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Chapter Ten

Kinsley

The next few days go by uneventfully, but when Sunday finally rolls around, I start my morning with Soph on FaceTime. Both our phones are propped up in various places whilst she is fussing about what to wear and we get ready for a day out with Jesse and Tanner.

“You’ll look good in whatever you choose,” I say, rolling my lips after applying my favourite raspberry flavoured chapstick.

Sophie huffs, “Yeah, but this is a first impression! I want to make a good one.” Giving me a cheeky wink she spins around showing off her third outfit of the morning, jeans and a cute little flowy crop that shows off just the tiniest amount of her toned stomach.

“Yep! This is the one,” I announce, throwing both my hands in the air in celebration.

“Are you sure?” she asks.

“Yes, definitely. Just grab an extra layer for this morning, it’s probably still chilly out.”

“Okay, thanks Kins! I’ll see you soon!”

“See you soon,” I reply, grinning as I end our call. It’s at this moment I realise that I actually have a girlfriend . It sounds like something so basic, but I’ve never really had a girl best friend and even though I would never want to replace Jesse, it’s nice to have a friend of the female kind.

I throw on my favourite black denim jeans, and a basic tee. I’m not a girlie girl and I’m secretly hoping Tanner turns up on his bike. It almost removes the expectation to dress up, even though that is probably just more pressure I’m putting on myself.

A quick pause in the music tells me I have a new text message. Picking up my phone I see a text from Jesse. If I know my best friend at all, he will be way more nervous than Sophie is. God knows why; he’s gorgeous, funny, kind and girls melt over him.

Jesse - I should bring Lou-loo, she’s a good distraction for awkward moments …

I can’t help but burst into laughter. I knew it. He’s shitting himself. Dialling his number, he picks up on the first ring and I’m still laughing.

“Why are you laughing, Kinsley?!” he demands. “This isn’t funny.”

“Bring Lou if it makes you feel better, we are only going to the farmers market, then having a picnic. Lots of people take their dogs to those places.”

I can hear the relief in his voice. “Thank god. Okay, I better get organised. Love ya.”

“Love you too, Jess.”

The minute I hang up, I jump at the sound of Tanner’s voice — “Not sure how I feel about that.”

Spinning around, I see him standing at the top of the stairs, leaning against the door frame, with his hands tucked into the front of his jeans. His body language tells me he is the furthest thing from concerned. He’s just teasing.

I saunter towards him. “Feeling threatened are we?”

A deep laugh erupts from Tanner, one that I have never heard before. He seems relaxed today, not as moody. “Nah, not threatened. You’ve already claimed me, remember? You are the one who set up this double date.”

Smug bastard. I pat his firm chest as I brush past him. He can sit with those thoughts, two can play this game. I do love Jesse, in a way that Tanner could never compete with, but he shouldn’t feel threatened.

Tanner follows me down stairs, giving my plaits a tug as he moves around me. “I like these.” He smirks.

“They’re just for whilst I have a helmet on,” I giggle. “I’ll take them out once we get there.” A familiar flush returns to my cheeks; my body is always reacting to him.

“With your rosy cheeks and these plaits, I might just start calling you Pippi.”

I knew he would have noticed the flushed look on my face, it’s become a common occurrence, along with the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach when he’s around. But come on, Pippi Longstocking? Seriously …

“C’mon Pip, I’ve got something for you,” Tanner says, with a wink.

I roll my eyes, great another nickname. “That’s going to stick now, isn’t it?” He ignores me, sauntering towards the kitchen bench, where I can see a helmet and leather jacket. “I just need to grab a jumper to put on under your jacket. The wind always blows up the back.”

“No need.” Tanner picks up the jacket, turning back towards me and the feeling of butterflies in my stomach increases. “Come here.”

How can a simple two word instruction be so sexy? My feet close the small distance between us without thinking. I swear if he told me to crawl to him, my body would obey before my brain could object. Tanner holds the leather jacket up and I slip into it. It fits perfectly, unlike the one I wore last time. Dragging his eyes slowly over my body, I feel his gaze darken as he hums in approval. “So fucking perfect.”

“You brought this — for me?” I’m a little shocked.

My mind is always in a constant tug of war when it comes to this man. Soon after moving into the city, I gave in to my body’s craving for Tanner. But now that my head and heart seem to be craving him too, it has sent my mind into a free-fall.

Tanner answers my question with a brief nod, as he slides the helmet onto my head, tilting my chin to buckle it. Normally with his moodiness I can easily keep him at arm’s length, but lately that has been getting increasingly difficult. Taking my hand in his, he leads us out the front door. Maybe he is just playing the part, I did rope him into this double date thing after all. Yeah, that’s got to be it , things will go back to normal after this.

My arms are wrapped around Tanner’s waist as we weave through traffic on the outskirts of Melbourne. He takes an exit and the road opens up; my shoulders relax and I loosen my grip on the wall of muscle in front of me. To our left, city skylines are replaced with suburban houses and park lands. The hustle and bustle has been left behind us.

I’m startled by Tanner’s voice echoing in the helmet and I tighten my grip on him again. “Quick detour.”

“Uh, yeah — sure.” Can he even hear me? We have never been able to talk to each other through our helmets before.

A light chuckle fills my helmet. “I upgraded our helmets Pip, I wanted to be able to communicate with you when we ride together.”

My own jacket and helmet. Does this mean he plans on us doing this more often? A girl can only dream.

Tanner downshifts and takes a left hand turn, slowing to stop in front of a beautiful old Victorian home. “This is where I grew up,” he mentions softly, an underlying sense of sadness in his tone.

The house, though beautiful, isn’t what I expected the Hayes family to have lived in. It has a wrap-around porch, a giant oak tree in the yard where an old tyre swing still hangs and a picket fence with a sign that reads Darcel House . The windows are boarded up, telling me nobody lives here anymore, and my heart aches at the emptiness.

“It’s beautiful,” I reply softly. Tanner simply nods, and then lifts his feet as we slowly ride away without another word.

The remainder of the ride is quiet, my thoughts consumed by why he chose to show me his childhood home; and the vulnerability he is allowing me to witness.

Tanner climbs off his bike first. I watch him pull off his helmet and run his fingers through his hair before unzipping his riding jacket. I can’t help but admire the lines of muscle I can see through his tight t-shirt.

Removing my own helmet and lifting my eyes to his, I find him watching me. Great, as if Tanner Hayes didn’t already have a big enough head, now he’s caught me eye fucking him … again .

He cocks a brow. “Are you going to just sit there all day?”

Swinging my leg over, I climb off the bike. Allowing myself a few moments to unravel my plaits and smooth down the top of my hair before going in search of the others.

* * *

Jesse

Sophie is awesome; I can see how she won Kinsley over. Not that she would have had much of a choice in the matter. Soph loves to talk and her bubbly personality is infectious. She’s yet to notice Tanner and Kinsley standing over on the other side of the car park. I, however, saw them as soon as we drove in. Kins was shaking out her hair and Tanner’s eyes were glued on her, as if she was the only girl in the world. I can’t blame him though, she is definitely something else.

“Who’s a good girl?” Soph coos to Lou-loo whilst I rummage through my backpack for her leash.

I must chuckle out loud, because when Sophie speaks again, even though she is still staring into the eyes of Lou, it’s directed at me.

“He’s just jealous that he isn’t the centre of my attention.” Lou lets out a friendly yap in response and Soph laughs.

“Yeah, yeah. C’mon you two. The love birds over there are waiting for us.” With Lou-loo on her leash and Sophie in step beside me, we approach Tanner and Kinsley.

“Hey girl!” Sophie greets, with her arms wide open.

I contain my laughter as Kinsley, who I know is not a hugger scowls in my direction whilst Sophie bundles her up in a hug. Breaking apart, Kins turns to Tanner and gestures towards us, “Tanner, this is Jesse and Sophie — and guys, this is Tanner.”

Tanner and I exchange a subtle nod and shake hands.

“Oh!” Kinsley exclaims, both our eyes snapping back to her. “I forgot to introduce Tanner to Lou-loo; I’m sorry, girl!” She coos and Tanner scratches Lou’s neck.

With that declaration I release a shaky breath. Why do I feel so on edge right now? Kinsley crouches down to scratch behind Lou’s ears and I shake my head in amusement.

“I need a coffee,” Tanner announces with tension lacing his statement, obviously feeling the same sense of unease as I do.

“Oooh yes!” Soph silently claps her hands in excitement and trails off behind Tanner. “I haven’t had my coffee fix today yet!”

Kins and I share a look, Sophie doesn’t need any caffeine. Tanner, on the other hand, could use some if it’ll allow him to lighten up. As if reading my thoughts, her lips pull into a thin line.

“Come on then, princess,” I say quietly, bumping her with my shoulder, as we follow the other two into the farmers market to find our coffee fix.

“For the picnic I was thinking of picking up some cheese and wine,” Kinsley says as we walk through the lines of market stalls.

“Yeah, and maybe some fresh sourdough or something,” Sophie adds. “You know like, the thick crusty kind?”

Kins glances at me with a smirk, knowing all too well that my stomach is rumbling in agreement.

“Hey, my stomach appreciates good food, it’s nothing to be ashamed about.”

“Your stomach would appreciate any kind of food Jess,” she laughs.

The girls shop up a storm and before we know it we are back at the ute loading fresh bread, deli meats, cheeses, and fresh fruit into the picnic basket in the back. Sophie holds a bottle of wine and paper cups close to her chest as if they are her most prized possession, swaying on her feet.

“Meet you two there!” she says and the girls exchange excited smiles. Tanner drapes his arm over Kinsley’s shoulders and nods towards me before leading her towards his bike. ‘ Be safe .’ I internally call out to them. The thought of her on the back of that bike sends a shiver up my spine. When did she go from hanging out the window of my ute, on long dirt roads with the wind in her hair, to riding backpack with a tattooed grump?