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After their first night back together Tanner had brought over a bag of his clothes A few days later she’d cleaned out a drawer for hiiven hi fast but she hadn’t been happier Still, there was the nagging voice that whispered when she wasn’t busy, Will he ever say he loves you? She pushed it aith, “I haven’t said it either, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true”
Friday evening they were eating Chinese takeout when Whitney said, “My grandfather has a birthday party Sunday afternoon Would you like to come with me?”
“Sure Why haven’t you said so about it before now?”
She fiddled with her chopsticks “I wasn’t sure how you would feel aboutmy family so soon”
Tanner took her hand “You and I are a team I’d love to meet your family”
Team? She wanted hiht now “Mom and Dad will be there My sister and her family Some cousins”
“I’
Sunday ency “I’ll randparents’ Text oodbye
She didn’t like showing up at her grandparents’ without Tanner, but he had said he would ether a week she felt lost without hi he came home to her every day
They were just singing “Happy Birthday” when there was a knock on the door One of her cousins answered and called her name
“Yes”
“Your Tanner is here”
Her Tanner Whitney liked the sound of that She ave it a squeeze “Sorry, I’ht”
She smiled “I understand”
“That’s one of the ave her a quick kiss
Why couldn’t that like have been love? “Corandparents”
“Lead the way”
CHAPTER EIGHT
TANNER WASN’T USED to all the noise and exciteether He decided he liked it What he re up was that they were elaborate and hisdown in tears because his father hadn’t shown up They had not been happy affairs
Whitney took his hand and led hi around a table He stood behind her in the crowded space Sitting at the end was a balding, white-haired e as cutting cake and placing it on plates then handing theer woman who added scoops of ice cream
“Harold, how much ice cream do you want?” the woman asked
“Six scoops,” Whitney’s grandfather said
“Harold! Even on your birthday that is toothe cake scolded
Whitney’s grandfather reached for her hand and kissed the back of it “It’s my birthday, sweetheart”
She turned and looked at the woman with the ice-cream scoop “Make it three”
“That’s what I wanted anyway” Whitney’s grandfather grinned
“They’re randparents” Whitney pointed to the older couple “That’swith the ice cream I’ll introduce you in a minute” The love Whitney had for them was evident in her voice
Didn’t she use that same note when she spoke to him? He would have to think about that later
“Okay, now that the birthday boy has had his share, pass the cake and ice crearandmother instructed
Everyone did as they were told except for a few of the young kids, who grabbed theirs and disappeared into another room or outside Soon Whitney and he had their share Most of the others left to sit elsewhere, leaving roorandfather and took a seat near him Tanner slid into the one beside her
“Paps and Memaw, I’d like for you to meet Tanner Locke”
“Hello, sir It’s nice to randfather
The oldertone, “You uy who has put the smile on Whitney’s face”
Tanner glanced at Whitney to find her blushing “I hope so”