Chapter 4 #2
More and more, I was glad I’d decided to pick her up and bring her out for breakfast. Though she might’ve done better with some privacy being at my place instead of a diner, it was best we hadn’t stayed at her place.
Because if this guy had intended to show up at her home this morning while I was there, I didn’t trust I wouldn’t have beaten him to a bloody pulp for hurting her like this.
Even days from now, I didn’t think it’d be safe for him if I ran into him somewhere.
When Tessa pulled her face back from my chest, she swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I’m sorry.” She dabbed the mascara beneath her eyes with a napkin. “This is embarrassing.”
“There’s nothing for you to be embarrassed about, Tessa.”
“I’m crying in the middle of breakfast at a diner because I learned my boyfriend never really cared about me and only wanted one thing from me. How is any of that not utterly humiliating?”
Another tear escaped, and I reached out to brush it away with the pad of my thumb.
Keeping my hand at the side of her head, the tips of my fingers touching her soft hair, I said, “I know this is probably difficult for you to accept right now, since it’s still so fresh, but what he did says everything about him.
Not you. I understand it hurts now, but once you get some time and distance between yourself and this mess, you’ll see that I’m right.
You didn’t do a single thing wrong, and you have no reason to feel ashamed. ”
Tessa pressed the side of her head into my hand, my fingers instinctively gripping her hair a bit more firmly as she said, “I’m not sure if this is ever going to get better.”
“It will,” I promised. “I’ll make sure you get there.”
A small smile spread across her face. “If I haven’t said it already, then let me say it now. Thank you for being such a good friend to me, Ace. I’m lucky to have you.”
I didn’t tell her that I believed if I was going to be lucky, it would mean getting her through this to the other side so I could show her what it meant to be with someone who’d cherish the ground she walked on. Lucky for me would’ve been realizing long before last night how much Tessa meant to me.
“You’re welcome, Princess.” My eyes lingered on hers for a moment before I dropped my hand from the side of her head. “Are you finished with your egg sandwich?”
She nodded.
“Do you want to help me with this Belgian waffle, then we’ll go?”
Smiling, she said, “Only if you douse it in syrup and powdered sugar.”
Laughter spilled out of me as I reached for the plate and toppings. “She likes her sugar.”
“Like you didn’t already know.”
Warmth spread through me at that. Because she was right. I did know. But for some terrible reason, I’d ignored all that I knew about her until now.
After how things had gone for Tessa at breakfast, I decided the best thing to do was to head back to my place. Tessa remained silent as I pulled up, parked, and led her to the front door. But the second we were inside, she asked, “What’s going on?”
I kicked off my sneakers at the front door. “Nothing.”
“Okay. So, why are we here?”
“Because I probably should’ve considered what taking you out in public so soon after what happened might be like. Even though you have no reason to feel embarrassed, I understand that breaking down in public isn’t exactly fun for you. So, we came here.”
She nodded slowly. “Alright. But can I ask why you didn’t just take me home?”
“Because it’s still morning, and that guy could show up at your place,” I reasoned. “Now, kick off your shoes.”
“I can’t stay here forever, Ace. And I’m going to have to face him at some point.”
“Tessa, kick off your shoes.”
“But—”
I pressed my finger firmly against her lips. “Princess, kick off your shoes.”
Her eyes held mine for a beat before she acquiesced and kicked off her shoes. Then I removed my finger, took her by the hand, and led her into the living room.
“How long do you plan to keep me here?” she asked.
Forever, I thought.
“I’ll take you back later. I know you’ve got to work tomorrow and that a woman like you wouldn’t survive without having all her beauty products at her disposal when she wakes up to face the day.”
She narrowed her eyes and glared at me, but I carried on.
“For now, I want you to stay here, rest, and take the time you need to clear your head. We don’t have to talk about anything. You can watch TV or sleep. I’ll even leave you alone if you want. But I want you some place that’s safe for your heart right now.”
In a flash, the glare was gone. Her features softened, and her body relaxed. “I can’t cry again, Ace. I think I’ve reached my limit for the day.”
I stepped close and reached for her hand. “You can cry whenever you feel the need. But I don’t think it’s necessary to cry over this. Now, tell me, how much sleep did you get last night?”
She shook her head. “There’s a reason I was still in bed when you showed up this morning.”
“Alright. So, how about you grab a nap?”
“I can’t.”
“You can’t?”
“Once I’m up, I’m up. I can’t sleep until it’s bedtime.”
I narrowed my eyes on her, attempting to determine if that was the truth. Based on what I saw, Tessa wasn’t making this up. “Okay. Then, I’ll leave it up to you. A movie or a game?”
She licked her lips and considered her options. I fought against focusing on her mouth. “Can we do a game, and then a movie?”
I grinned. “We can do anything you want.”
With that, I urged her to grab a seat while I pulled out the games. Then I spent the rest of the day doing whatever I could to help Tessa forget all about her broken heart.