As if I wanted to spend more time around Rick. "You didn't seem to mind intruding at my house whenever you felt like it."
He took a step toward me. "Well, you pretty much took care of that, didn't you?"
"No, you did. You're the one who wouldn't apologize."
He rolled his eyes. "Oh. Okay then. I'm sorry."
"Are you still going to sing 'Dangerously Blonde' for High School Idol?"
"Yeah," he said. Only he used several adjectives too. Well, at least I think they're adjectives. I've never actually diagrammed a sentence with swear words in it so I'm not sure.
I smiled back at Rick. "Maybe if your grandmother won't finance your band, she'll want to finance mine. After all, she thinks I'm going places."
He took another step closer to me. "I can think of a few places where you could go."
"And the only place you're going is Juilliard. Have fun learning classical guitar."
Rick took one more step, but I never found out what he was going to say because Tanner walked back in. He looked at the two of us and I saw him note how close Rick stood to me. A flash of annoyance crossed Tanner's features and he came and stood on the other side of me. Possessively near.
Did he actually think that Rick was putting the moves on me? It was almost funny. Tanner spoke to his brother, and his voice had an edge to it. "Did you bring in all the silverware?"
Rick didn't move away from me. "Yeah."
"Why don't you go check and make sure you got it all."
"Because I know I got it all."
"Then take the tablecloth to the laundry room."
"Who made you kitchen dictator?" Rick asked, but he turned and stalked out of the room.
Once he was gone, Tanner looked at me questioningly, perhaps still trying to figure out what had happened between Rick and me. I knew I couldn't wait any longer. It had to be right now. "Um Tanner, I have something to tell you. A confession really. I should have told you before but I liked you, and I really wanted you to like me too."
His expression clouded and I knew he was expecting me to say something horrible.
"I'm only seventeen. I don't turn eighteen until April."
His expression remained clouded, like he was still waiting for the horrible part. When I didn't say anything else he said, "Right. You're seventeen. I saw that on your driver's license."
"You knew? All along you knew I wasn't in college?"
His eyes widened. "You're not in college?"
"No, I'm only a senior in high school."
"Oh—I thought you'd skipped a grade or something. You're still in high school?" I couldn't judge how bad he considered this to be, because immediately recognition filled his features. "You know Richard from school, don't you?"
"Yeah, although we're not . . . friends." I said this because I was stalling, because I still didn't want to come right out and tell him we were enemies. It was more than I wanted to discuss right now, but since I knew Rick would say things about me after I left. I added, "I guess I should warn you that he doesn't like me."
"Really?" I didn't imagine it, relief drained into Tanner's expression. "Sorry about that. But don't take it personally. He doesn't like most people. He doesn't like me."
He said this so cheerfully that I laughed. And it was nice not to have worry about the truth exploding on me anymore. Still, it didn't mean that Tanner would overlook this turn of events. I took a deep breath. "Does it bother you that I'm so much younger than you?"
Tanner stepped closer to me and took a hold of one of my hands. "You're not that much younger. I'm only a freshman. I'm eighteen."
How could that be? "But Rick is a senior—"
"Richard skipped a grade and we're two years apart." Tanner took my other hand and smiled as though an idea had just occurred to him. "You know, if I'd moved here with the rest of my family, I would have gone to PHS, and we probably would have dated."
I leaned closer to him. "Then we're just making up for lost time."
"Right." He bent down to kiss me. His lips had just touched mine when Rick came back in.
"Oh great," Rick said. "My kitchen is no longer safe to walk into."
Tanner stepped away and smiled at me apologetically. "Don't mind Richard. He's just in a bad mood because his girlfriend didn't come tonight." Then to Rick he said, "Where is she anyway?"
Rick brought his Grandmother's teacup to the dishwasher and put it in. As he did, he glanced at me. "She broke up with me."
"Really?" Tanner's voice was surprised, and then turned sympathetic. "When did that happen?"
"A while ago. Her older sister didn't think I was good enough for her."
I came so close to saying, "And her older sister was right," but I bit down on my lip instead. I didn't want to appear petty and vicious in front of Tanner. I just glared back at Rick instead.
"You're kidding," Tanner said. "Adrian let her older sister dictate who she went out with?"
"Apparently," Rick said.
Not true. And I would explain the whole thing to Tanner once Rick wasn't standing there glaring at me.
"Well it's a good thing you found out now what kind of girl she is. Otherwise you'd have to remake yourself every time she didn't like something."
This about a guy who thought his hair color should match his outfit.
Rick leaned up against the counter and looked down at the floor sadly. "Yeah, I know. But it still sucks."
Tanner shook his head and a hard edge crept into his voice. "And what kind of judgmental shrew says you're not good enough for Adrian? I'll tell you what; Adrian wasn't good enough for you."
Rick didn't look up. "Nah, I always knew Adrian outclassed me."
"Only in detention appearances," Tanner said. "Come on, if Adrian hadn't worn so much hairspray her head would have flown off long ago. Forget about her—no, I take that back; remember that she was nothing but white trash in black leather. She probably only saw you in terms of dollar signs and a nice ride. You're better off without her." It was only then that Tanner turned to me. "Don't you think Rick could do better?"
"No," I said. "Actually I don't." And I had to ungrit my teeth to get that much out.
That's when Rick started laughing.
I stepped away from Tanner. "Look, thanks for dinner, but I think you should take me home now."
Tanner looked from me to Rick and back again. "What's going on?"
Rick held his hand up, his thumb and finger almost touching. "Buddy, you were this close to having that trophy girlfriend you always wanted."
"What are you talking about?" Tanner asked.
Rick shook his head, still enjoying himself more than he should have. "Apparently Chels never got around to telling you, but Adrian is her little sister."
Chapter 13
The ride home was painful, but thankfully short. Tanner apologized as he walked me to the car, but I barely heard it. His words had sliced into me and I didn't even want to look at him.
After we drove for a few moments in silence, Tanner said, "Really, I'm sorry, but you should have told me."
"I would have, but I couldn't find a way to casually fit that in between the judgmental-shrew remark and the hairspray comment."