A smile spread across his face. “I’m not a suitor, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“A suitor?” I laughed. I’d been living in a bubble, but I didn’t think people had started talking like that again.
“We’re friends,” he quickly added. “Obviously no one uses the term suitor anymore. Quite a shame really.” He cleared his throat. “What I meant is, she’s actually dating my best friend. Bro code and all that modern stuff. So friends of friends is what we are. Exclusively platonic, but I really need to see her.” He tilted his head to the side. “You look very familiar by the way. I’m trying to place it.” He shook his head. “Have you ever posed for a painting? I feel like I’ve seen a whole gallery of just you.”
I laughed. “No.”
“Are you sure? I swear I’ve seen your face.”
“Trust me, I’m not a model.”
He shook his head. “But I’ve definitely seen you before. I’m sure of it. In the painted form. I feel like the artist’s name is on the tip of my tongue. Don’t you hate when that happens?”
I laughed. “Yeah.”
“But I can’t shake it. What did you say your name was?”
“Brooklyn.”
For a second it looked like his face froze. But then he looked back at the intercom. “Wait. Don’t tell me.” He turned back to me. “No, do. Are youlivingwith the Alcaraz’s?”
I nodded. “I mean, just until I…” Until I what? Found my own place? Convinced Jacob to go home? “I’m just a guest.”
He clapped his hands together. “I knew it. And you’re reading about Matthew Caldwell!” He sounded so excited as he pointed to the tabloid in my hand. But then he gasped and grabbed my hand. For a second I thought he was going to kiss it. But he was just staring at my ring. “You’re married?” The joy from his voice was gone. He sounded more devastated by this than the spelling of Kennedy’s last name.
“Yes. I mean…no.” I had to stop lying to myself. Hiding from the truth was just a fairytale. And I learned a long time ago that my life was no fairytale. “He…passed away recently.” I pulled my hand out of Tanner’s.
“So you’re single?”
Was he hitting on me right now? Hadn’t he heard therecentlypart of that? This was one of the weirdest conversations of my life. “I wouldn’t really say that.” Even though Miller was gone, I was still married. I’d promised Miller forever. And I meant it.
“I could kiss you right now I’m so happy!” Tanner said.
Okay, I think this guy might be a crazy person.
“But that’s been getting me in trouble as of late. And alas, I don’t want to get my face smashed in.”
“I do have a pretty good right hook,” I said.
He laughed. “Not by you.” He rubbed his hands together. “This is fantastic. Fated. Do tell me. Because I need to rectify a few things to set it all in motion. You knew Kennedy back in high school, yes?”
How did he know that? I nodded.
“Did she ever have a crush on anyone? Someone she might be more suited to?”
More suited to than who? But…there was someone I’d just been thinking of. “Felix Green.”
“The art dealer?”
“Is that what he does?” I bit the inside of my lip. That’s what his parents did. But they’d dealt more than art. And I wondered if Felix was back in the drug business. I really hoped not.
“This is really quite something,” Tanner said. “I knowhim. I knowyou. I’m so good at this. Some days I doubt my talent, but not today!”
“Good at what exactly?”
“True love.”
Okay, yeah, this guy was nuts. “I should really be getting up. My son’s waiting for me.”
