She took the same route as yesterday, first into the town square, past the bandstand and benches that overlooked the flower beds that were overflowing with color. Then through the gate at the other side, past First Baptist Church and continuing on Main Road out of Hartson’s Creek.
“Remember when we let those mice loose during Sunday Service?” Tanner asked, glancing back at the church before they turned the corner.
Van lifted an eyebrow. “So we’re reminiscing about the old days now?” God, it had been funny watching everybody scream and lift their feet up. It had taken them all week to find enough mice to make it a good prank.
He shrugged, still matching her gait. “We can talk about whatever you want.”
She licked her lips and sped up just a little. She could already feel her lungs starting to ache. “How about you tell me why you’re back in Hartson’s Creek. Last I heard you were something big in New York.”
“You’ve been asking people about me?”
She could see his grin from the corner of her eyes. “It’s amazing how much people want to share whenever they see me in town. Maybe I have a sign on my front saying ‘tell me about Tanner Hartson.’ They think they’re providing an update service.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. I get the same thing but with you.”
“You do?”
“Oh yeah. I can tell you the exact day you moved to Richmond. How many bathrooms and half bathrooms your apartment has. And every time one of the events you plan is on TV, my phone pretty much blows up.”
“People are assholes.”
“They are,” he agreed.
“I’m glad we scared them with the mice. They deserved it.” She felt her lips curl into a smile.
He laughed. “Maybe we should do it again.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m banned from church. I’d give Reverend Maitland a heart attack if I walked in on Sunday.” Van shook her head. “We were terrible kids, weren’t we?”
“We were bored. And got a kick out of other peoples’ shock.” Tanner shrugged. “Anyway, the mice were nothing compared to the time when we put laundry soap in the school toilet tanks. Every time somebody flushed there were bubbles spilling over the floor.” He chuckled. “It was worth the punishment just to see everybody’s faces.”
She grinned at the memory. The janitorial staff hadn’t found it so funny, though. God, they’d been brats.
They were on the open road now, fields stretching out in front of them. She both hated and loved how easy it was to talk with Tanner. Hated, because she’d missed it so damn much.
And loved, because he’d always been her best friend. Until he wasn’t.
“Why did you buy my mom’s house?” The question came out of nowhere, spilling from her lips in a mash of words.
“You know about that?” He tipped his head to look at her. Her legs were slowing, her breath catching as she tried to maintain a rhythm.
“Yeah, I know. But I don’t know why you did it. She’s not exactly the best tenant in the world.”
“I had a lot of money and needed to make some investments. It came on the market at the right time.”
“So it’s just a coincidence?” She lifted an eyebrow. “Of all the places you could buy, you just happened to choose my mom’s?”
“What else? You think I deliberately bought the house because of its connections with you?” His lips twitched as their eyes met. She quickly turned her head away.
Yeah, she did think that. But then she realized how egotistical that made her sound. “I know she o
wes you rent. I’ll write you a check when I get back home.”
“It’s okay. I don’t need your money.”
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “All the same, I pay my way. I don’t like owing anybody anything.”
“I know that,” he said softly. “Look, can we stop running for a minute?”