Chapter 37
37
GRANT
The door clicked closed behind me and I dropped into my chair, leaning my face into my hands and pressing my fingers into my forehead. I’d told myself to let Dad deal with Tessa’s medical care, but I’d known I wouldn’t be able to stay away completely. I needed to make sure she was okay—I needed to see for myself. Of course I’d known seeing her would be hard, but I’d underestimated, because seeing Tessa today hadn’t been hard, it’d been impossible.
She’d been nearly back to her normal self, and she’d said things?—
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. I couldn’t afford to read into her words today. As agonizing as it had been without her these past few days, I didn’t know if I could trust her. I didn’t know if she was willing to trust me. All I knew for sure was giving up Tessa had been the hardest thing I’d ever done. If she called me this instant, I’d forget everything. I wasn’t kidding when I told her I’d be her secret forever just to have her, I was that desperate now.
I glanced down at my watch. I had an appointment in five minutes and tonight was our late night. I couldn’t sit around in here feeling sorry for myself. I pushed up and away from my desk, smoothing my hair and clothes and heading back out into the office.
It was 7:30 when my phone dinged with a text. I glanced at the little stand that held my phone, picking it up as soon as I saw who it was from.
Tessa: Are you still at work?
I looked down at the paperwork in front of me. It could all wait until tomorrow.
Grant: I could leave now. Where are you?
Tessa: Are you at work? Stay there. I’ll be there in 5.
Grant: ok
I finished the chart I was on, just so I didn’t forget what I was doing, then stacked them neatly, closing my computer and walking to the front of the office. Bridgeport Lights remained on the trees, making the sidewalks look festive even though it was nearly February, but aside from the lights on the trees the sidewalk was completely empty. I jammed my hands in my pockets, pacing the small waiting area, not entirely sure what I was waiting for.
And then there was a flash of lights as a car pulled into the lot, and I walked straight out of the door and onto the sidewalk, incapable of waiting a moment longer. Tessa slipped out of the car and began to walk in my direction. My feet moved of their own accord, meeting her in the middle, desperate to be closer.
She stopped a couple feet away, just far enough that I couldn’t pull her to me. The car that had brought her pulled out of the lot and drove away, and then it was just Tessa and me. “I’m sorry,” she said.
I swallowed hard, not sure what was coming next and how much I would need to brace myself for it.
“A little part of me always worried you’d get sick of me,” she said.
“Never,” I breathed out, and the ghost of a smile tilted her lips.
“I’ve never loved someone like this before—I’ve never had the experience of feeling more like myself with another person than when I’m alone.”
“Me neither.”
“And I realized I couldn’t trade that,” she said. The words were promising, but I waited for her to clarify. “Trying to keep you secret and protect myself from hurt or embarrassment might’ve felt safer, but not if the cost was losing you.”
“You haven’t lost me.”
“Good,” she replied. “Nora and I drove out to Claire and Emily and I told them everything. The wedding, the dating, falling in love…everything.”
My lips curled into a crooked grin. “John Legend?”
She laughed. “Okay, not everything. Some things are just for us.”
I took a step closer, but still we didn’t touch.
“And I didn’t mention Hudson knowing about us—oh my God, I have to tell you about Hudson—and Jock!”
I shook my head, taking a step closer. “Later,” I said.
She was looking up at me, long lashes blinking over wide eyes. “Later,” she agreed.
“What do you think about coming over to my house?”
“I would love that, but first…”
“First?” I prompted.
She swallowed hard and said, “Kiss me.”
I looked around us. No one was out, but that didn’t mean we had any privacy. This town had eyes. “Here?”
She threw her arms around my neck, lifting on tiptoe and slanting her lips over mine. I caught her easily, holding her with a hand on her back while I slid my other hand along her jaw and tilted her head back. Her grip tightened, pulling me closer, her kisses rough and needy, and I pulled back to slow her down. “Everywhere,” she whispered. “I want every woman in this town to know you’re mine.”
“I’ve been yours since our first kiss, Tess. I love you.”
She nodded. “I love you, too. Take me home.”
“Stay right here. I need to lock up the office.”
“I’ll walk with you,” she said, lacing her fingers through mine and falling into step next to me. I slipped out my key at the door and twisted the lock, tossing the jumble of keys back in my pocket and catching her chin once more to land a soft kiss on her lips. “Hey Grant?” she asked as our lips parted.
“Hmm?”
“It felt weird to ask my doctor today—because he’s your dad—but am I cleared to have sex yet?”
I laughed as we turned away from the office and headed back toward my car. “I’ll get you set up with Dr. Gwynn next week, okay? It is a little weird to see my dad.”
“Is that a yes?”
I grinned down at her, swinging open the passenger side door but still holding her hand in mine. “‘Fraid not. Another two weeks, probably. However…”
Her brow shot up. “However?”
I leaned in close, kissing her jaw then behind her ear. My voice was low as I replied, “You’re cleared to have an orgasm, just not penetrative sex, so maybe once we’re in that bed we can try some things out.”