33. Thirty-Three
Thirty-Three
Jake
M y heart is about to punch a hole through my chest as my entire body hums with adrenaline.
By the time I arrive at Tessa’s house, I all but crash through her bedroom door in my desperation to get to her.
My whole system is working overtime. Her head whips around at the sudden intrusion, caramel eyes popping when she takes in my disheveled appearance.
I must look like an absolute savage with my messy hair, wild eyes, and heaving chest. I’ve ridden my bike like a madman to get here, almost causing an accident when I ran a stop sign at the town’s busiest intersection.
She’s sitting at her desk, the late afternoon sun bathing her in a golden glow, mouth slightly agape from the shock of seeing me in her space, I’m sure. After all, it’s been four long, agonizing weeks since we last saw each other, and I almost forgot how goddamn beautiful she is.
“How did you get in here?”
I step further into the room and shut the door behind me, trying to slow my breathing enough to form a coherent sentence.
“I knocked, but there was no answer. The front door was open. Before you say anything,” I add, lifting a hand when she goes to speak. “I have something important to tell you, and I need you to hear me out. Just give me a few minutes of your time. I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”
“I told you to stop pressuring me.”
“I didn’t do it,” I blurt, almost crying at the sheer relief of saying the words out loud for the first time. Her brows knit together in confusion.
“What are you talking about?”
“I didn’t do it,” I repeat, almost giddy with excitement now.
“Carter went to pick up food at Jackie’s earlier when he overheard Shane bragging to his friends in one of the booths.
His back was to the counter, so he didn’t see him standing there.
Apparently, Cooper droned on and on about Jessica, singing her praises and calling her a badass for pulling one over on me.
Said he didn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand when she approached him with her plan, because she always makes sure he’s properly compensated for his services.
” I pause, wrinkling my nose in distaste when the true meaning of what he’d been insinuating sinks in.
“According to Carter, some of his buddies began arguing with him, claiming they’d taken things too far. When one of them told Shane that drugging a guy and making him believe he’d cheated on his girlfriend wasn’t a harmless prank but an actual crime, he stepped up to the table.”
A manic smile spreads over my features. “He pretty much forced the truth out of Cooper before he punched him square in the face. Said Jackie must’ve heard the sickening crunch of cartilage all the way from the kitchen because she came running and didn’t hesitate to kick Shane and his entourage to the curb once Carter filled her in.
So, do you see now?” I ask, looking at her with a hopeful expression and willing her to understand.
“Jessica got tired of waiting for me to come around and rather than accept the fact that her and I aren’t ever going to happen, she spiked my drink the night of Ted’s party.
I clearly remember her handing me a beer only minutes before I went to leave.
That’s when things started to get fuzzy.
She followed me to my truck, and I must’ve passed out shortly after that. ”
“Then how the hell did you end up at her place?” she asks, a mixture of hope and distrust warring on her features. I chuckle darkly.
“Shane,” I spit the name out like the use of it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
“He was the one who dragged my unconscious ass to his car and helped dump me in her bed. When he left, Jessica took care of the rest. It was all a setup, baby. I never touched the bitch. She just made it look like I did, hoping you’d break up with me so she’d finally have a clear path.
” I blow out a breath of relief when the weight of the world seems to fall from my weary shoulders.
Tessa blinks up at me with a deathly complexion, clearly struggling to wrap her head around it. A long, silent moment passes.
“You didn’t sleep with her?” she says in the smallest of whispers, eyes filling with tears, and I can’t keep a respectful distance anymore. I’ve gone too long without her touch. Striding toward her, I drop to one knee and reach for her ice-cold hands.
“I swear, nothing happened between us. That doesn’t mean I don’t have regrets.
I’m sorry for choosing to go to that damn party when I should’ve spent the night showing you how much I love you.
I’m sorry that I drank just enough to make it easy for them to manipulate me.
I’m sorry for hurting you and for putting you through hell.
But most of all, I’m so fucking sorry you ever had to doubt my loyalty.
I wish I could turn back time and make better choices.
I’ve pushed you away time and time again and took your friendship and support for granted.
” I pause, making sure she sees the sincerity in my eyes when I say, “Things will be different from now on. I promise I’ll make it up to you.
I haven’t touched a drop since that night, and trust me.
If there was ever a time where drinking myself into oblivion seemed like a great option, the last few weeks without you would’ve been it.
I’ve stayed away from drugs, too; I haven’t so much as smoked a joint.
I swear, Tessa. I’ll never put myself in a position where it’s easy for someone to take advantage of me ever again. ”
Tessa’s chin trembles a second before a broken sob spills from her lips .
“It’s alright,” I coo, straightening up and wrapping my arms around her slender frame.
Pressing my cheek to the top of her head, I simply hold on to her while she purges herself of all the pain, doubt, and anger that has gradually been building over the past few weeks.
“It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. Everything is going to be okay now.
” I pull back, frowning when I feel her shaking her head against my sternum.
I’m surprised to find her features twisted with something that looks a lot like sorrow and regret.
There’s a profound sadness behind her hazel eyes, an air of hopelessness I simply can’t understand.
It’s over. I didn’t cheat on her. So why is she still holding back?
“What is it, baby?” I ask, utterly confused by her odd reaction. “I understand we can’t just go back to the way things were, and we still have a lot to work through, but surely you can forgive me now that you know I didn’t sleep with anyone?”
The whispered sentence that leaves her next shatters any hope I might’ve had to repair the damage I’ve caused.
“You might not have slept with anyone, Jake. But I did.”
I rear back, unable to comprehend the meaning behind her words. The devastation on her features causes a sick feeling to settle in the pit of my stomach. My movements are sluggish when I rise to my feet, as the whooshing sound in my head gets louder and louder, until it’s all I hear.
I shake my head in an effort to keep the dread from creeping in, but my words still sound muffled when I snap, “What in the ever-loving fuck are you talking about?”