“We’re going to crash here.” Knox says with a wink.

“We’re,” Rex coughs out the last word, “covering.”

My eyebrows furrow in confusion and I mouth, “Covering?” I know I had a little to drink but I’m most certainly not drunk.

Mama saunters in, “What’re y’all up to for the rest of the night? Are you boys staying here or Tanner’s?”

“We’re staying here, ma’am.” Rex answers.

Knox kicks his shoes off, “We were thinking of watching a movie until we fall asleep.”

Mama nods, “Okay, just remember to turn the TV off before you go to bed.”

“We will.” I answer.

Mama heads up the stairs to bed. I lean back to make sure she is far enough away before figuring out what the hell they are covering for.

“What’re you two up to?”

Rex chuckles and Knox rolls his eyes. “Go upstairs, change out of that hideous dress and meet your boy toy at your spot.”

I sit there for a second before snapping into motion.

“Oh,” Knox calls out, “you’re welcome.”

“Um,” I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “Thank you?”

Rex waves me off, “Yeah, yeah.”

I’ve changed in five minutes flat and out the back door a minute later. I made sure to shut the spotlight off before running through the back yard; I don’t need to wake Mama up.

I slip past the pool fence and I see a flicker of light.

“Tanner?”

He steps out of the shadows, the flicker from the light dancing across his handsome face. His jet black hair is sticking up everywhere; he’s stressed, and it’s obvious he has been running his hands through it all day. He’s got scruff on his face that I love to run my hands over. But his eyes, his green eyes, hold a story that he’s hiding from me. I know he’s got a lot on his plate. His parents are fighting like mine. He’s supposed to be leaving for college next month but he doesn’t want to go. He’s lucky though; his parents let him have a year off after he blew his knee out in the beginning of the year in a nasty sack that caused him to lose his scholarship to the University of North Carolina. Now he’s going to take classes at the local college.

When I reach Tanner he pulls me to him, reaches down and picks me up. No words are spoken, just the release of the emotions we’ve both been carrying around with us for what seems like forever. I do the only thing my heart and my mind tells me to do. I wrap my legs around him and cup his face with all the tenderness and emotion that I’m feeling right now and kiss him on the lips.

Tanner pulls away, “I’m so sorry.”

4

~ Age 19 ~

Tanner

“Shh,” Rhea says as she runs her hands through my hair. I’ve been doing it all day after I caught my dad and Rhea’s mama at the diner a few miles out of town.

I left early that morning to go pick up a glass blown flower for Rhea’s birthday present. She’s been collecting blown glass pieces for as long as I can remember. I found this one piece online and I knew I had to get it. It was four calla lilies with long stems that were formed into the shape of a heart. It was different, like nothing I’ve ever seen before and perfect for Rhea.

I called the store and they said they only had one left and they would hold it for me but I had to come that day, the day of the party, to get it or they would put it back on the shelf. I couldn’t risk losing this gift for her sweet sixteen birthday, she’s my everything and I want to give her a symbol of how much she means to me.

I got up, got ready and headed out for the hour drive but decided to stop for some breakfast about forty-five minutes out of town. I thought I recognized my daddy’s truck but didn’t put much thought into it because why would he be here if our house and his work were in the other direction. I walked into the diner and asked to be seated in a booth.

“Follow me right this way,” the hostess said.

We walked past a couple of tables and I heard a laugh that sounded a lot like Daisy’s, Rhea’s mama, but again I pushed the thought away. I guess I was worried about Rhea’s surprise being ruined and wasn’t paying attention to the obvious happening right before my eyes.

The hostess stopped and placed the menu on the table. I sat down and picked up the menu.

“Your waitress will be right out.” Then she turned on her heel and left.

I heard silverware clatter against a plate. I lowered my menu to see what happened and that’s when I saw them. My daddy and Rhea’s mama, sitting at the table having breakfast, and to make matters worse, they were sitting next to each other rather than across from one another. Obviously intentional based on their proximity to each other and the intimate glances they were sharing with one another.

After sitting there staring at them I slowly slid out of the booth. I needed someone to pinch me, tell me this isn’t real. That I’m seeing things or that this isn’t what it looks like. It can’t be what it looks like, right? My mind is trying to convince me of the latter but I know in my heart that what I’m seeing is my new reality. I’m not even sure how I made my body move towards them but there was no avoiding this scenario.

“Son,” Dad addressed me, obviously in a state of unaffected panic.

“Don’t Son me.” I seethed.

Daisy had her head down, not making eye contact at all and I swear I heard her whimper.

“Tanner,” Dad tries again. “I can explain.”

I laugh, “Yeah, I’m sure you can. Happy birthday, son, I’m f**king my best friend’s wife.”

“You will not speak like that to me.” Dad said angrily.

Daisy is softly crying into her napkin; throw the book at her, she’s guilty as charged.

At this point, the other patrons in the restaurant have stopped to watch the show that no amount of money can possibly buy. I don’t even care, if they want a show, they’re damn sure gonna get one.

“How’s Eddie, Daisy?” I asked. “I heard he’s been working a lot. I guess this would explain why that is right? Does he know?” I look at my dad. “Does Mom know? Is this why she’s barely functioning, barely living?” I laugh once. “Oh wait, you wouldn’t know that since you hardly come home.” I shake my head. “Always working, you told me. I didn’t realize that working on Project Daisy is what paid the bills.”

My dad slammed his fist on the table, “Enough.”