Given Time

?25?

After five minutes, I feel Tanner kicking my chair rhythmically behind me. I know he's doing this to get my attention, and annoyingly it's working. I only last another three minutes before I turn back and hush to him.

"Pack it in!"

"Let's get out of here. There's a place I want to take you to."

"What? No. If you haven't noticed, I'm in the middle of my class."

"Yeah, a class you clearly have no interest in. You've been staring at the ceiling for most of it."

Oh my God! Just how long has he been watching me?

He sees my unsure expression and continues further. "Come on. I promise you'll have a better time with me than listening to another hour of this drivel."

I turn my head slightly in his direction with a smile on my face and ask, "Where?"

He grabs a stray piece of my hair and twirls it. "It's a surprise."

Maybe ditching wouldn't be so bad.

"Okay."

A panty-dropping smile flashes on his face, and he nudges his head to the side, asking me to go.

I quickly pack up my things and turn to Ben. "Sorry, but I'm bailing."

He chuckles which shows his dimple off. "I can see. Have fun."

I squeeze his hand and go meet Tanner at the end of my aisle. He takes hold of my hand, and we speed walk out of the class as a few other students openly gawp at us.

We head to his Mercedes, and once we get it in, I sit back and relax, letting Tanner take control. I have no clue where he's going to drive to, but I love the thrill of not knowing. I've never seen Tanner be so spontaneous before, and it's a good look on him.

The drive is peaceful, and I watch the scenery as we move, wondering where he is taking me. The car is filled with the sounds of one of his eclectic playlists that involves a heavy amount of drumming. It's not my taste at all, but he seems to like it.

After driving for a while, I realize where he's driving to as the ocean gets closer in my peripheral. "We're going to the beach?!" I shriek.

He quickly turns his head to me and smiles, flashing his pearly white teeth. "Yep. Everyone should experience going to the beach when they're at college."

"Well, I'm thoroughly pleased that you're the one taking me."

"Ha, I get to pop your Californian beach experience."

I slap his thigh. "You're so filthy."

"You haven't seen what my filthy mouth can do to you yet."

Oh my! I think I can imagine what he means by that.

I cross my legs, and Tanner notices my movements and chuckles.

"I do love your innocence, Leah." He laughs.

The moment we pull up by the beach, Tanner goes to the trunk and pulls out a picnic basket and blanket. "Wow, you really are spoiling me!"

A soft smile tugs at his mouth. "I said I want to try with you, so what better way than to go on a few dates."

Awe, how adorable.

"So, I get to see what it's like to be on a date with Tanner Cole?"

He laughs. "I've never done this with any other girl, so it's a first for me too."

He's just made my day.

"I'm glad we get to experience this together, then."

Tanner saunters over to me and gives me a light peck on the lips before taking my hand and leading me down to the beach.