Chapter 18
Lindsey
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked Tanner one last time. “This may only be adding fuel to the fire.”
We were headed up the highway in his black truck. Brian didn’t know we were coming. It was a bit of an ambush, but one we felt we had to do. Neither one of us was okay with Brian hating us. And, we wanted to be together. We had to find a way to Brian realize we were more than just a fling. Tanner and I were the real deal.
“He’ll probably take a swing at me, again. Don’t stand next to me. I would hate to have to kick his ass because he hit you,” he growled.
“Where were you when he used to beat me up when we were kids?”
He shrugged. “You usually started those fights, and you were definitely deserving of some of the licks he got in before your daddy rescued you.”
“Hey!”
“Just telling it like it is,” he said, checking his blind spot and changing lanes.
“Uh, you seem to be in a bit of a hurry. Please don’t rush on my account. I’m not sure I’m all that eager for this confrontation. It’s probably going to resemble something from a war movie,” I lectured.
“I want to get it over with. This has been eating at me for days. He’s my best friend. He’s my family as much as yours. I can’t have him hating me,” he said in a solemn voice.
I reached over, putting my hand on his thigh. “I get it. I do. We’ll fix this. I think it was a combination of whatever it is he’s been dealing with at work, the tequila, and the shock of hearing you say it.”
“How did you know about the work problems?” he asked, actually surprised I knew.
I rolled my eyes. “Uh, he has never been good at hiding things from me. And my mom told me.” I grinned.
“Cheater.”
I had to laugh at his grumpiness over me knowing about Brian’s problems. “Sorry. I stayed out of it, hoping his time with you would help him get some perspective.”
He nodded. “I guess.”
We exited the highway. Brian’s condo building was within our view. Butterflies were flying around in my stomach. I hoped he would hear us out because I needed my brother in my life.
Tanner parked in the visitor spot, and we climbed out of the truck.
“I don’t know about this,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me back.
I sighed. “I don’t know, either, but we have to try. Come on, we can’t turn back now after we came all the way up here.”
We walked up the stairs to the second floor where his condo overlooked the pool. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for some harsh words and a lot of anger.
Tanner stepped forward, knocking on the door, pushing me behind him. It was then I realized he was fully prepared to get hit. It was kind of sweet and a little sad, considering he’d been best friends with my brother forever.
Brian swung open the door, took one look at us and tried to slam it shut but not before Tanner put his foot in the way.
“Brian, let us in. We need to talk like adults,” I said, coming out from behind Tanner.
“Go away. I have nothing to say to you.”
“Brian,” I hissed. “Open the damn door or I’m going to tell mom.”
His face popped into view. “Seriously?”
I raised my brows. “Yes. Seriously. Now move,” I pushed open the door and walked in.
Tanner followed. The three of us stood there, facing off in the entry.
My brother glared at us.
“Stop it,” I said.
Tanner stepped forward. “Brian, I’m sorry. Really, I am. It just happened.”
Brian’s eyes narrowed. “And now what? It keeps happening? Is this one of those flings you like to have before you toss the girl aside and move on to the next one?”
“No. I love her.”
Brian and I both stared at him, eyes wide.
“What?” I squeaked.
He looked at me, really looked deep into my soul. “It’s true. I don’t know how to describe it, but I think it’s love.”
I smiled. I wanted to kiss him and wrap my eyes around him, but I didn’t think Brian would appreciate that given his current upset.
Brian looked at me, questioning my intentions without words.
“I feel the same way,” I said in a soft voice. Brian only rolled his eyes. I looked to Tanner, who was grinning like a fool.
“You need to go. I can’t take this shit,” Brian said, opening the door and gesturing for us to get out.
“We’ll go, Brian, but please, try and understand. This isn’t a bad thing. I don’t know why you think you have a say in who I date, but you need to get over it,” I told him, tired of trying to please him.
Tanner didn’t say a word. We left and got into the truck, neither of us talking.
“Let’s go see my parents. We need to tell them before Brian blows this all out of proportion and gets them all fired up as well.”
He grimaced. “But, your dad,” he trailed off.
“My dad will be fine. Come on, let’s get this over with. If you meant what you said, we have to let the family know, don’t you think?”
“I meant it,” he said, turning those green eyes on me.
“Okay,” I whispered.
Tanner started the truck and drove to my parents’ home. He knew the gate code and punched it in. When we pulled up to the front of the house, my mom came out the front door.
I opened the door and jumped out. “Hey, Mom.”
“This is a nice surprise. What are you two doing here?” she said with a warm smile.
Tanner came around and gave her a quick hug.
“Come in, come in. Your dad’s in his office. I’ll tell him you’re here,” she said, heading inside.
We followed. Tanner took my hand as we walked into the sitting room. My mom turned back, saw our hands, and winked at me.
“This is going to be fun,” Tanner whispered in my ear.
Footsteps on the marble hallway alerted us to my parents’ return. Tanner and I both stood. My dad hugged me and clapped Tanner on the shoulder.
“What are you two doing here?” he asked.
“We wanted to talk to you,” I said, gesturing to the love seat across from the one Tanner and I were sitting on.
“Uh-oh, this sounds serious,” my dad said, lowering himself onto the white sofa. “Do you need money? Did you make the team already?”
I smiled. He was always ready to support my future. “No to both. But if I make the team, which I am sure I will, yes, I’ll need money because I’ll be heading to Colorado.”
He nodded. “Okay, then, what’s up?”
“Sir,” Tanner started, “we’re dating. We’re together. I love her, and she loves me.”
My dad looked at me, then back at him, and then at my mother. “Finally.”
“What?” Tanner and I said in unison.
My mom laughed. “Oh sweetie, it was only a matter of time before you two got together. It certainly took you long enough. We were beginning to think you were never going to find someone, dear.”
I blinked. “You’re okay with this?” I was only slightly offended that the thought I would ever be a spinster entered their minds.
My dad looked confused. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I—” He stopped and narrowed his gaze on Tanner before looking back at me. “Are you pregnant?”
“No!” I shouted.
His shoulders sagged in relief. “Thank God. I mean, grandchildren are fine, but I would prefer you waited until you graduated and, of course, after the Olympics.”
My mom was nodding her head in agreement.
“I’m glad you guys are on board. Brian isn’t. He punched Tanner, and he kicked us both out of his apartment,” I pouted.
“Don’t worry about Brian,” my mom said. “He’ll come around. Give him some time. His little sister and the best friend he considers a brother dating is a lot to take in.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Are you two going to stick around for dinner?” she asked.
I looked at Tanner, and he shrugged. “Sure.”
There was one burden off my shoulders. Now it was up to Brian to figure out how to get okay with us being together. We were together, and this was a relationship I wanted to keep, no matter what my big brother thought.