The next morning, Tanner wakes up to a terrible headache and a lazy body.
He lazily opens his eyes, wondering if he was attacked last night.
But looking around, he realizes he is in what has become his room in his employee's house.
Turning his head to the left, he sees some pills and a glass of water on the bedside table.
Without a second thought, he stretches out his hand, picks them up, and swallows them.
He lies back down, hoping the painkillers will ease the throbbing in his head. Just as he is about to cover himself and drift off again, he hears a knock at the door.
"Yes?" he calls out.
Tay walks in, her tone cheerful. "Babe, you're finally awake! I couldn't wait anymore. I was just about to wake you up."
"What happened? My head is killing me. Were you the one who left the pills here?" he asks, his voice laced with confusion.
"No, maybe it was Tyler who left them before he left the room," she replies casually.
Hearing Tyler's name, Tanner's heart skips a beat for reasons he still doesn't fully understand.
He doesn't remember much from last night—not even how clingy he'd been to Tyler.
"He... he was in here?"
"Yeah, he brought you up here last night."
"What exactly happened?"
"You d—" Tay begins, but before she can finish, Tyler walks into the room, interrupting her.
"You weren't feeling well and didn't say anything, so you passed out suddenly. The doctor said it's nothing serious. How are you feeling now?" Tyler lies smoothly, trying to avoid revealing the events Tanner wouldn't want to remember.
Lying there, Tanner can't stop looking at Tyler, as though trying to figure something out.
He wonders what Tyler must think of him after what happened in the storeroom.
Right now, Tyler is acting as though nothing happened. But the way Tyler looks so genuinely concerned only forces more questions to race through Tanner's mind, making his headache even worse.
"My head… it aches," Tanner murmurs.
"Did you take the pills?"
"Yes."
"Then you'll feel better in a few minutes if you rest. Tay, you should let him rest so his headache can go away. Come on, let's go," Tyler says firmly.
"Wait! I have something important to tell you, babe," Tay says, refusing to leave.
"What is it?" Tanner asks curiously.
"After you passed out, some of my family were about to leave, so I decided to tell them that we're together before they left."
The moment she says that, Tanner's eyes unconsciously flicker to Tyler, as if searching for his reaction.
Tyler wasn't present when his sister announced the relationship, and it catches him off guard. He walks out of the room as though he suddenly can't breathe.
"Did you hear that?" Tay asks when Tanner doesn't say anything in response.
"What?" he asks, still distracted.
"They're totally okay with it, so there's nothing to worry about. Mom was really happy. Everyone was."
"Okay," Tanner says flatly. "I really need to rest now. My head is spinning. I'll look for you once I'm awake."
"Okay. I love you," she says, leaning down to peck his lips before leaving and closing the door behind her.
A minute later, there's another knock at the door.
"Yes?" he responds, irritation creeping into his voice. All he wants is some time alone to process what's happening to him and around him.
But when the door opens, his irritation fades. Ms. Alena steps in, a kind smile on her face.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, dear, but you should eat something before resting. It'll help you gain some energy," she says, carrying a tray of food.
"Thank you, nanny, but I don't feel like eating anything right now. Maybe later," Tanner replies politely.
Ms. Alena doesn't respond. Instead, she picks up her phone and dials a number. When the person on the other end picks up, she says, "He says he doesn't feel like eating right now." There's a pause, and then she says, "Ah, okay."
She puts the phone on speaker and places it near Tanner. Tyler's voice comes through, scolding him, "You need to eat something to gain energy. It might even help with your headache. Do I need to teach you that? How old are you—two?"
Oh great, now he's scolding me like I'm some kind of child. Tanner thinks sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Why don't you come and scold me in person? I don't think doing it over the phone will be effective at all," he retorts before realizing how bold that sounded.
There's silence on the other end, and when Tanner glances at Ms. Alena, she's smiling, looking down.
"I'm not at the house right now," Tyler finally says. "But you should eat if you want to get out of that bed soon."
And with that, he hangs up.
Tanner sighs. I really have no appetite, but now if I eat, it's because he told me to.
Reluctantly, Tanner eats the food. Ms. Alena wishes him a quick recovery before leaving, still smiling. Tanner is left wondering what exactly amused her. Was it his response to Tyler?
Once the door is closed, Tanner grabs his phone and types Tyler's number into his contacts. He had been memorizing it while they talked.
After finishing his breakfast, Tanner heads to the bathroom. He stares at his reflection in the mirror, Tyler's scolding echoing in his mind.
Unconsciously, he smiles, but the moment he realizes why he's smiling, the expression falls.
"What is happening to me?" he whispers. "Isn't this how I felt when I thought I was falling for Tayler? What's the meaning of this? Why don't I feel the same excitement with Tayler anymore? Why did I lean into that kiss yesterday?"
His voice lowers, filled with dread. "Am I… am I suddenly gay? What would Tyler think of me? He's right—I don't deserve his sister. I have a girlfriend, but I'm acting like a complete pervert!"
He clenches the edge of the sink, his thoughts spiraling.
"Why is it that when I'm around Tayler, everything feels fine, but when Tyler's around, nothing feels right inside me? I'm more excited when he's here than when I'm with my own girlfriend!"
He groans, running his hands through his hair. "How can I date his sister one day and then tell him I might be developing feelings for him? And now that his parents know about me and Tayler, what will they think?"
He massages his temples, his headache growing worse.
"I've never understood love. If it was Tyler I was meant to love, why did it bring Tayler into the picture? It tricked me into thinking I was in love with her."
He exhales loudly, leaning against the sink. "But why does it feel like Tyler has something going on too? Yesterday in the storeroom… he was the one who leaned in first. Or am I imagining things? He has a girlfriend. Well, I have a girlfriend too, yet here I am, acting like this."
He shakes his head. "Maybe I should just go back to where I belong and forget all this."
But the thought of leaving feels unbearable. With renewed determination, Tanner picks up his phone, his heart pounding.
He decides that today won't end until he makes everything right. Only then will he decide whether to leave or stay.
He opens his phone and starts typing.
Sending message.