Page 92 of Tanner

TJ scrubbed a hand over his face. “He scared the hell out of me tonight.”

“Me too.”

“He won’t do it again.”

Miles turned his head. “You can’t know that.”

“No.” TJ looked at the stairs again. “But I know he came back.”

When Tanner came back down, Savannah was on his hip wrapped in her blanket. She had the rabbit tucked under one arm, and her face was buried in Tanner’s shoulder.

“She wanted water,” Tanner said.

Miles took a plastic cup from the cupboard and filled it. He crossed the kitchen slowly and waited until Tanner nodded before handing it over. Savannah took it with both hands and drank while still clinging to him.

TJ stood. He moved carefully so he would not startle either of them. “I’ll head out.” TJ said, “I meant what I said. Nothing happens tonight. When tomorrow comes we deal with it.”

Tanner shifted Savannah higher on his hip. “And if I don’t answer the phone?”

TJ did not blink. “Then Miles knocks on your door. If that doesn’t work, I do.”

Tanner closed his eyes for a second and opened them again. “Jesus.”

TJ nodded once. “Exactly.”

He left after that and Miles locked the door behind him and turned the porch light off before going back into the kitchen.

Tanner was still standing in the same place, Savannah nearly asleep against him again.

“You want me to take her up?” Miles asked.

“No.”

Miles nodded. “Alright.”

He followed them upstairs a few steps behind, and from the bedroom door, he watched Tanner start to lower her onto the bed. Savannah made a small, tired sound and grabbed a fistful of his shirt.

“Stay,” she mumbled.

Tanner looked at Miles. “She means me.”

“I know.”

Tanner got onto the bed on top of the covers with Savannah curled into his chest. He kept one hand moving over her back until her breathing settled again.

After a minute he looked at Miles. “Can you check the windows?”

“Yeah.”

Miles went through the house and checked each one. When he came upstairs again, Tanner was still awake. “All locked,” Miles said.

Tanner nodded. “Thanks.”

“There’s a couch downstairs,” Tanner said.

“There is.”

“That wasn’t me offering.”