Always//Tanner Fox

8

My smile faded and I stared into the brown eyes of the boy I had once dated. I instantly looked down

"Hey Westin" I said with an awkward laugh "what are you doing here?"

"Teddy invited me and my family. They mentioned they were throwing a welcome back party but they didn't mention it was for you" he sighed

I really wanted to apologize but I just couldn't bring myself to do it

"Who's this?" He asked referring to Tanner

"This is Tanner...my boyfriend"

"The one from San Diego?"

"Mhm"

He sighed and looked almost as if he would cry "I hope you guys are happy. You look great together"

"Thanks" I didn't look up at him once

"I better go" he said bluntly and walked away

"Who was that babe?" Tanner asked staring at Westin as he walked away

"I'll explain later"

"Ok"

I put a smile on my face and tried to act natural as we went to go eat and catch up with my family. Everyone loved Tanner as far as I could tell and everyone was happy to hear about Parker moving out to San Diego. We talked about everything that has happened over the past few years. We even talked about how Tanner surprised me with a puppy and how we let the fans decide his name and it ended up being phoenix. We talked about how we live with tanner's friends and some of my girl cousins that were around my age wanted me to explain how me and Tanner ended up together.

It got late and everyone went home so Tanner and I went into the house after helping clean up. Teddy stopped us on the stairs and laughed slightly

"Just so you guys know, if you want to help on the farm, you've got to get up bright and early"

"Teddy, if you could wake us up, that would help. Just so we know when to get up"

"I'd be happy to" he smiled

Tanner and I went up to our room and got changed. Once we both got into our pajamas we crawled into bed

"So are you going to tell me what that whole Westin thing was about?"

"Oh, it was stupid really. He um...he was my first boyfriend. I came out here to stay for the summer when I was fifteen and I met him when he was working out in the barn. He was nice and I thought he was cute so we started talking to each other" I looked at him and I could tell he was upset. He doesn't like hearing me talk about a boy that isn't him but I wanted to tell him the honest truth "a couple weeks later, we started dating. Everything was going great until the week I had to leave. He um... he told me he loved me. I still feel guilty every time I see him because I ruined him that day. I told him I didn't love him back and he shattered. I feel bad every time I see him because of the way I hurt him"

"Why did you tell him you didn't love him?"

"Why would I tell somebody something I didn't mean? That would've made things worse"

"I didn't know you felt that way. What did you tell him?"

"The truth"

"What was the truth?"

"I can't force myself to love someone. I didn't get to spend enough time to learn to love him. A month and a half isn't long enough to get to love someone. That takes time"

"How did he know about me?"

"I had told him that night that I didn't love him because I already loved someone"

"Then why did you date him?"

"I didn't know I already loved the boy at the time. It took me a while to realize"

"Who was the boy?"

"......you. Isn't that obvious?"

"I just wanted to hear you say it" he smiled and kissed me

"You're not mad at me?"

"Why would I? Like you said, you can't force yourself to love someone. Besides, now you are with me and I couldn't be happier"

"I feel like I should apologize but I can't bring myself to do it"

"Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea. We are mature enough to handle this like adults"

"Ok"

He turned off the lamp and wrapped his arm around me. My eyelids got heavy and I soon fell asleep.