“Sure,” he said. “Sounds good.”
“Great. I’ll give you a ride.”
Everybody knew Tanner was still saving for his first car. Like his brothers before him, their dad had refused to give him a penny toward it, so he was working weekends at the hardware store. He’d put a downpayment on a rusty old Camaro, but he still had at least three months before he could pay it off.
The two of them walked out to the parking lot. “So, I heard your brother’s new single the other day,” Brad said, sliding into the driver’s seat. “It was pretty sweet.”
“Thanks.” Tanner was still getting used to the fact that Gray had left town and signed a record contract in L.A.. “I’ll let him know.”
“You think he’ll ever come back here?”
“No idea.”
Brad shrugged. “Can’t blame him if he doesn’t. This town’s a shithole. I can’t wait for college.”
College. Another reason why Tanner needed to get up the guts and actually talk to Van. They were both planning to go to Duke University in the fall, and there was no way he wanted this awkwardness there.
“So anyway, you decide who you’re taking to the prom?” Brad looked over his shoulder and reversed out of the space.
“Haven’t thought about it.” It was the truth. He and Van had always laughed at how seriously everybody took Senior Prom. They’d even talked about doing a Carrie-style prank.
“I hear Chrissie Fairfax wants you to take her.”
“Right.”
“I… ah… was thinking of asking Savannah Butler.” Brad shifted the car into drive, glancing at Tanner from the corner of his eye. “If it’s cool with you.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“She’s your friend.” Brad shrugged. “And I know you didn’t like Nate going out with her.”
“Nate’s a dog.”
Brad laughed. “No argument there.” The car pulled onto the road into town. “But seriously, I won’t hurt her. I just want to take her out, that’s all. She’s a cool girl.”
“Yeah, she is.” Tanner stared right ahead. “And too good for you.”
“I won’t ask her if you don’t like it. Bros before…” Brad trailed off before he could say it. “Well, you know.”
“Why wouldn’t I like it?”
“Nate thinks you like her. As in actually like her. I told him he’s talking crap.”
Tanner felt a shiver snake down his spine. “Yeah, well he is.” He frowned. “She’s my friend, that’s all.”
“So you don’t mind if I ask her?”
Tanner opened his mouth to say he minded like crap, but then he closed it again. Because Brad was one of the good ones. And Van was already pissed at him for telling Nate to back off. He didn’t want to upset her again.
“I don’t mind.”
Maybe she’d say no. He let that thought warm him for a moment.
“Great. I’ll ask her tomorrow.” Brad’s grin was wide. “Thanks, man.”
“Sure.”
At least Brad wouldn’t get her first kiss. That would always be Tanner’s. He ran the pad of his finger along his bottom lip, remembering how good her mouth had felt against his.