are we going out?" he asked uncertain.

"I don't know," I answered bashfully.