“Seriously?” I laughed. “She needs to leave that poor man alone, especially if his wife just died.”
“He didn’t notice,” Janie said, waving her hand. “It was fine. Besides, I’m telling you, he is insanely hot.”
“I’m sure he is.” I rolled my eyes, but my interest was piqued.
“One of us needs to get on that,” Janie said seriously. “I’ll flip you for it.”
“Oh my God,” I said. “You’re insane.”
“I’m serious, Emily.”
“I know.” I laughed. “That’s what makes you insane.”
“Come on,” Janie whined. “Please. Just play along.”
“Whatever,” I said. “You go for it.”
“Really?” She sat up in her chair, her eyes dancing with renewed excitement.
I laughed. “Really. Besides, what do you think the likelihood of either of us actually meeting him is?”
“In this town?” Janie asked. “One hundred percent.”
“Fine,” I said, knowing she was right. “Then we’ll meet him, but then what? He’s a single dad. He won’t be interested in either of us.”
“Why not?” Janie asked.
“We’re young,” I said firmly.
“Honey,” Janie said, her tone serious. “That will only make him want us more.”
She winked and took a drink of her beer. Everything Janie did was suggestive and leading. She was always trying to push me to experience new things and new people. Though her definition of ‘experience’ was slightly crazier than mine. Growing up sheltered, you either turned out crazy and rebellious, or shy and awkward. I was the latter. Janie was the former.
“Just keep your eye out,” Janie said. “If you see him, let me know.”
“I will.” I laughed and shook my head.
We spent the next hour chatting about the new man in town. Janie wondered aloud about his body. She felt sure he would be chiseled. I, on the other hand, contemplated all the reasons he would have for moving to our hole-in-the-wall town.
His wife dying was sad, but it didn’t exactly warrant uprooting his kids from their home.
“Look out,” Janie said suddenly diverting my attention, her eyes shifting to something behind me. “Tanner is on the move.”
“Dear God,” I groaned. “Not this again.”
“Hey, Emily,” Tanner said, stepping up beside our table.
“Hi.” I smiled and turned my attention back to Janie, hoping Tanner would get the hint. He never did.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked, already pulling up a chair.
“Actually, tonight is kind of girls’ night,” I said, giving him a pointed look.
“That’s okay.” He shrugged. “I don’t mind a little girl talk.”
“God, get a clue,” Janie said under her breath.
I shot her a look, but it didn’t matter. Tanner was too busy staring at me to notice anything Janie said.
“How are you, Em’?” Tanner asked, his eyes boring into mine. “It’s been a while.”
That wasn’t true, but I didn’t have the energy to point it out. Every time Tanner saw me around town, he would accost me with his presence. Whether I was drinking at Sal’s with Janie or walking through the square, Tanner would just appear at my side. He’d been doing it since high school, and as much as I wanted to ignore him, he made that impossible.
“I’m fine,” I said with a sigh. “How are you?”
“I’d be a lot better if you would let me take you out,” he said, scooting his chair closer to me. “We’ve been playing this little game for years now, Em’. Don’t you think it’s time we do something about it?”
I looked at Janie who was openly glaring at Tanner. She glanced at me with wide eyes and then shook her head, silently telling me to get rid of him before she kicked his ass. If there was anyone who could get under Janie’s skin, it was Tanner Gregory.
“Listen,” I said softly. “Tanner, we’ve been friends for years, and you know I care about you.”
Tanner’s smile was wide and bright. He looked so hopeful that it almost made me lose my resolve. All I had to do was remember his annoying persistence, and my resolve came flooding back, stronger than ever.
“But,” I continued. “I just don’t see you that way. I’m sorry, Tanner.”
“Emily Ward,” he sighed. “What am I going to do with you?”
“You could accept her answer and move the hell on,” Janie said, louder this time.
Tanner glanced at her and then looked back at me. His eyes stared into mine, overwhelming me with their intensity. This was just one thing I hated about Tanner. He had a way of making me feel painted into a corner; like no matter what I did, he would find a way to get me.
“You know we’re perfect for each other,” he said softly. “Absolutely perfect.”
“Tanner,” I began but he cut me off with a look.
“Don’t worry,” he said, smiling slyly. “I can wait a little longer.”
With that, Tanner pushed away from the table and walked over to the bar. He leaned against it and flagged down the bartender. I shuddered and shook my head with disgust.
“You really need to put that asshole in his place,” Janie said darkly.
“He’s not an asshole,” I said. “He’s just—”
“Desperate? Creepy? One step away from becoming a serial killer?”
I laughed. “Stop it. Tanner is sweet in his own way. He just doesn’t know when to give up, that’s all.”
“It’s been a decade,” Janie said bluntly. “A full decade and he still won’t leave you alone. He’s basically your stalker, Emily.”
“He is not,” I said. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
“Whatever,” Janie said, holding her hands up. “But don’t come crying to me when he shows up in your bedroom later tonight.”
“Stop it,” I said again.
Janie just laughed and glanced behind her. Tanner was still standing at the bar. When she looked back at me, her eyes were dark with concern.
“You’re really worried about him, aren’t you?” I asked.
“Can you blame me?” Janie asked. “It’s enough already.”
“I know.” I sighed. “I wish he would give up too.”
“Maybe one day,” Janie said. “After he has you kidnapped in his basement for twenty years.”
“You’re not funny.” I glared at her.
“Oh, you know I’m not serious.” Janie rolled her eyes and leaned over the table. “I know Tanner’s harmless, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to punch him in the nuts every single day.”
“What if it were you he was hitting on?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“Then I would punch him in the nuts.”
CHAPTER THREE-SEAN
Five days into our new life in Colorado and I was already exhausted. Though I reminded myself that I had no time or desire to make friends here, my self-imposed isolation was beginning to close in around me. It was Monday morning, and I could barely get through breakfast without losing my mind. Tommy and Sarah were fighting at the table and neither would eat a bite of their food. With a sigh, I walked over to join them.
“Enough,” I said firmly while Sarah continued to yell in Tommy’s ear. “Eat. Now.”
“I’m not really hungry,” Tommy said.
“It’s pancakes,” I said. “It’s the one thing I can actually cook. Come on, eat. Would you?”
Tommy sighed and finally poured syrup over his pancakes. He dug in and ate slowly, quiet for the first time all morning. When I looked at Sarah though, she was glaring at her plate.
“Sarah,” I said softly. “Come on.”
“They smell like poop,” she said.
“They do not,” I said. “That’s not nice. Just eat.”
“No.” Sarah looked at me with the same challenging look I’d seen a hundred times since the move. She, more than her brother, hated leaving California. I knew it was the memories of Telissa she missed the most, but there wasn’t anything I could do about that. The more helpless I felt, the angrier I became.
“Fine,” I said. “Don’t eat. Starve.”
With that, I stood up and took her plate. I dumped her pancakes in the trashcan and put her plate in the sink. When I looked back at her, she was staring at me with her mouth wide open. I just stared back.
If she wanted to challenge me, that was fine. I could challenge her right back. After all, a five-year-old couldn’t throw anything at me that I couldn’t handle.