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Sky’s eyes light up. “Oh, well I can’t go into details because confidentiality and shit, but I was in a meeting where TannerownedSully and Pax and Charlie. It was awesome.”
“Why do you keep taking Tanner’s side?” Jackson asks curiously. “Is it because you guys teamed up for that video game?”
Skyler shrugs, a bright smile spreading over his face. “I can’t help it, I just like the guy. I’m sorry Deacon, but I’m Team Tanner. There’s more to this whole thing, I’m sure of it.”
I let out a weary sigh. “Skyler…”
“Deacon, he made youbreakfast,”he presses, as though that seals the matter. “Guys don’t do that for people they’re just having casual sex with. Do you know how many guys I’ve made breakfast for before?Zero?”
“You make breakfast for me every Sunday,” Jackson points out.
“Yeah but that’s a friendy breakfast, not a sexy breakfast,” Skyler clarifies.
“A friendy breakfast with whipped cream and blueberry dicks on the pancakes,” Jackson says with a wry huff.
Skyler smirks. “Yeah, because then when I say I ate a dick for breakfast, you can say you did too.”
Jax rolls his eyes. “Yeah, that’s exactly what happens.”
“This is very helpful, thank you,” I deadpan.
“You’re welcome,” Skyler says brightly, completely missing my lack of sincerity.
I let out a heavy breath and lean my head back against the top of the booth seat. I have no idea if Skyler’s “feeling” has any kind of merit at all. Surely if there were some other explanation Tanner would have told me when I asked him about it? Unless there was a reason for him not to… Maybe it’s a Green card marriage and he doesn’t want to risk his “wife” getting deported? Or maybe…
I shake the thoughts out of my head. I need to stop living in a fantasyland where I have a happily ever after with Tanner. He’s married, he’s straight, he’s my brother’s business rival, he’s the parent of one of my students—how many more reasons do I need for it to finally sink in that this just isn’t meant to be?
***
The following afternoon, I’m tidying up my classroom after school when I hear someone at the door.
“Are you Deacon Stapleton?”
I do my best not to let out any outward signs of annoyance or exasperation at the visitor’s appearance. It’s been a long as hell week and all I really want is to go home and chill and try not to think about Tanner for two seconds.
Considering the vast majority of kids in the class are dropped off and picked up by nannies, it’s not exactly rare for a parent to seek me out after hours if there’s something they need to discuss. But I generally insist they make an appointment first. Maybe another teacher would simply tell them to go away and come back when they’ve worked out a suitable time, but I’ve never been able to do that kind of thing. If a parent has sought me out, it’s obviously something they need to tall about.
It only takes me one glance at my visitor for me to figure out he’s not a parent, however. Unless he had his kid when he was about fourteen, because he looks to be a good five years younger than I am at least. There’s something familiar about him, but I can’t place it. I don’t think I’ve ever met him before, so I have no idea why the fuck he’s currently glaring at me like I’m the devil incarnate.
“Yeah…” I say warily. “That’s me.”
He nods. “Good. I have a question for you, then. What the fuck is wrong with you, asshole?”
I blink at him in utter bewilderment. “Excuse me?”
“First you end things with my dad over some stupid, fucked up bullshit that’s been completely blown out of proportion. Then you don’t even let him explain. And now you’re just sitting around here moping like a fucking loser because you’re too chicken shit to talk to him.”
And now I know why he looks familiar—he has Tanner’s eyes. Not the color—they’re grayer that Tanner’s piercing sapphire blue—but the shape is there, along with the insanely long eyelashes and the thick brows that wing out a little at the side.
“I’m not moping,” I say stubbornly.
“Dude, you’re a fucking wreck,” he shoots back, folding his arms over his chest. “It’s pathetic.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You know you’re being a total asshole right now, right?”
He just shrugs. “I’m always an asshole. You’re not getting special treatment.” Yeah, Tanner definitely provided an accurate description, that’s for sure.
I sigh and run a hand through my hair. I really don’t have the energy to trade insults with this guy. And it’s not something that’s really in my nature, anyway. “Look, I get that you want to stick up for your dad, but you really don’t know—”
