Chapter 5
FIVE
TESSA
“If I wasn’t so devastated for you, I’d be angry with you.”
“Angry?” I replied.
“This happened on Saturday night, and you’re just now telling me,” Lark clarified.
This was going about as well as I expected.
It was Monday afternoon, and since Lark and I typically took our lunch breaks at the same time, unless one of us had an appointment that ran longer, I decided this was the best opportunity I’d have to share everything that had happened with Ryan.
I’d just done that, and Lark responded precisely how I’d anticipated she would have if I’d told her that night.
“Well, I knew you’d be upset and angry on my behalf, and as much as I love that, I didn’t want to do anything that would ruin my sister’s birthday.”
My best friend shot me a dubious look. “You could’ve said something when I brought you home that night. You could’ve called me the next day. I never would’ve left you alone all day.”
“I wasn’t alone.”
“Tell me that asshole showed up,” she seethed. “What did he say to you?”
“He didn’t show up,” I assured her. “Or, well, I guess I should say that he didn’t show up when I was there.”
Lark blinked and jerked back. “What does that mean?”
“Ace picked me up.”
“My brother picked you up?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
Lark squinted at me, like she was trying to figure out what part of the story I’d just told she’d overlooked. “I don’t understand.”
Though I still felt as though my heart was in pieces, I couldn’t stop the small smile from forming on my face. “So, while I shared what happened when I called Ryan, I didn’t tell you what happened afterward.”
“Which is?”
“Evidently, Ace saw me run out of Lou’s for some fresh air, and he came out to check on me. I told him everything. And after staying out there with me until I’d pulled myself together enough to return to the festivities for Harper, he showed up at my place first thing yesterday morning.”
Surprise washed over her expression. “My brother, Ace Townsend, did that?”
Nodding again, I confirmed, “He did. I was just as surprised then as you are now. Ace told me he wanted to take me out for breakfast. He wanted to make sure I was out of the house in case Ryan tried to stop over like he’d mentioned doing.”
“I’m impressed.”
The more I spoke, the more her fury faded.
So, I added, “Yeah, it was very sweet. He took me to First Tracks for breakfast, and at some point, I broke down in tears when I realized that Ryan never loved me. That he did all that he’d done to make me feel special just so he could get what he wanted out of me.
Ace saw me through that meltdown, and after we left, he took me to his place.
He wanted me to be somewhere that was safe for my heart. ”
“Wow. I never would’ve guessed he had that in him,” she murmured. “So, have you spoken to Ryan since Saturday? Has he reached out at all?”
I shook my head. “I haven’t spoken to him, but it’s not because he hasn’t tried.
He called me yesterday when I was with Ace.
I ignored the first call, and after the second one came in, Ace suggested I just turn off the phone.
So, I did. And I was so exhausted by the time he took me home last night; I didn’t even think about it.
But when I woke up this morning, I turned the phone back on. ”
“How many messages did Ryan leave for you?”
“Are you referring to voicemail or text messages?” I countered.
Her brows shot up. “That many?”
“Yep.”
“What did he say?”
I closed my eyes and sighed. The roller coaster of emotions was utterly exhausting, which was made worse by the fact that I hadn’t slept well the past two nights. I’d mostly been wavering between sadness and anger.
“Well, it was clear he believed I was home, because his first few messages were all him telling me to come to the door, to let him in, and to give him the chance to explain. Obviously, that never happened, so I guess he thought insulting me would be better. He told me not to act like a child. To open the door and talk to him like an adult.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Lark seethed.
“Nope.” Feeling frustrated, I ran my fingers through my hair. “The last few messages were the worst, though.”
“Why? What did he say?”
Tears filled my eyes. “He sounded like the guy I fell for. He was remorseful and apologetic. He all but begged me to call him so he could make things right.”
Lark scooted her chair closer to mine, her palm landing on the middle of my back and stroking in an effort to comfort me. “Are you… Is that even an option for you?”
And there it was—the million-dollar question.
“If you had asked me that question as a hypothetical a week ago, I would’ve told you there’s no possible way I’d ever consider anything like that.
” I tugged on my earlobe, feeling so conflicted.
“Even now, the logical and rational part of my brain knows I deserve better. Knows I deserve to be someone’s one and only.
But my heart, Lark. I heard his voice, and for a moment, I forgot about what happened on Saturday.
I remembered all the good times we had between us.
Because when it was good, it was really good. ”
“But he destroyed that, Tessa.” Her hand dropped from my back to my forearm, and she squeezed me there. “And if you hadn’t called him that night, do you honestly think he ever would’ve come right out and shared the truth with you?”
I shrugged. “I guess I’ll never know. At this point, I don’t even know how long it was going on. Was our entire relationship a farce? Or was this a one-time thing?”
The silence stretched between us for a while. I was lost, caught up in all the hurt and devastation again, and I suspected Lark felt a bit stuck having to control her fury so she could be a supportive friend to me.
After a while, she said, “I have my thoughts about him, you, and this whole situation. But what I feel doesn’t matter. Not yet, anyway. It’s obvious you have questions that only he can answer. Do you want to talk to him?”
I wasn’t sure what I would do if I saw Ryan in person right now. “I don’t know. I think Ace was right.”
“About what?”
“I need to get myself to a place where I’m not so vulnerable.
Because knowing how I crumbled after listening to those last few messages he left, I think it’d be easy for him to manipulate me.
” I let out another deep sigh of frustration.
“But also, I’m curious. As much as I know it’s going to kill me to hear it, I need to know everything.
I need to know how this happened, what led him to doing what he did. ”
Nodding slowly, Lark said, “Okay. I get it. And if that’s what you need to do, I will support you.
But I want you to be prepared. Because I get the feeling that a guy like him could easily find a way to blame you for what he did.
That’s not okay. So, whenever the time comes that you do talk to him, prepare yourself for the fact that some guys are just assholes who do what they do because they think they can. ”
I offered a small smile. “Thanks, Lark. I’ll do my best to remember that.”
“Good. Now, is there anything I can do for you?”
“Just help me steer clear of him for the next few days.”
She perked up in her seat and returned the smile. “Done. And if you have any moments of weakness between now and then, you call me. Got it?”
Nodding, I said, “Got it.”
Lark puffed up her chest with pride and continued to smile. “Perfect. Finish eating so you don’t pass out on me today.”
Warmth moved through me at her command. Though there were plenty of people in my life who would love and look after me in a situation like this, it seemed I was already covered between Lark and Ace. That alone was enough to lift my spirits.
A few hours later, I was in the middle of doing a pedicure on a client when I heard a commotion coming from the front of the salon. My brows knit together as I listened, but I couldn’t quite make out what was happening.
I sent a reassuring smile my client’s way and said, “Please excuse me. I’ll be right back.”
Pedicures weren’t something I did terribly often. But I had a few clients who begged me to do them, so I set up a station. Of course, that station was out of view of the front of the salon, which meant I had no idea what I was walking into.
The voices grew louder as I made my way down the hall, and I immediately determined that Lark’s was one of them.
I was just about to turn the corner when I heard the other one, and a chill ran down my spine.
“I need you to talk to her for me, Lark. Just ask her to come out so I can explain everything.”
“I don’t care what you need me to do. I don’t owe you anything, and I will do no such thing. Tessa will call you when Tessa’s ready to talk to you.”
“She hasn’t called me, though,” Ryan argued.
“Maybe that should tell you that she doesn’t want to speak to you yet,” Lark countered. “I still can’t believe what you did to her. Lying, cheating… You’re so not the man I thought you were.”
She might not have shared those words directly with me at lunch, but I’d suspected she wasn’t thrilled with the idea of him any longer.
Ryan sighed. “I know it was wrong, Lark. I need to apologize.”
My throat grew tight, and my nails dug into my palms as I resisted the urge to walk out there to confront him. Not yet. I wasn’t ready.
“Well, that’s one place where we agree. You were wrong, and you do need to apologize.”
“I can’t do that, though, if she avoids taking my calls.”
“No, I guess you can’t. You’ll just have to wait.”
“Wait for what?”
I could hear the smile in Lark’s voice when she said, “For Tessa to decide she wants to hear what your sorry ass has to say. Until that time comes, you need to leave her alone. That includes never stepping foot in this salon again, unless Tessa specifically asks you to do so.”
He released a frustrated groan. “Just give me a minute. I’ll go back and talk to her now.”
I could hear his voice getting closer, and my stomach trembled as I began to back away.
“You will not go anywhere other than right out the door you came in. If you take another step in any direction that’s not the exit, I won’t hesitate to call the police.”
Long moments of silence ensued. I couldn’t see anything that was happening, so all I could do was wait and hold my breath.
“Will you at least tell her I stopped by?” he asked, the defeat evident in his tone.
“With your incessant calls and showing up at her place, Tessa is already aware that you’re hoping to speak with her, but yes, I’ll be sure to tell her about how you’re ignoring the fact that she very clearly isn’t interested in speaking with you right now and decided to show up here at her place of business. ”
I could only imagine the glare Ryan sent in Lark’s direction. A moment later, I heard the front door open. My heart was pounding so hard, I could feel it in my ears.
The next thing I knew, Lark materialized at the end of the hall. Before she could say a word, I held up my hand and whispered, “I’m okay.”
“Tessa, I—”
“It’s okay, Lark. Thank you. I just need to get back to work.”
She held my stare for a few beats before she jerked her chin down in understanding. That’s when I took off in the opposite direction and returned to my client.
Fortunately, the rest of my day was packed with appointments, and my clients were the kind who enjoyed talking.
There was no better profession for me to have in a situation like this, because hearing others talk about whatever was on their mind meant I didn’t have to focus on what had left me heartbroken.
“Are you okay?” Lark asked when we were both done for the day.
“I’m alright. Thank you again for what you did today. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been here and dealt with him.”
She waved her hand in the air dismissively. “Ah, it was nothing. That man doesn’t scare me.”
“You’re the best, Lark.”
Grinning, she said, “I know. So, what are your plans for tonight? Want to go out and grab some dinner?”
I shook my head. “As much as I love spending time with you, I think I’m going to pass.
Not only have I learned that I’m not ready for public outings like that just yet, but I’m also beyond tired after not sleeping well for the last two nights.
I’m just going to grab something quick for dinner on the way home, eat, and crawl into bed. Another time?”
“Of course, Tessa. If you need anything, even if it’s just to talk, give me a call.”
I nodded. “I will. Love you, Lark.”
She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. “Love you, too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that, we locked up the salon and left.
I hopped in my car, picked up some food, and made my way home. It wasn’t until I was in the house and staring off into space while I was eating that I realized I was just going through the motions. It felt so… unnatural. I felt numb.
Whatever it took, I was going to have to find a way to snap out of this.
I’d told Lark I’d give it until the weekend before I talked to Ryan.
So, I’d give myself the next couple of days to fall into a new routine—one that didn’t involve him—but beyond that, I wasn’t going to linger in this awful existence.
When I’d had enough to eat, I cleaned up, hopped in the shower, and did as I promised Lark. I crawled into bed. I was just about to shut off my light when my phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Ace
Hey. Just checking in to see how your day was today.
Seeing his name on the display made me smile. And the words he’d texted filled me with warmth. He was being such a good friend.
It was… okay. I told Lark what happened. And she lost her mind a little this afternoon. I’d love to tell you all about it, but can it wait until tomorrow? I’m so exhausted.
Ace
Sure. Looking forward to it. Get some sleep, and we’ll talk tomorrow.
Goodnight, Ace.
Ace
Goodnight, Tessa.
I set the phone back down on the nightstand, turned off my light, and curled up beneath the blanket.
Luckily, I managed to keep my mind from drifting to any negative thoughts as I closed my eyes. And within minutes, I was asleep.