Imperfect Fit

Chapter 28 - Just You

"You know I'm always up for a night out, man." Tanner drops his tall frame onto the couch. It squeals against his leather jacket, but the sound takes me back to when Joanna was laying in here after she knocked herself out.

I shake my head. "That's the last thing I need."

"Alright, so what do you need?" He asks, observing me closely.

"Joanna." I respond without hesitation.

"So go get her."

I roll my eyes at him and bring my hands behind my head, threading my fingers. "I tried." My eyes begin to sting. "I proposed to her." Not that it was romantic, it was downright pathetic and I'm sure I looked desperate as fuck. But I am. For her.

"You.." Tanner's face is scrunched in disbelief as he uncrosses his leg and leans forward. "When?"

I blink away the moisture in my eyes, avoiding looking at him. "Three weeks ago. Newsflash she said no."

He blows out air. "I'm sorry, Sage."

"She said no, but her eyes were screaming yes." Remembering the look on her face. "She's afraid and I get it, I failed her and let her down when I should have fought for her and now she thinks I'm no different than her own father, her fucking ex and no different than my father. Bailing when the tough gets going."

"It's a fair assessment considering the circumstances, but not a fair assessment of who you are, Sage."

Tanner and I both look toward the door to find my father standing there with a bag of food and an understanding smile on his face.

"Marisol made lunch for you and she made extra. The woman has a knack for anticipating things. Tanner, good to see you. It's been a long time." My father addresses Tanner who stands to shake his hand.

"It has, good to see you, Mr. Kingston." My father gestures for Tanner to sit back down. He crosses the room and hands the food to each of us. I open the container and immediately think of Joanna.

"Something wrong, son?"

I shake my head. "No. It's just this is the same thing Joanna made for me and Obie when she helped with his report on Mexico."

My father nods, contemplatively. "You know, for a long time after I left you kids and your mother, and because of how I left, I felt I didn't deserve anything good in life..." I lift my eyes to him, finding the remorse in his.

"Sometimes, we convince ourselves we don't deserve good things. The reasons may be valid or we make them up because of things that have happened to us or around us, not to mention the influence of those around us..." He takes a bite of his food chewing and then he continues. "Obie is convinced Joanna is your soulmate."

A slow smile spreads on my face. "Beavers, right?"

Tanner chokes on his food, his face turning bright red as he tries to dislodge the food stuck in his throat. My father stands, handing him a bottle of water and thumping on his back hard.

Tanner takes a chug of the water and sputters. "I'm sorry, beavers?"

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Obie believes Joanna is my beaver—Eurasion beaver to be exact. He learned about them last year in school. They mate for life. They only move on if their partner dies."

"Right," Tanner nods, thumping on his chest with his fist, still trying to clear his throat.

My father sits back in his chair with a heavy sigh. "Son, I know I'm the last person you want to listen to when it comes to relationships. But, Joanna may just need some patience and time. Trust is something you can't rush."