Chapter 26
Back in our living room, I’m in shock as I tell Tessa what happened. Tessa seems equally surprised.
“But why did you suggest going home?” Tessa asks.
“I realized he’d gone to the waterfront because he wanted to break up. And I didn’t want to, so I wanted to go home and recenter myself.”
“But maybe he didn’t?”
“You think I jumped to the wrong conclusion?” I ask.
Tessa nods.
“But I don’t want to be this person. Our relationship isn’t working if I am following him around. A relationship should lift each person up to be better.”
“It should. You two do work well together. I think that you’re only doing this right now because of Rex and Peter being such flirts. And your family issues. You need to be surer of yourself.” Tessa hugs me.
“I’ve gotten too much into this spying mode. Apparently, I should open up a detective agency instead of being an artist.” I stand by our sideboard, which is covered with plastic pots of paint. Artbooks are on the bottom shelf with fiction books and DVDs and a few games on the top shelves. “Except that I seem to be even less successful as a private investigator than I am as an artist. I know it’s Edmund or Vinnie—or both—but I can’t find a clue to prove it. I’m hoping tomorrow when I meet with Miju and Lena after the show, I’ll have a breakthrough. I have my list of questions.”
“William is supposed to come with you to that, right?”
“Yes. We were going to go to the exhibit together and then meet up with Miju and Lena. But maybe he won’t come now.”
“You should call him and confirm. You’ve got the investigation as an excuse.”
I shake my head and pace back and forth in our living room. “Won’t that look again like I’m flipping back and forth? I shouldn’t have followed him last night. I lost confidence. I’ll just do it as a stop-by and then meet up with Miju and Lena. Don’t worry.” I run my hand through my hair. “Are you going to call Ron?”
“I don’t know,” Tessa says. “I’m thinking maybe no because I had been pretty clear that we were having a girls’ night out and then he still came over. That wasn’t cool.”
“Hmm,” I say.
“But I feel bad not calling. Maybe I shouldn’t take guys’ numbers and instead leave that decision up to them. I feel bad being the person who takes a number and doesn’t call. Even though I did intend to call in the moment.”
“Then maybe have one date and give him a second chance. I mean, maybe he really liked you and was worried you wouldn’t call.”
“How could he really like me?” Tessa asks. “We barely talked.”
“Well, that supports his point about wanting to talk to increase the chances of your calling him.”
“Ugh, so complicated,” Tessa says. “Okay, I’ll call him and invite him out for drinks next week.”
“Thanks for listening to me. How much was that session?”
“I’m not through with you yet. You should text William and make sure he knows you think this relationship does work.”
I slump down on the couch and bury my face in my hands. I’m so disappointed with myself. I do trust William, and I shouldn’t have spied on him. I didn’t mean to hurt him like that. I’ll apologize tomorrow in person at the art show—or at his apartment if he doesn’t show up.