19 | Sixth Weekend Old Habits
TESSA
We didn’t talk much after what happened last night.
Not because we didn’t want to. More like neither of us knew how to touch it without breaking something.
Last night, under the soft blur of wine and moonlight, everything had felt simple. Obvious. I wanted him. He wanted me. The kiss had felt inevitable.
This morning, it didn’t.
In daylight, it felt unreal. Like something I’d imagined too vividly and then carried with me a little too long.
Still—there was today.
At least, that’s what I thought.
Until three in the afternoon when my phone buzzed.
Theo: I’m so sorry Tessa. Finance emergency. Client meltdown. I have to go back to the city.
I stared at the message, reading it twice.
Then another one came in.
Theo: I ordered a car for you at 7. It’ll take you home. I’m really sorry.
Something in my chest dropped.
Fast.
Sudden.
And just like that, I was sixteen again.
----
Homecoming Night
I’d been ready since four.
Hair curled. Makeup perfect. The dress I’d spent three months saving for hanging just right, like it had been worth it.
Theo was supposed to pick me up at six.
Six came.
Then six-fifteen.
Six-thirty.
I called. No answer.
By seven, I knew.
He wasn’t coming.
I sat on my bed in that stupid dress, hands folded in my lap, staring at nothing and trying not to cry hard enough to ruin my makeup.
My phone rang.
Melissa.
“Hey Tess, I heard about Theo. I’m so sorry.”
My stomach twisted. “How did you—”
“Ryan told me. He bailed on dance.” Her voice softened. “Listen, I’m going with Connor. Jake still needs a date. You should come with us. Don’t let that dress go to waste.”
I should have said no.
Should have asked why Theo hadn’t called me himself.
Should have demanded something that felt like an explanation.
Instead, I said yes.
Because sitting there alone felt worse than pretending I was fine.
----
I set my phone down and looked around my childhood bedroom again.
At the dress hanging on the back of the door.
At my makeup laid out on the dresser.
At everything I’d quietly expected tonight to be.
And just like that, last night shifted.
Not gone.
But thinner.
Like something that only made sense in the dark.
I’d put the dress on anyway. Done my makeup. Smiled where I needed to smile. Hugged relatives. Accepted compliments about how grown up I looked.
My parents were glowing.
Thirty years together, still reaching for each other without thinking, still laughing at the same things like no one else was listening.
I watched them for a moment longer than necessary, then looked away.
I didn’t want to think about Theo.
About the fact that he’d kissed me like it meant something and then disappeared the next day.
Again.
About how easily I’d believed it.
Again.
“Tessa!”
I turned.
Melissa was already crossing the lawn toward me, wine glass in hand, wearing something that looked effortless and expensive at the same time.
“Hey,” I said.
“Great party,” she said, glancing around. “Your parents are adorable.”
“Thanks.”
“Where’s Theo? I thought he’d be here.”
“Work emergency. He had to go back to the city.”
Something flickered across her face. Quick. Gone just as fast.
“That’s too bad.”
We stood there for a second too long.
Then—
“So,” she said lightly, “you two are really together now?”
“I—” I hesitated. “I don’t know. Maybe?”
She let out a soft laugh, edged just enough to catch.
“Wow. Okay.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” She took a sip of wine. “It’s just… you could’ve asked. Or talked to me, at least.”
“Asked what?”
“If it was okay. With me.”
“Melissa—”
“I told you I liked him. Remember?”
“That was years ago,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “We were kids.”
“Still.”
She shrugged, smiling like this was nothing.
“Would’ve been nice.”
Heat crept up my neck. She wasn’t wrong—but at the same time, it felt… ancient. Like something from a different life.
“But he was never interested in you,” I said. “I didn’t think I needed to ask.”
Her smile didn’t shift.
“It’s fine, Tess. I just thought we were friends.”
Something tightened in my chest.
“I’m sorry, Melissa. I didn’t think about it. And it just… happened. We didn’t plan it.”
A beat.
Then she softened—just slightly.
“I know.” She waved it off with a small smile. “I’m not actually mad. I’m just teasing you.”
“You don’t sound like you’re teasing.”
“I am.” She bumped her shoulder lightly into mine. “Relax. It’s fine. Really.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“Okay.”
She studied me for a second longer, something more thoughtful settling into her expression.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Aren’t you scared he’s going to disappear again?”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
“Like back then.” She shrugged, but her eyes stayed on me.
I looked away, toward the garden, the lights, anything that wasn’t her face.
“I don’t know,” I said quietly. “Maybe a little.”
A pause.
“I mean—” I exhaled. “He kind of already did. Today.” A small, humorless breath. “But I don’t want to overthink it.”
“Wow,” she said softly.
I looked at her.
“Already?” she added. “That doesn’t look great, Tess.”
Something tightened in my chest again.
“You think?”
She hesitated, like she was choosing her words carefully now.
“I don’t know,” she said finally. “I don’t want to ruin anything for you.” A small pause. “Just… be careful, okay?”
I held her gaze for a second.
Then nodded.
“Thanks.”
I stepped forward and hugged her quickly—light, polite.
“Thanks for telling me.”
“Of course.”
I pulled back.
And walked away before she could say anything else.
----
By seven, I was exhausted.
Smiling took effort. Small talk took effort. Holding everything together took effort.
I found my mom in the kitchen.
“I think I’m going to head out,” I said.
“Oh honey, you don’t have to—”
“I’m tired. And I have work tomorrow.”
She looked at me more carefully then.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I nodded once. “Just a long day.”
She pulled me into a hug.
“I’m glad you came.”
“Me too.”
That part, at least, was true.
The car was already waiting outside.
I was halfway across the lawn when I heard my name.
“Tessa! Wait!”
Melissa jogged up beside me.
“Is that your car?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh thank god.” She exhaled. “Mine canceled. Can I catch a ride? I’m heading back to the city anyway.”
I hesitated.
Too long.
She was already opening the door.
Already getting in.
So I followed.
The ride started quiet. The kind of quiet that felt intentional.
Then—
“So,” Melissa said, glancing at me. “Since we’re apparently not doing girl code anymore…”
I turned my head.
“Is it okay if I ask Charles out?”
“What?”
“Charles.” She watched me closely. “You and Theo seem to be… moving forward. So I figured—why not?”
For a second, something instinctive flared.
Then I actually thought about it.
Charles.
The cheating. The excuses. The way I’d felt small without understanding why.
Did I care?
No.
“Yeah,” I said slowly. “It’s fine.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
And I meant it.
“Just… be careful with him,” I added. “He’s not always what he seems.”
Melissa smiled.
“I can handle myself.”
“I’m sure you can.”
A few minutes later, my phone buzzed.
Theo: Packing list for Napa:
Theo: – Swimsuit
Theo: – Something nice for dinners (not too nice)
Theo: – Hiking shoes
Theo: – Sunscreen
Theo: – That blue dress
Despite everything, I smiled.
Me: You like my blue dress?
The reply came instantly.
Theo: I like you in your blue dress.
Heat rushed to my face.
Me: THEO.
I was smiling fully before I realized it.
“He’s charming when he wants to be,” Melissa said.
I looked up.
“What?”
“Theo.” She watched me, expression unreadable. “He can be very charming.”
There was something in the way she said it.
Something I didn’t like.
The car pulled up in front of my building. Melissa got out first.
“Thanks for the ride.”
“Sure.”
She didn’t look back.
I grabbed my bag, stepped out, then my phone buzzed again.
Theo: I haven’t stopped thinking about last night.
I stared at the screen.
Me: Good. Because I haven’t either.
Theo: And I won’t. Not until I can kiss you again.
I stared at the screen for a second.
Then—
Me: You could just come after work.
I hesitated before sending it.
Almost deleted that.
The reply didn’t come immediately.
That told me more than anything else.
Theo: I wish I could.
A beat.
Theo: I have to stay late. I need to get ahead before Napa.
Another message.
Theo: There’s a session I’m leading. I need to be ready.
I swallowed.
Me: Right. Of course.
Theo: Thursday.
Theo: I’ll make it up to you.
I stared at the words.
My chest tightened.
Me: You don’t have to.
Theo: I want to.
I didn’t reply.
I shouldn’t have sent it.
????
Did Melissa really have Tessa’s best interests at heart… or was she quietly planting doubts exactly where she knew they would grow?
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