Page 94 of Tanner

A minute later Tanner reached across carefully and switched off the lamp and the room dropped into darkness.

Miles listened to the house settle around them. He listened to Savannah breathe and to Tanner stay awake. A car went past outside and Tanner went still until the sound faded.

“It’s nothing,” Miles said.

“I know.”

Later, Savannah rolled away from Tanner in her sleep and Tanner woke up immediately.

“She’s fine,” Miles said.

Tanner exhaled. “Yeah.”

“You alright?”

A pause. “No.”

Miles looked up into the dark. “I’m here.”

There was another stretch of silence followed and then Tanner asked, “You still here?”

“Yeah.”

Tanner said nothing after that and a little later, his breathing changed as he fell asleep.

By the time the room started to lighten around the curtains, he’d fallen into a heavier sleep. Savannah was sprawled sideways with the rabbit tucked under her arm. Tanner had turned onto his side facing her, one hand close enough to reach if she moved. Miles stayed where he was and watched them both before looking back at the ceiling.

When Tanner woke, he would still be there.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Tanner woke with Savannah pressed against his side and Miles still in the bed. For a few seconds he stayed where he was, staring at the ceiling and getting his bearings. Then everything from the night before came back in a rush. The bus station. Miles talking him down. TJ at the house. Savannah crying into his shoulder. The note. The letter. Running because panic had grabbed hold of him.

He shut his eyes for a second.

Savannah was still asleep, one leg over the blanket and her rabbit half trapped under her arm. Miles lay on the far side of the bed on top of the covers, one arm over his stomach, still wearing yesterday’s clothes, apart from his boots. The room was dim with early light.

Tanner eased himself upright and sat on the edge of the bed. His mouth was dry and his chest felt too tight. He had slept deeper than he meant to, and now there was nothing left to hide behind. No panic pushing him forward. No bus to catch. Just the morning after and everything waiting in it.

The mattress shifted behind him as Miles sat up and rubbed a hand over his face. “You alright?”

Tanner let out a breath. “No.”

Miles looked at him properly then, but he didn’t argue with the answer. “Savannah’s still asleep.”

“I can see that.”

Tanner sat with his elbows on his knees and stared at the floor. His hands were steady now and that should have felt better than it did.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Miles was quiet for a second. “For what part?”

Tanner scrubbed a hand over his face. “All of it.”

“That covers a lot.”

“Yeah.” Tanner looked down at the floor again. “I know.”