Chapter 10
TEN
TESSA
“So, you mentioned you were planning a vacation?”
I was back in the thick of it and grateful as ever. It was early Monday morning, and I’d arrived at work, eager to get things back to normal. That involved chatting with my clients, as I usually did.
“Yes, we’re still working out the specific dates, but it’ll likely be sometime in October.”
“Any idea where you’ll be going?”
A laugh filled the air around us. “South. I need warmth and sandy beaches. Probably somewhere along the Gulf Coast.”
I looked up from where I’d been focused on Georgia’s nails and smiled. “Not a fan of the cold, I presume?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Not at all.”
“I don’t blame you. I prefer the warm summer months myself.”
As I returned my attention to her nails, Georgia said, “I’m looking for a place that doesn’t just have summer months. I want to go somewhere that’s warm all year long. But I’ve got to manage to convince my boyfriend we need to move. So far, he’s refused.”
“Well, it’s a big decision. Can you both do that with work?”
Before Georgia could respond, an exasperated sigh filled the air as a body fell into the chair beside the table where I was working. I glanced over to see Lark had joined us, and I had not a question in my mind why she was sitting beside me.
The two of us had arrived at the salon at the same time this morning, and while we took a few minutes to run through our opening duties, I began sharing details of what had happened with Ryan yesterday.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t been able to finish telling the story when her first client arrived.
Before Lark took her client back for a facial, she shot me a look that indicated the conversation wasn’t over.
It appeared now that her appointment had ended, and her next one hadn’t arrived, she planned for our conversation to continue.
I ignored the look she was sending my way and shifted my attention to my client.
“Georgia, this is Lark. As a new client of mine, you might not be aware that she and I are best friends, and we work out of this salon together. While I do makeup and nails, she takes care of people’s skin. ”
Georgia offered a nod and a smile. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Lark leaned forward in her seat, eyes pinned on Georgia. “Do you have a best friend?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“So, you’d want to be there for her and hear all the harrowing details of a disturbing and traumatic breakup of hers, right?”
“Lark, I don’t think—”
“Hang on, Tessa. I want to know what Georgia thinks and how she feels about her best friend.”
Georgia didn’t hesitate. “I’d do anything for my best friend.”
Offering up a proud smile, Lark sat a bit taller in the chair and said, “So, you won’t mind if Tessa shares with me now before my next client comes in, right?”
Georgia shook her head, her smile matching Lark’s. “Not at all.” Her eyes slid to mine. “Did you really go through a disturbing and traumatic breakup?”
I sighed. “Yes.”
“What happened? I apologize if I’m overstepping. I feel like an expert on this topic. My best friend went through something terrible, too.”
Lark took the worst of it off me and shared, “Her ex was cheating on her for six of the eight months they were together.”
Georgia’s eyes rounded. “You’re kidding!”
I shook my head and got back to work on Georgia’s nails. “No, she’s not. I found out last weekend and finally took the time to talk about it with him this past weekend. Let’s just say that was enlightening.”
“And before my client arrived this morning,” Lark began. “Tessa told me that this guy actually believes they can still work things out.”
Flicking my gaze up to Georgia, I noted she looked as shocked as both Lark and Ace had been when I’d told them. The disbelief was hard to control. “He wants to stay together after cheating for six months?” she asked.
“Ridiculous, isn’t it? Even more so when you learn that he was cheating with his ex-girlfriend the entire time.”
Georgia gasped as Lark sat back in her chair, settling in. “That’s about as far as the details got for me this morning before I had to get to work. So now, I’m interested in learning how the rest of that conversation went. I presume you told him that working things out wasn’t an option, right?”
I finished Georgia’s pinkie and finally reached for the clear topcoat. After getting started on the opposite hand, I said, “Oh, I told him. He just wasn’t thrilled with the idea.”
“It figures. Men screw up like that and think they can just pretend like it never even happened. This isn’t Servpro.”
I let out a laugh, loving that my friend could make light of a situation that had been so heartbreaking for me. “Tell me about it. Anyway, I explained that there was no chance for us, but he refused to listen.”
“How… How is that possible?” Georgia asked. “I mean, what does refusing even look like in a situation like this?”
“Evidently,” I began with a roll of my eyes. “It means saying that you understand why I need some time, telling me you’ll give me some, and promising not to let me go.”
“Oh, boy,” Lark muttered, not an ounce of amusement in her tone. “This sounds like it’s going to be a blast.”
“Ryan’s insistent that we’re going to be together. That I’m going to want what we had back in my life. He fully intends to try to convince me of that.”
“What are you going to do?”
I moved to apply the topcoat on Georgia’s last two fingers. “Nothing. Not now, anyway. I’m moving on with my life, and just like me, he’s going to have to get over it.”
“Wow,” Georgia marveled.
“That’s my girl,” Lark declared proudly.
I finished Georgia’s nails and got her drying. While she waited, I cleaned up my area and saw Lark watching me.
“What?” I asked.
“Are you okay? I’m proud of you for all that you’ve shared, but I know this can’t be easy on you.”
I stopped what I was doing, tossing a few items in the trash before I let out a deep sigh. “I wouldn’t say I’m golden at this point, but I’m better than I was a week ago. Yesterday set me back a couple of paces, but I’ll be alright.”
“You know you could’ve called me.”
Nodding, I insisted, “I do. But I knew I’d see you today. Plus, Ace told me to call him.”
Her brows shot up. “Why would my brother tell you to call him?”
“He’s been wonderful throughout all this.
” I tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear and smiled at the thought of Ace.
“He stopped over one night last week and brought dinner. I told him that I was considering finally talking to Ryan by the weekend, and your brother told me to call him afterward if I needed someone to talk to about it.”
Lark tipped her head to the side, her eyes roaming over me with such curiosity. “And so, you did?”
“I did.”
Her lips curved into a smile. “Why do I love this so much?”
“What?” I noted that look on her face, the sparkle in her eyes, and it all made sense. “No. It’s not like that. I was… God, Lark, I was in tears the moment I opened the door to him. He’s just being a great friend.”
“And he knows you have a best friend who could easily dry your tears through everything you’re dealing with.”
I parted my lips to speak, but my phone chimed, indicating I’d received a text message. Pulling it out of my back pocket, I was stunned to see a message from Ace.
Ace
Just a heads up. I took care of letting your ex know that you’re done with him, so he’s done with you.
Wow. He hadn’t wasted any time.
I appreciate you doing that. But I’m almost afraid to ask how it went.
Ace
I guess we’ll find out how it went if he decides to listen to my advice to steer clear of you.
I chewed on my bottom lip as I tapped out a reply.
So, it was advice you gave him, then? Just a suggestion that he leave me alone, right?
My eyes flicked up to see Lark watching me intently with a mischievous grin. I hadn’t said a word, and she was already making assumptions.
Ace
Sure. We’ll call it that.
Something told me it wasn’t even close to that. I wasn’t quite so sure it was wise for Ace to make threats to Ryan when the man was a lawyer. If Ryan got ticked off enough, there was no telling what he might do.
That doesn’t sound promising.
Ace
Don’t worry about it, Princess. It’s taken care of. Or it should be. I just need you to let me know if he decides to show up without you asking to see him.
I wasn’t sure that was a great idea, either. But there was no way I was going to be able to keep it from him, no matter how much I might’ve believed it was best.
Okay.
Ace
Good girl. Now, I’ve got to get to work. I’m not sure if you have plans when you’re done with work, but…
I was planning to visit with my mom and Harper tonight.
Ace
Perfect. I’ll probably have to work a bit later to catch up, since I got in a bit past my usual time today. But if you don’t have plans for tomorrow after work, I can come by.
A thrill of excitement moved through me, the smile plastered on my face as my fingers flew across the screen.
It sounds like I have plans now.
Ace
Good. We’ll talk tomorrow, then. Call if you need me.
I stared at the screen.
Call if you need me.
Who knew Ace Townsend could be so perfect?
Don’t work too hard.
Lark cleared her throat, startling me. I dropped my hands to my sides as I jumped back and looked at her.
“Judging by the look on your face, I’m going to assume that wasn’t Ryan reaching out to you.”
“No.” I felt the flush of heat creep over my skin. “It was Ace. Apparently, your brother felt compelled to pay my ex a visit.”
“What?” There was no mistaking the disbelief in her tone. Clearly, she’d expected I was going to tell her there’d been a different reason he’d reached out to me.
“After I shared with him that Ryan intended for us to be together, Ace said he was going to make it clear that I was done.” I held up my phone and shook it. “This was him letting me know that he paid Ryan a visit this morning.”
Before Lark could respond, I turned and moved back to where Georgia was waiting. I checked her nails. “Looks like you’re all set.”
“They look so good.”
I smiled. “I’m glad you’re happy with them. Do you want to call to schedule another appointment, or would you like to set something up now for next month?”
She looked down at her fingers, wiggled them, and smiled. “It’s probably best I schedule now, isn’t it?”
“There’s a greater chance you’ll be able to get a day you want if you do.”
Nodding, Georgia said, “Okay. Let’s do that.”
For the next few minutes, I took care of scheduling Georgia’s next appointment and getting her checked out. After she paid and left, Lark and I were alone. I turned around and leaned my hip against the counter.
“Does it bother you?” I asked, cutting to the chase.
Her brow furrowed. “Does what bother me?”
“That I called him?” I swept my hand in her direction. “You’re my best friend, Lark. Any other instance, you know I’d have called you. But Ace offered, and he was the first person I thought of when I cleared my head long enough to make that call.”
She stepped forward, placed her hand on my shoulder, and tipped her head to one side. “It doesn’t bother me at all, Tessa. All that matters to me is that you had someone with you who cared about you. That’s what’s important.”
I smiled. “He’s been really wonderful with me.”
“I can tell. Your face lit up when you were texting him.”
A shiver ran along my spine. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. Ace is just being a good friend.”
“Who said I was getting any ideas?”
Arching a brow, I said, “I’ve known you my whole life. With one look, you think I don’t know what’s going through that head of yours?”
My best friend just grinned at me. “If what’s going through my head isn’t what’s really happening, then can I ask you one question?”
“Sure.”
“When are you going to see him again?”
“Tomorrow night.”
Lark stared at me for several beats. Then she burst out laughing. Only after she settled down did she speak. “Okay. I see. You’re right. I totally got the wrong idea.”
“I’m serious!”
She waved her hand in the air dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed. “Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to join me tonight when I share the news with my mom and Harper, but if you insist on being insufferable…”
Just then, the door opened.
Two women walked in. One was Lark’s client. The other was one of my wedding clients wanting to do a trial run for her wedding day makeup.
We greeted the women, looked at one another, and Lark said, “I don’t have anything else planned tonight. I’m happy to go with you.”
I smiled at her. “Thanks, Lark.”
“Love you, babe.” She smiled back before shifting her attention to her client. “Good morning, Miranda. How are you doing?”
I didn’t listen to Miranda’s response. Instead, my eyes slid to the side. “Hi, Eleanor. Ready for your trial run.”
“I’m so excited,” she bubbled.
Jerking my head to the right, I said, “Follow me, and we’ll get started.”
With that, I did my best to put my personal life on the backburner while I focused on my client.
But I would’ve been lying if I said that when I finished Eleanor’s makeup that it didn’t remind me of the day Lark and I had gotten our makeup done to see what we’d look like on our wedding days.
It wasn’t that I recalled the look so much as it was that I suddenly remembered the way Ace had looked at me that day—it was the first time he’d called me Princess.
A smile played on my lips, and I found myself thinking more and more about him throughout the day. It was a great way to forget that my heart had been broken.