Project Runaway ✔️

Chapter Sixteen

(The YouTube video was used as my bridesmaid processional at my wedding ❤)

Sixteen

The air between us was a bitter as the cup of coffee sitting on the table between us.

I was caught red-handed with a sausage patty from Trudy's meat market that she sent home with me as a thank you for inviting her and her father to the party. When Peach got wind of what I was eating in the kitchen, she banished the food, squishing it with her hands and dumping it into the garbage disposal to make sure I didn't gain any weight before the wedding. Next thing I know, she's going to stick a flashlight in my mouth to make sure I didn't eat any of it. She also cursed Trudy Ross for giving it to me. I guess that burger my uncle ate last night would be kept a secret. Between her smoking addiction and my uncle's secret, I don't see how the two can have a healthy relationship.

I was forced to go to my room alongside Tanner, and the both of us being restless, I suggested we work on my online portfolio like Tanner promised to help me with.

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"I have some clothes I worked on over the year that I brought with me and I need you to try them on. It's just a shirt and a sports jacket and I'm experimenting with maternity...."

"Not gonna happen." He warned.

I laughed, thinking about how hilarious it would be to see him in a maternity dress. I think I'm on my own for that one.

"I'll grab you the clothes and then I'll let you try them on, get the measurements, and take a photo so I can add all of the information to my site."

I hid my face as he tried on the shirt I made and paired it with one of the jackets. When he was ready, I told him to walk over to my bed and rotated his position, his back toward me as I stood on the bed to smoothen his jacket.

"How does it look?' He questioned me.

"It looks like it was made for you. Technically, I did have you in mind when I created it."

Taking my camera from its charger, I began snapping photos, fighting then urge to take it only of his perfect face.

"I think my portfolio will be nice, and it better be because I'm paying for the website."

"You have to spend money to make money." Tanner mentioned.

"I have to have money to spend money to make money." I teased, ultimately confusing him and myself.

I stopped the photos to give him a break before he went blind from the flash.

"Here." I handed him my dad's watch to put on because I wanted to incorporate it into the pictures, for sentimental and fashionable reasons.

"I like the idea of using his watch. I know I didn't know your dad other than what you told me about him, but he'd be proud of you."

"Thanks. The watch is special not only because he gave it to me, but because it's a symbol that time never stops. Let's take a watch for example: if the clutch in this watch stops working, does that mean time stops? No, time keeps going. The hours - the weeks - the years - time never stops because a watch isn't working properly. Even when our bodies stop working, our spirits never stop working. He told me he'd always be here, even when his body gave up. He told me this before he died, and in some way, it keeps me going."

"That's beautiful. I haven't lost any of my parents, but I've lost my grandmother, Sarah. She was a pure soul, and she died when I was only nine. I can't imagine that she isn't watching over me, either."

"She'd be proud, too. You're a great guy, and she's going to enjoy watching you become an accountant. And of course, your side business working on cars."

"A mechanic shop, too? Pushy, aren't we?"

"I see your potential is all." I shrugged, feeling the cushion of the bed sink further down when Tanner took a seat next to me.

"I'm excited to go to college at UL with you."

"Yes." I neglected to tell him I also applied to colleges in Texas. I was afraid applying to only a single college didn't give me a full advantage of my opportunities. I didn't know where I was going, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him.

"Oh, I got it. I know exactly who can wear your maternity dress!" Tanner snapped his fingers, suddenly coming up with some sort of idea.

"Really? Who?" I pondered.

"Peach. I heard she might be pregnant."

He managed to keep a straight face for a solid minute before breaking, and I nearly lost it.

"Don't joke like that. I can't take a wedding and a baby in the same summer! Peach would freak the hell out about the extra baby weight, and I'm trying to spare myself some sanity before I go back home." I shoved him on the shoulder.

"That would be dreadful." He admitted, shaking his leg against the floor next to me.

"I have one better. Maybe I'll use your ex-girlfriend. I heard Heidi might be pregnant and now she has the perfect excuse to keep you around her witchy fingers."

"Very funny, but that wouldn't be genetically possible, or at least not for me." He pointed out, looking me dead in the eyes with such seriousness. This time, I was prepared, waiting to hear him laugh but none came. He was being as serious as the heart attack I was about to have.

"Wait. You two haven't..." Impossible.

"Never." He licked his lips.

Resting my head on his shoulder, I took a breath of relief, a breath I didn't know I had been holding.

"With anyone." He added.

"Anyone?"

"Nope."

"Me either." I promised.

"No one?"

"No one."

"Good." His head rested against mine and for one wild moment, I could have sworn he took a sigh of relief, too.