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Tanner:Coach is not making my training easy today, but thinking about you is helping.
I had to hold back my smile because I didn’t want my mom to see it, but then she made a groaning noise under her breath, and I knew I was showing more than I intended. Fine. I squared my shoulders, suddenly getting a bit more confident because it was time to fess up. I was officially dating a jock who I had no intention of letting go of soon, and if I wanted that to continue, then I needed to act like it. “He’s my boyfriend.” I cringed. Why was I so awkward? I couldn’t have just said that I was seeing him, or something less overt like that. I had to just blurt it out with no explanation.
“Your boyfriend?” I wasn’t surprised my mom was shaking her head in disbelief. “Already? Weren’t you dating that hockey boy a few weeks ago?”
I swallowed. “It was several months ago now. I, uh, didn’t plan for anything to happen with Tanner. It just kind of did.”
“Tanner? Is that his name?”
“Yeah.” I smiled, because just thinking about him seemed to make my stomach bubble with happiness. I wasn’t about to tell her his last name because I had a sneaky suspicion, she might look him up online, and I didn’t want her to see the articles about him before meeting him in person.
“I like it.”
I like him.
He was everything I wanted, but nothing I thought I needed.
“But I can’t help but feel like the name sounds familiar.” I didn’t want to say that it was probably because everyone who was anyone at this college knew his name, and she liked to keep up to date.
“I don’t know, mom.” I played dumb because I didn’t want her getting all this information about him before they met.
“Tell me about him,” she said, and it was then that I realized I was smiling like an idiot just thinking about him. What would he be like with my mom? I couldn’t believe I was already thinking about what it would be like to introduce him to her, especially because of how we started, but Tanner seemed to have me thinking in ways I never thought. “Aster?” She pressed.
My mind flurried, because where should I start? There was so much I could say about Tanner. “He’s the most hard-working guy I’ve ever met.”
“That’s good, especially after the last one.”
“Connor doesn’t compare.” I rolled my eyes, annoyed that she was still talking about Connor as though he meant something to me. That guy was just a blip on my radar at this point. Even those late-night drunk texts and phone calls ended after the sorority ball, making me realize we were both well and truly over each other. “Tanner is caring and genuine. He’s not just working hard to get his grades up for himself, but for his sister, because her attendance at the school rides on it. He’s selfless and caring, and…” I stopped, realizing I was sounding a little too in love.
“I’m happy for you, Sweetheart.” She gave me a knowing smirk. “He sounds like a great guy.”
“He is.”
“Oh, wait. Tanner. Tanner Joyce?”
“How did you know?”
“Is he the one that took you to the sorority ball? With the long hair?” She padded her own. “It was beautiful.”
“Ho- How did you know?”
“It was in the Alpha Delta Theta monthly newsletter. You were there in the back.” So much for her meeting him first, I thought to myself bitterly.
“Don’t be mad. I’m sorry. I didn’t go out looking for the information, and I waited for you to mention him before I asked. I didn’t want to invade your privacy.”
“No. it’s not your fault. I guess I didn’t think about that being plastered all over the newsletter.”
“Don’t be upset. He’s very good looking. Strong jawline.”
I held back my amusement because it was such an odd compliment, but I knew she was being sincere.
Hazel:I’m here.
Here? Where was here? Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. She was waiting for me in the library, and I was still languishing in my dorm.
“Oh, crap. I’m sorry, Mom, but I’ve got to go. I’m late for another one of my tutoring clients.”
“No problem, sweetheart. I’ll just be waiting here for you to tell me more about Tanner. Have a good day.”
