Chapter 7
Instinct told Teddy that if he wanted his balls to remain intact, he should refrain from suggesting Jessica had looked like she needed help.
Besides, he still wasn’t sure what had possessed him to weave through the tables and fling his arm around Jessica and say those things. Teddy James hadn’t called anyone his girlfriend ever since Sarah, and that was ancient history.
“I’m having a weird week,” he said. “I had to tell my boss I was dating someone and—”
Jessica’s blue eyes narrowed, and clearly, that was the wrong thing to say. Suddenly, it was like he was back in Lena’s front yard, trying to hold on to his dignity.
“—never mind,” he mumbled.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Teddy. That sounds super rough.
Did you need to be a hero so you could feel better about yourself?
” The exasperation in Jessica’s tone was enough to make him step back, shove his hands in the pockets of the black trousers he’d worn to work and then to the pub.
He’d never heard her speak to anyone like that.
“I get it. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You think? Now Rob and everyone else in Wattle Junction thinks we’re dating! Your mum was there. And the rest of the Old Girls. God. And Rob was proposing to me!”
Does she want to marry Rob?
He opened and closed his mouth, his lips settling into a grimace. “You didn’t look like you were going to say yes.”
“Of course I wasn’t, but do I look like someone who needs a man to solve their problems for them? My family situation is already complicated, and you’ve just made it a million times worse. What if someone says something to Sam?”
Teddy hung his head. Shit. He really hadn’t thought this through now, or when he’d lied to Dr Nolan and Kylee.
“I didn’t think of Sam. I’m sorry.”
Jessica’s huff made him cringe.
“That’s a luxury for someone who doesn’t have a child. I can’t believe you.”
“Can’t you tell Rob that it was a joke? Blame me. Fuck knows it’s all my fault.”
Jessica continued to glower at him. “Rob wants us to move to Sydney.”
The thought of Jessica leaving made Teddy immediately sad. Which was odd, right?
“I’m guessing you don’t?”
She rolled her eyes, and Teddy winced. He wasn’t kicking any goals tonight.
“I’ll go find Rob now. Explain everything.” It’d be awkward as fuck, but he’d do it. And then afterwards, Teddy would give himself a proper talking to because something had to give. The universe was clearly trying to tell him it was time to stop mucking around, intentionally and unintentionally.
“No. That’ll just make things worse, and I can’t afford to get him offside right now.” A shadow passed over Jessica’s eyes, and when she blinked, all her anger had been replaced with something that made Teddy’s chest hurt. “I asked if he’d fight me to take Sam, and he didn’t say no.”
“Do you want me to call Owen? He’ll give you some advice.” His brother had managed Jessica’s custody case years ago.
“I know you mean well, but please stop trying to solve all my problems for me, Teddy. I’ll figure this out.” Jessica’s phone rang, and she cursed when she looked at the screen.
“You need to get that?”
“It’s my mother.”
Teddy motioned for her to go ahead, but Jessica silenced the call, shoving her phone into the back pocket of her jeans. “I can’t cope with her right now,” she said.
Teddy gestured to the stairs that led to his flat. “Seems like you could do with a drink. Take your mind off things. You want to come up?”
Jessica raised her eyebrows. And Teddy heard what he’d just said. Jesus.
“No, not like that. I was being friendly, Jessica. Nothing more. I swear. I wouldn’t.”
Her mouth dropped open. Excellent. Now he’d managed to offend her too. Just when Teddy thought he couldn’t balls this up anymore, he did.
“All I meant was you’re clearly too good for me.”
She looked up at his flat and for a second—just one—he thought she was going to say yes.
“I have to go,” Jessica said. “I have work to do.”
“It’s almost nine.”
“And I have a kid to provide for and a custody battle to prepare for. I’m going to need every dollar I can scrounge together.”
“I’m sure Owen would—”
“I don’t need anyone’s charity, Teddy,” she added in a deflated tone.
Once Jessica had left, Teddy sank onto one of the steps and cradled his head in his hands.
Why did he keep fucking everything up?
There was an obvious solution. Teddy needed to stop.
No more rushing into things without considering the consequences.
No more jokes.
No more casual sex.
It was time to grow up.