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“That's good to hear. I'm hoping the Dean will come to his senses soon and apologize to Aster for the time it took to investigate.”
“He will.” I pulled my lips into my mouth, holding back what I really wanted to say. Tanner seemed so sure and confident in this outcome, but I couldn't figure out why. “And knowing Aster, a couple of weeks on the IL won't do her grades any harm,” Tanner joked, soon realizing the audience he was catering to didn't get it.
My dad nodded, looking somewhat perplexed by Tanner, which wasn't necessarily surprising. I guessed that when he first imagined meeting my first boyfriend, he'd be small, studious and a little too much like one of the guys fromThe Big Bang Theoryto be funny, but now, all he had in front of him is a six-foot six behemoth, with a blonde man bun, and the confidence to pull it off.
Yeah, I remembered I talked a lot of smack about that little tuft of hair spouting out of the top of his head, but I had to admit. It had grown on me. Tanner looked good with it, and I couldn't deny how much I liked running my hands through it and pulling at it at just the right time.
“Tanner? Is that you?” My mom pushed me out of the way, giving my boyfriend a hug as though this wasn't the first time she met him. “I was worried your flight was going to be delayed.”
Wait, did she know he was coming?
Tanner’s arms gently wrapped around my mom’s small and tired frame. “Nope. It landed right on time.”
She patted him on the back and pulled out of the hug to take him in. “You're even taller than I expected.”
Her hands slid down to his arms, and I could have sworn she squeezed his biceps. My mother was recovering from surgery, so I’d let that pass because she was probably still high on her medication, but all I was thinking was ‘hands off.’
“You’re looking well, Mrs. Paige.”
“Please, none of this Mrs. Paige malarky. Call me Hannah.”
He gave her an easy smile. “As much as I'd want to do that, you know my Georgia roots make that nearly impossible.”
“Ah, yes.” She laughed.What was going on?“How's your mom? And Thea? Is she working on that project still?”
I raised my hand, humming to get their attention. They both dragged their gaze from each other and looked at me with furrowed brows. “Umm, did I miss something? How do you guys know each other?”
Tanner looked at my mom, mischief glinting in his eyes. “We may have had a few talks.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
My mom took over. “Tanner and Thea called me the other day about a few things.”
I glanced over at my boyfriend, and I couldn’t help but feel a little hurt because he didn’t tell me.
“You did?”
“Yes.” Tanner looked at me apologetically as my mom ushered us into the great room.
“What would you like to drink, Tanner?”
“I’d love a water.”
“I'll get it,” I piped up, not wanting my mom to exert too much energy. With a tired smile, my mom held my arm, giving me a warning look.
“No. I'll get it. You sit down and talk to Tanner. I've got a feeling you two have a lot to catch up on.”
Now I knew something was up because what the hell was that supposed to mean?
She walked into the kitchen without another word, leaving Tanner and me standing together.
“Come on.” As I took a seat on the couch, Tanner sat beside me, and his hand brushed against mine, testing my reaction. I took it, not afraid of my family seeing the affection I had for him.
“So, are you going to tell me when you and my mom became besties?”
He let out a low chuckle. “She called to thank me for the flowers Thea and I sent.”
“She did?” I was trying to think of a time she could have done that when I wasn’t by her side.
