1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [86]
Kristen was the one with the experience in the dating world. Shaw was Tanni’s first real boyfriend. He’d also become her best friend. They’d shared their love of art and each other, and everything had been perfect. Well, not completely, because Shaw was stuck here at Mocha Mama’s brewing coffee and dying on the inside because he wanted to be an artist.
“Do you think Shaw wants to break up with me?” Tanni asked. Maybe Kristen could help her understand what was going on.
“Tell me how he’s been acting.”
Tanni talked for thirty minutes, rattling off a litany of slights Shaw had committed since he’d moved to California.
“You say he never would’ve gotten into the art institute if it hadn’t been for some friends of your mother’s?” Kristen asked.
Eagerly Tanni nodded. “He owes me.”
“He knows it, too, which complicates his feelings.”
“All he has to do is say the word and I’m out of his life.” She made it sound cut and dried, although it would be one of the hardest things she’d ever had to go through. Not as hard as losing her dad.
Kristen’s laugh poured salt into Tanni’s already wounded heart.
“This isn’t funny!” she flared.
“I don’t think it is,” Kristen said quickly. “It’s just that Shaw is so typical of guys I know.”
“He is?”
“Sure. He’s being a total jerk to you—and getting away with it.”
“What did I do to him?” Tanni wanted to cry at the unfairness of it all. The only thing she’d ever done was encourage, love and support Shaw. Now he couldn’t even take two minutes to send her a message.
“Probably nothing,” Kristen told her.
“Then why’s he doing this?” Even as she asked the question, Tanni had the answer. “He’s met someone else, hasn’t he?”
Kristen didn’t even try to soften the truth. “Probably.”
“Then why doesn’t he just say so?” It would hurt a lot less if he was honest with her. Yes, it’d still hurt, but the pain would be easier to deal with than being left hanging the way she was now.
“That’s what guys are like,” Kristen said confidently. “Especially guys who’ve been going out with you for a while. He’s ignoring you, hoping you’ll break up with him.”
“That’s what he wants?” Tanni asked with a catch in her throat.
“From everything you’ve told me, yes, that’s what Shaw’s waiting for you to do.”
Instinctively Tanni knew Kristen was right.
“You need to get out more, see other guys,” Kristen advised. “Do you know Jeremy Reynolds?”
The name seemed familiar to Tanni but she couldn’t visualize a face to go with it. “I don’t think so…maybe.”
“He’s interested in you.”
“Jeremy Reynolds,” Tanni repeated out loud. “I’m not sure I’ve even met him.”
“He graduated this year. He lives next door to me, and when I mentioned that you and I had volunteered for the Reading with Rover program he asked a whole bunch of questions about you.”
Tanni planned to dig out her yearbook the minute she got home and look him up.
“Jeremy’s kind of shy,” Kristen went on. “Besides, everyone knows about you and Shaw. Would you like me to tell him you’re not going out with Shaw anymore?”
Tanni shrugged, biting her lip.
“Give it some time,” Kristen said kindly. She finished her tea and set down the empty plastic cup. “I’m glad we talked, Tanni.”
“I am, too.” And she meant it. If they hadn’t, Tanni would never have guessed why Kristen had volunteered to work with kids at risk. “Thanks for the advice about Shaw. Would it be okay if I called you and let you know how things go?”
“Definitely.” She paused. “I’d like it if we could be friends.”
Kristen wanted to be friends with her? This was another twist Tanni hadn’t expected. “Yeah, I’d like that, too,” Tanni said a bit shyly.
They stood, waved goodbye to Adam and walked slowly toward the library parking lot, chatting as they went.
When Tanni got home, she found her mother in a happy mood, which meant she’d heard from Larry. They were on the phone practically every day, often two or three times.
“You seem happy,” her mother said, watching Tanni in a way that would once have irritated her.
“I’m going to be okay, Mom,” she said. She went into her room and