Project Runaway ✔️

Chapter Twenty

Twenty

After Tanner and I kissed, my mouth tingled for me, like a phantom pain from not having what belonged to me.

The very next morning, I stood in the kitchen thinking about our kiss. With a glass of cold milk pressing against my lips, I imagined how it would have been to wake up to Tanner kissing me, but instead, nothing happened.

Startled, I felt a presence behind me and my back straightened, the warmth behind me hovering above the cooling vent on the floor.

"Good morning." Tanner greeted me oh-so casually as if last night he wasn't speaking sweet nothings into my ear.

"Morning." I slowly turned to face him, not sure how to react after our last encounter.

"Listen, I was thinking we could go out today. We should talk about last night." Standing so close to his him, I fought the urge to lock myself around him. His finger brushed the hairs against my arm, and I blushed, propping the back of my elbows on the counter so as not to fall.

"That sounds good. Let me change and..."

"Oh, good you're up early. There's someone at the door." Like every great moment of my life, Peach Pollock ruins it.

I checked my watch, wondering who was here this early.

"Who?"

"Your cute friend, James. I had no idea he was in such a popular band. You've done good for yourself." Really?

"Tell him I can't talk today. I'm busy."

"Absolutely not. You're going to speak with him and invite him in! It's not often someone so popular talks to you, so don't ruin your chances with a good man with a high profile." She warned.

Peach only cared about someone's popularity, not their character. In fact, I think she was doing it knowing that Tanner and I wanted to hang out! I never gave her much credit, but she knew something was going on with Tanner and me. She was doing this to spite me, I guarantee it. I really needed to speak with Tanner after last night, alone, and Peach was purposely making it harder.

"Peach, I don't care. Tanner and I made plans." I told her.

"Un-make them! You will see this boy and that's final. Besides, your uncle could use some help in the basement cleaning up." She insinuated, gesturing toward Tanner.

"I'll see you later, Cinderella." I tossed a disappointment look at Tanner, knowing I wouldn't see him for a while. All Peach does is put men to work while she stands there making orders. And we follow them.

Taking a deep breath, I answered the door politely, greeting James with as much kindness as I could muster.

"Lilah, hey."

He was drunk. Again.

"James, what are you..."

"I brought you some roses."

They were big and beautiful in clear vase. Why would he bring me roses? Once could swear I kissed him instead of Tanner. Maybe I made the wrong decision to try to be friends with James, because clearly he was getting the wrong idea. I wasn't used to this whole 'friend' thing, since the only friend I had (Tanner) was my biggest crush, but I'm pretty sure friends don't bring each other roses.

"How sweet. James, I don't want to be rude, but I think you're getting the wrong idea."

"Roses!" Stomping in with her high heels, Peach gathered the vase into her greedy hands as if it were own. I wish she would trip over those snake-skin heels. I'm surprised she wore those heels considering I bought them for her last Christmas; little did she know they were real, and she'd kill me if she knew.

"Yepp." I left it alone, deciding I didn't much want the roses, anyway.

"Invite the boy in already! Come on, I'll make you some tea." Funny how she can be nice to aspiring rock stars, but not me.

I don't even like tea.

"Come in." I motioned, deciding it was pointless to argue.

While James and I sat in the living with Peach having her ear to the door, I stayed in silence as James spoke mostly of himself and the rough night ahead of him at his next concert. I guess he was drinking to take off the edge again. He complained about money and how he wasn't making enough in small towns, so his band was leaving town soon for his tour. I thought that this visit, and the flowers, were the subject of his goodbye, but apparently, he wanted to see me again. Which, I guess, wouldn't be so terrible if I didn't think he liked me. Roses? I mean, come on! That's spells crush, not to mention, Tanner thinks he likes me.

Tanner. Speak of the devil.

Tanner wandered into the living room, pretending to looks for 'wrenches', when in reality, he was being nosy. His eyes kept glaring in our direction on the sofa, and I caught his eye a few times.

Tanner came in three times, looking for something new each time that wouldn't possibly be in the living room. James continued to talk, not really paying attention to Tanner.

"Hold on, I have to take this." From the looks of the selfie on the phone, I knew it was James' ex.

James left the room and my eyes washed over Tanner, turning my head sideways.

"I know what you're doing." I accused.

"What?" His dumbfounded, adorable face couldn't confuse me in the slightest.

"Checking up on James and me." I told him confidently.

He ran a hand through thick, brown hair, shaking his head.

"Nope."

"Yepp. Is someone...jealous?" My heart skipped a beat when I said it out loud.

"I'm not jealous."

Sure.

"Uhuh." I said.

"Tell him to leave. He's so boring to listen to." Tanner mouthed.

"Then why are still hunkering by the cabinets if he's boring? I can't tell him to leave because Peach is probably making sure she doesn't hear the front door slam."

"Think of something. He's totally boring you, too. If he wasn't, you wouldn't be staring at me." He smiled across from me, and I smiled back. He had a point.

Luckily, I didn't have to kick anyone out because suddenly, James had to go.

Funny thing is Tanner West went back into the basement with my uncle and never came back to spy on me. Yet, he's wasn't jealous. Puh-lease.