“Oh, there you are, honey. I was just having a chat with Tanner and his lovely girlfriend.”
Wait, what ? Glancing around the room, I saw that not only was my bed made, so was Tanner’s, and the rest of the room was straightened as well. Trash cans empty. No clothes strewn around. And Tanner and Wendy sat cross-legged on his bed, grinning like talking to my mom was some frigging amusement park ride.
“Thanks, Mrs. Fitzpatrick,” Wendy said. “These cookies are amazing.”
“They’re Collin’s favorite, but I know Tanner likes them too, so I always bring double. I know the cafeteria’s not like home cooking.”
She reached for the enormous tin on my desk and held it out to me. Oatmeal chocolate chip. She was right. They were my favorite.
And I couldn’t have eaten a bite if she’d paid me.
“Thanks. I ate at work, so I’m full.”
Liar. I didn’t like to think of myself as a liar, but I couldn’t deny I was one. A pretty damned good one, judging by how quickly she shrugged and set the tin down.
“What’s in the bag?” she asked.
I’d forgotten I was carrying one. “Just sandwiches from work. My boss is really good about letting me take food home. It’s subs. Anyone want one?”
Tanner’s eyes darkened when they met mine, but I couldn’t tell why. Was he hungry? Pissed that he’d had to entertain my mom? Trying to forget about last night? Wishing we’d leave so he could be alone with Wendy? Or was he like me, having flashbacks no matter what else he tried to think about? I hoped I didn’t look as freaked-out as I felt.
No one wanted a sandwich, so I stuck them in the fridge. Mom stood up and handed me a garment bag. “Your suit’s in here, along with a shirt and tie, and your dress shoes are in that bag.”
I hadn’t even seen the shopping bag at the foot of my bed.
“Thanks.”
“Just make sure you’re at the church on time. I e-mailed you all the details.” She turned toward Tanner and Wendy. “You two are welcome to come if you’d like. We’re having food at our house afterward.”
Wendy smiled. “I wish I could, but I go home most weekends. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Tanner?” Mom asked.
His brow furrowed. “I’ll have to check my schedule. I’m not sure I’m free on Sunday. If I can, I’ll be there.”
He will? I didn’t know which option weirded me out more—the thought of him there with me or the thought that he wouldn’t want to go anywhere with me.
“Okay, honey.” Mom put her hand on my arm and pulled me lower, then planted a kiss on my cheek. “I wish I could stay, but I promised your brother I’d babysit tonight.”
“Oh, all right. Thanks for the cookies. And the suit.”
“No problem.” She picked her purse off my bed and smoothed the covers where she’d been sitting. Where Tanner had sat less than twenty-four hours before. Naked. “It’s so nice to see your room all clean. I’m glad you got such a good roommate this year.”
Tanner smiled and shot me a look that surely took at least five years off my life. I’d have traded my left nut to know what he was thinking. “Thanks, Mrs. Fitz,” he said.
“See you Sunday.” Mom walked out the door.
“Bye,” Wendy called in a singsong voice that set my teeth on edge. She leaned past Tanner and grabbed another cookie from the tin on the desk. “These are, like, the best cookies ever. I wish my mom could bake like this.”
She rested against Tanner like he was a human pillow. I didn’t know what to think about anything, but I did know that I couldn’t spend another minute in the room with the two of them all cozy on Tanner’s bed.
I hoisted my backpack off the floor and slung it onto my shoulder. I hadn’t even changed out of my work shirt yet, but I didn’t care. Leaving was all that mattered. The sooner the better.
“I’ve gotta hit the library. See you later.”
Tanner sat up fast enough that Wendy lost her balance a little and smacked him.
“Collin, wait,” he