One House Behind | ✓

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠

Shelly

"Okay, so, he has a child. Why does he want to live here?"

"Because he has no place to go."

"Where did he go for these past few months? Why does he suddenly have no place to stay?" 

"It's fine. He went to stay with a friend but he realized that he shouldn't keep you guys apart. Your brother deserves to know you. He's going to love you."

"Can I...can I call Tanner?"

I knew my answer wasn't what she wanted. She wanted to talk about it. She wanted to straighten out a bent relationship. But I couldn't process it all without a bit of time.

"Whatever you need."

I watched as she walked out of my room. Closing the door, trying not to get the tears to fall, I picked up my phone. He answered before it even rang on my end.

"Hey."

"Hey."

I winced at my voice. It was hoarse and sounded as if I just stopped choking on my saliva. I knew that he would want to know what happened. I was still somewhat hesitant to tell him. He had the perfect family, perfect father, I didn't. Would he think differently of me because of that?

"What's wrong? Do you need me or do you want space?"

"Both? I don't know, Tan. It's all messed up."

"Do whatever you are comfortable with."

That was why I loved him. I didn't even need to tell him what was wrong, he knew the right words. A smile replaced my frown and the waver on my lip was gone. The light was there again, wrapping me in everything good. Most of the sadness washed away and the tears stopped as I knew that Tanner would always be there.

This time, without a doubt.

"I'll be fine by myself. It's just that...life likes the throw curveballs at me. It's weird, but I'll be fine. I have to be."

"No, you don't have to. You told me once that it was okay to feel, you gave me space, and I'll do the same. It's okay to feel whatever you are feeling, it's normal."

"I wish I could kiss you."

"If you want, you could come over, no one's home."

Temptation at its finest. I rushed to put my shoes on as I heard his laughter. Hanging up with a quick be there soon, I told my mom I was going over to his house. I knew she was feeling bad when she let me do things without me asking ahead. Later tonight, I would have to talk to her about it.

But Tanner was waiting. As soon as I reached his door, he yanked me inside softly so that we were in his room in a matter of seconds. Sitting down first, he yanked me down so I was on his lap. My side was to his chest as he just held me.

So, no kissing?

I twisted my body to look at him before I realized what he did. I extended my arm to lay my hand on where his shoulder and neck met. His eyes bore into my soul. The thought that he was looking into the darkest pits of me, of him knowing every secret I had ever kept or told, was what made me utter the next three words.

"I'm your stalker."

"And I'm yours," he sighed.

"I love you."

Both of our bodies went still. I gulped, trying to get my nerves out of the way, just in case he wanted me to elaborate. But what was there to elaborate on? I knew what the feeling of warmth, the feeling of reliance, felt like.

"What?" Tanner's voice was soft.

I stood up quickly, for some reason feeling rejected. I couldn't think straight as all my thoughts went bad. No, I told myself I wasn't going down that path. My stomach turned, feeling hopelessness push forward, and my body wanted to run. But I didn't.

Tanner followed quickly as he stood up too. He cupped my face in his hands. A smile played at his lips, the lips I had gotten accustomed to. Leaning down, he captured my lips in a slow sensual kiss that began with innocence and ended up with his tongue in my mouth.

Gripping my waist, he pushed me against his dresser. It was a quick movement and awkward as I thought he was setting me on it. A burst of laughter bubbled out of my mouth into his and our kiss turned sloppy. I leaned away from him to laugh freely.

"That's not what I wanted."

"Neither did I. But it's fine, it made me smile."

"That it did."

He started playing with my hair. Little shivers went up my back from it until they turned into bigger ones. My entire body shivered and his hands stopped for just a second before they continued.

"What?" he teased.

"Stop!"

"Why?"

His hands fell from my hair but they traveled down further until they hit my waist. Fingers danced on the middle of my body before I figured out what he was doing. From a second of passion to a minute of laughter.

"Tanner, Tanner, stop! Ahh! No! Stop!" I screamed as he wouldn't stop tickling me.

"But why? I know you like being tickled!"

"No one does! Oh my gosh, I'm going to pee. Sto-stop!"

"Not yet, just a few seconds more."

I continued to squirm in his hold against the dresser. Pushing did no good as he wasn't even budging. I regretted not being smart and working out with my mom when she asked. And then I laughed louder as everything had gotten funnier.

"Okay, and....done," he said, ending the tickling minute with a kiss.

"Thank you," I sighed into his lips.

His hands tightened on me. An arm was slung across my back, like a baby being held with only an arm securing them, and space was gone as well. Gravity was completely there, pulling us down onto his bed until I was on top of him. His hands traveled until they hit the spot where my thigh met my bottom.

A moan escaped our lips but it was unknown of the origin. I just knew that it expressed what I felt. Our lips moved against each other, although I had an irrational fear of cutting him with my dry lips, in a dance that I only ever wanted to dance with him.

"I love you too. I think I have for a while. And that's all I have to say about that."

"Did you just quote Forrest Gump?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Now, kiss me."

"Okay, wierdo."

"No, stalker."

"My stalker," I mumbled before leaning down to kiss him.

******

A/N:

I love Tanner. Who wouldn't?