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There was a brief gli wider and then he kissed the tip of ht was different Not bad or anything, but most definitely different The four of us sat on the deck, under the stars, and chatted about everything and nothing in particular All of us were drinking, but not to get sloshed, and I was okay with that Maybe it was the peaceful scenery Maybe it was the people I ith Either way, I didn’t feel like I needed ood time or to relax

Kyler was excited to start veterinary school, while Syd was eager to get done with grad school and she hadn’t even started it yet Tanner and I were the odd people out, both of us on hold until the spring

Not once did we argue

Okay That wasn’t entirely true We bickered, but it wasn’t a knock-down, drag-out argu his ability to reproduce in the future I wasn’t sure, even after starting over, we’d ever be able to not snap at one another

We stayed up late, and I ended up pouringto take a pill to get there, and on Wednesday , Kyler and Sydadventure

I stayed behind, because, well, bears And coyotes And deer And physical activity Plus, I was pretty sure they’d be stopping every couple of minutes to make out, and I really didn’t need to see all of that

Tanner strolled by where I sat on the barstool in front of the kitchen island He tugged a curl and then leaned against the island, angling his body toward et into today?"

"Why didn’t you go hiking with the One just had to take a look at Tanner to knoas all about physical activity

He shrugged one shoulder, causing the faded T-shirt he wore to stretch across his chest "They didn’t want ht it was a little strange that they would’ve said that, but knowing Syd, she probably purposely disinvited hi him behind to babysit me But after our little one-on-one in the bathroo stuck with Tanner was a bad thing "I guess I a suit on and we’ll spend the day being lazy and getting sunburnt"

I started tohe’d seen ht before, it seeo out there in a swiht my hand in his and drew me off the barstool His other hand settled oninto eyes that remindedHis grin was easy and contagious as he tugged ainst his chest My heart stuttered at the contact, and he seemed to have no idea how he affected ht, he lifted avetoy "Tanner!"

"Sorry" He didn’t sound reet a little excited so for you outside"

I did just that before I changed ed into the bikini and then tugged a tube dress made out of terry cloth over it I didn’t stop to check myself out or take time to really think about the fact that it felt like we’d paired off Kyler and Syd and Tanner and me Of course, the four of us went out a lot, but it never felt like ere coupling

Coupling?

I giggled out loud as I ran a hand throughit back from my face Back downstairs, I stopped in the kitchen and before I knehat I was doing, I was standing in front of the fridge, reaching for a bottle of Miller Lite I figured one could help rab one

I stopped and drew in a shallow breath What was I doing?

Clutching the door handle, I pressed ether in dismay Did I really need a drink to relax? No I didn’t I didn’t need one I wanted one Big difference there Drawing in a deeper breath this tiasped

Tanner stood next to the sliding glass door I hadn’t even heard hi there, but I knew he’d seene, I went to hilass door I stepped into the bright and war like a different person Like I’d stripped away a layer that had been itchy and unco the shirt over his head as he walked Dear hter than his eyes, hung indecently low on his hips How in the world did they stay on hi at those V-shaped indentations at his hips Good Lord, his body was downright distracting

He winked atinto the pool like a daraceful

I approached the edge of the deck, on the other end of the pool where there were steps, careful not to slip and fall again like a total turd Tanner swam to the other side of the pool With his back toin?"