Outcast (Wiltshire University Book 1)

Chapter 8

Tanner pulled into the underground parking structure of a large apartment building. Carefully guiding the car down the narrow lane, he maneuvered into a numbered spot, engaging the parking brake and turning the car off. "What's your poison, email, text, or phone call?" he asked withdrawing his phone from the center console.

"Text."

Tanner nodded quickly tapping something into his phone before handing it over. Glancing at the screen, I saw he'd opened a new message attaching the picture of his ID he'd taken earlier and typed out his address. Adding Sawyer's number, I hit send on Tanner's part of the message, quickly following it with my own explanation.

I hit send, holding the phone out for Tanner to take.

"Keep it, that's the deal, remember." Right, this is my lifeline. Why do I keep forgetting that? "I think we should leave your stuff in the car for right now. I don't know about you, but I'm dying to get out of these squishy shoes." Selling his point, Tanner wiggled his feet in his shoes creating a moist splooshing sound.

I winced at the soggy sound of his wet feet. "Sorry about that." Considering mine felt like prunecicles he couldn't be any more comfortable than I was. "If you aren't worried about all the wet stuff sitting in your car, that's fine with me." Not that I had anything to change into, but there wasn't any point in forcing Tanner to remain in his wet clothing any longer than he needed to. One of us should enjoy being dry.

"Great. Follow me then." Tanner smiled, opening his car door and hopping out with an amazing amount of grace considering his size.

Opening my own door, I reluctantly climbed out of the warmth of the Audi hurrying around to the back of the car where Tanner already stood waiting. Clutching Tanner's phone, I followed him through the garage, stopping at a set of steel elevator doors. The doors sprung open the moment he pushed the button as though the car was waiting for us in the basement garage.

When Tanner waved for me to go first, I darted to the back corner of the elevator, resting my weary body against the two walls and focusing on my feet. Even though I just spent the last couple hours with Tanner, I suddenly felt really awkward around him and a little nervous about going to his apartment alone. It's not like I've never been alone with a guy in a house or a hotel or whatever, but this was my first time going to a guy's apartment, a place that he lived without adult supervision because he was the adult. I wonder how long it takes before this sort of stuff just starts feeling normal, like when will I stop reminding myself that I'm an adult too?

The elevator jerked to a stop, jostling me from my thoughts. Stepping out of the car I took in the wide hallway. I was happy to realize the rustic barnwood look floor was actually tile as I squeaked along behind Tanner. One less thing for my muddy, soaked self to ruin. To my left, the hall opened to an atrium, the sound of water wafting up from below. Even though the railing to the atrium was wood and glass, allowing easy viewing of the space below, I was too focused on the exteriors of the apartments, designed to look like the front porches of a southern community, to investigate the source of the flowing water sound.

For each apartment we passed a pair of rocking chairs sat to one side of the Dutch entry door; on the other side, a wide porch swing hung suspended from the ceiling facing the atrium below. While the wall behind the rockers was cedar planks, run horizontally, a living wall occupied the space behind the swing. Gas lamps flanked the doors, the flickering light reflecting off the glass upper half of the doors. I couldn't help but gawk in amazement; this place looked like something out of one of those crazy expensive design magazines, but it was student housing.

"This is me," Tanner announced opening the last door at the end of the hallway.

"You don't lock your door?" I wrinkled my nose. My parents would kill me if I ever left a door unlocked.

"Electronic locks." Tanner looked back at me with raised eyebrows as he opened the door. "It senses my phone and automatically unlocks when I'm close. I thought they were everywhere now."

"Yeah, no. I've always used a regular old key, or you know those credit card keys for hotels. This is totally Inspector Gadget type stuff."

"I loved that show," Tanner enthused, taking a step back away from the open doorway. "After you."

"Right! I always wanted Penny's computer book," my excitement melting into a frown as I slipped into my familiar rant. "I was so bummed when I realized it's just a phablet. Somehow that isn't as cool."

Tanner's eyes crinkled at the corners. "Yeah, you're right. That is kind of a bummer. Brain's collar is still awesome."

"Totally," I emphatically agreed, a shiver rippling through my body; the heavily air-conditioned buildings plus my soaking wet clothing were not a great combination.

"We should get you warm," Tanner grimaced, stepping out of the well-lit entry through an opening in a blank wall. "Come on, the shower is this way." My eyes followed him as he disappeared into the heart of the apartment. I couldn't help but appreciate the way his wet clothing clung to well-defined muscles. I flushed. Tanner might have a shower in mind, but my body was thinking of other ways we could get warm.