Fumbled (The Girls of Beachmont #1) by T. K. Rapp

and asked
them questions. It was easy to see why people liked him so much.
    After nearly thirty
minutes of signing, he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling my body to his.
I melted into him as if I belonged there, and I didn’t want him to let me go.
As he guided me toward his SUV, there were eyes watching us and
whispers—something that was foreign to me.
    Neither of us was ready
for the night to end, so we went back to my place to hang out and get to know
one another better. I had no idea he was a video game junkie too.

 
    “I have to sit down,” I
sighed, fanning my face. “Why are you so good at this?”
    “My sister,” he answered
simply, taking a seat near me on the couch.
    His body seemed to take
over the entire piece of furniture, demanding attention. His broad shoulders
spanned an entire section of the couch, and his arms were thick, widening his
frame. He had a strong, sharp jaw, but in the past half hour he hadn’t seemed
as intimidating in my living room as he had at the restaurant. I couldn’t help
but look at him and observe this man hanging out in my condo. The Tabor I was
getting to know was down to earth and charming. I had really yet to experience
JT Hunter.
    Or maybe I have.
    Maybe it’s just my perception.
    “Ah, the sister who
would like me?” I clarified. “Or do you have others?”
    “There’s just Abbi and
me. I don’t think my mom could handle more than the two of us,” he laughed.
    “Are you two close?”
    “Yeah. But she’s back
home in Chicago, so I don’t see her often,” he admitted. “She just took her
last final and called earlier to tell me she’s getting married.”
    “That’s exciting,” I
said. “Do they have a date yet?”
    “I don’t know. I didn’t
have time to get the details, other than she wants me to walk her down the
aisle.”
    “That’s sweet,” I
gushed. “But what about your dad?”
    Tabor shifted and angled
his body toward me. “Dad passed away when I was fourteen, and it’s been just
the three of us ever since.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “It was a long time ago,
but I miss him. He was a great dad.” He smiled to himself and I couldn’t help
but smile sadly.
    “How did he die?”
    “Cancer. He fought hard
for year, but in the end he was too weak.”
    “I’m so sorry. I didn’t
mean to pry.”
    “You’re fine,” he
answered sadly.
    I didn’t know what I’d
do without either of my parents; they were my lifelines. Tabor looked up at me,
his eyes pleading with me to change the subject.
    “So how long has your
sister been with her fiancé?”
    “Longer than I thought,”
he laughed. “A year.”
    “Wow, that’s great.”
    “Yeah. I mean, she’s
happy, so I guess that’s all that matters.”
    “But?”
    He leaned back and
stared at the ceiling as if he could glean some wisdom from it. I didn’t say
anything, because he looked lost in his own head. When he finally looked at me,
he shrugged.
    “I’m happy for her, but
I guess I’m worried, too. Ever since my dad died, it’s just been Abs, Mom, and
me. I’ve done everything I can to support them and be there for them.”
    “What’s Abbi’s boyfriend
like?”
    “Marshall? He’s pretty
cool. A little on the quiet side, and he was the first guy she brought around
who didn’t kiss my ass because of who I am. So there’s that.”
    “What’s your sister
like?”
    He placed his hand over
mine and squeezed softly, a gesture reserved for people who actually knew each
other. While it felt strange, I also liked it.
    I liked him.
    “Enough about my sister.
Tell me about you,” he said sweetly.
    “What about me?” I asked
coyly. I didn’t like having attention on myself; I was much happier to grant
that spotlight to others. But since we were in the get-to-know-you phase, I had
to participate.
    “What made you get into
teaching?”
    “My roommates,” I
laughed. “Millie and I have known each other since high school and we met our
roommates at freshman orientation. I