Page 16 of Tank’s Weakness

Am I broken? Is that why I only came when I pretended like I was alone? That he was an object?

He didn’t seem to mind, though. In fact, he seemed to like it.

Shaking my head, I try to push thoughts of last night out of my mind.

I glance around the classroom and decide it’s good enough. Nothing is on the floor, so the custodians won’t have any issues when they come in to vacuum later. Walking over to my desk, I gather my things along with the papers I need to grade this evening and head for the door.

When I step outside, I can’t help smiling when the hot air hits me. As I walk to the parking lot, I grab my keys from my purse. When I look up, I pause.

Tank.

He’s here. Almost as if he knew that I was thinking about him.

He’s got his arms and ankles crossed as he leans against his motorcycle that’s parked right next to my car.

“What are you doing here?” I ask when I find my voice and start walking toward him.

“Why did you give me the wrong number?” he asks, making me wince.

“Self-preservation?”

When he asked for my number last night, I almost gave it to him but then changed my mind. I have no business being with someone like Tank. Not because of who he is, but because I don’t want to be someone’s project. After I left, though, I second-guessed myself and couldn’t help but wonder if I should have actually given it to him.

That didn’t seem to stop him from finding me, though.

“Why?” he presses.

I hit the automatic start on my car before I turn to face him.

“Because I’m broken, and it’s not your responsibility to fix me,” I tell him quietly.

Tank studies me for a moment before he speaks. “You aren’t broken, Delaney. Pretty sure we figured that out last night.”

I shift from one foot to the other. “You know what I mean.”

“I do, but like I said, you aren’t broken.”

“Why are you here, Tank?”

“Because I want to help you. Not because I think you need it, but because I want to. I have an idea to help you with your issue. All you have to do is say yes,” he says, making my heart rate kick up.

Do I want to? Yes. I want to be able to come with a partner. I want to enjoy sex without getting caught up in my head. I want to be able to stay present when it matters, but can he really show me how? Can he teach me?

“Say yes, Delaney,” he pleads.

“I don’t know,” I say quietly.

“What do I need to do to convince you?”

I look around the parking lot and see that people are starting to exit the building. I watch as heads turn toward us. I really don’t feel like dealing with their judgment right now, especially when I don’t know what this is.

Sighing, I turn back toward him. “Not here. We can have this conversation, just not here.”

He nods slowly, understanding my predicament. “Okay, follow me.”

I nod and step to my car, opening the door.

“And Delaney,” he says, making me look over at him. He’s already straddling his bike. “If you don’t follow, I’ll just go to your house.”