Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
TESSA
“You look like you’re doing so much better.”
“Yeah, I know you just shared that there’s been some struggle for you lately, but it’s such a relief to see you like this.”
After our whole group of friends arrived at Chloe’s parents’ place, we’d taken time to eat together while Chloe and Hawk had filled us in on how her recovery had been going.
But once she’d shared, and everyone had gotten something to eat, Hawk seemed to sense Chloe wanted time alone with her girls.
So, he and the guys took off toward the kitchen to congregate there while the women stayed in the family room.
As soon as we were alone, Olivia and Savanna had said what we were all thinking.
Chloe was doing so much better. Considering it had been mere weeks ago that she was in the hospital fighting for her life, the simple fact that she was sitting up, laughing, and talking with us was a tremendous improvement.
“Thanks, ladies.”
“Well, I’m not surprised you’re doing so well,” Lark declared. “I mean, how could you not be with the way that man has been looking after you?”
Chloe’s lips curved into a smile. “In case you didn’t notice, Hawk has been doting on me nonstop.”
“We noticed,” Harper assured her. “I called to check in on you the one day, and I asked him what you needed. You’d been sleeping, and Hawk insisted he had it all covered. It’s so sweet.”
Mia sighed dreamily. “I love the way he loves her.”
“And I feel awful now,” Chloe said. “Because Hawk has been amazing. He’s been doing everything he can to help me out and make me happy. He even baked that cake in the kitchen with me. He’s trying so hard, and I feel like all I’m doing is giving him grief.”
“He adores you,” Savanna said. “I don’t think he minds that you’re having a tough time coping.”
Chloe nodded. “I know. He’s been so patient. And to know he made it so you all could visit with me here today has only made me fall that much harder for him. I don’t think I could love him more if I tried.”
“And I don’t think we could be happier for you if we tried,” Olivia told her.
Chloe smiled appreciatively. “I’m glad for that. But there’s one thing that’s been bothering me.”
“What is it?” Harper asked.
“Your birthday party.” Chloe sighed. “I’m so bummed I missed it.”
My sister waved her hand in the air dismissively. “Please don’t worry about it. I had a good time, but I can assure you it wasn’t the same without you. Plus, we’re all together now.”
“Which is why I was hoping to hear about it.” My friend’s eyes met mine, and something washed over her expression. “I heard that something happened that night, and I wasn’t there for you.”
I let out a deep breath. “I didn’t tell any of these girls that night. Lark didn’t know until we were back at work on Monday.”
“What happened?”
“I found out that Ryan was cheating on me.”
Chloe’s fingertips flew to her lips. “I’m so sorry, Tessa. How did… How did you find out?”
I swallowed past the painful tightening in my throat and took in the concerned and loving faces of the women around me.
Harper and Lark knew what had happened, and while the others knew something had gone down, they didn’t know the full story.
I wasn’t upset that they knew, that the news had traveled without me sharing directly.
That’s just how things were in this group, and these women cared about me. So, I decided it was time to share.
For the next little while, with the women who were all like sisters to me, I shared the truth of what happened the night of Harper’s birthday.
Unsurprisingly, they interjected with gasps of horror or words of anger when I’d shared certain specific details.
And when I’d finally shared all of it—all that pertained to Ryan and his infidelity, that is—they didn’t hesitate to offer words of encouragement and support.
“Oh, Tessa. How did you not say anything that night?” Savanna asked.
She’d barely gotten her question out when Mia said, “I can’t even imagine how devastated you must’ve been.”
Nodding, I said, “It was certainly a shock to the system, considering I foolishly believed he was the one.”
“Not for nothing,” Olivia began. “But I’m glad you appear to be in such good spirits. You’re doing much better than I would’ve expected.”
“Agreed,” Chloe added. “God, if Hawk cheated on me now, I think I’d be lost.”
“Probably because he is the one.” I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, my gaze dropping briefly to my lap. “I think what I’m realizing is that Ryan wasn’t that man for me.”
“Whatever you’re doing now to heal seems to be working,” Savanna said. “Just keep that up.”
Maybe it was time I shared the rest with them. They were likely going to find out anyway. “Well, I really can’t take all the credit. I’ve had help.”
“Lark,” Savanna stated, clearly believing it was my best friend who’d gotten me here.
“Yes, Lark has been a huge help, but that’s not it.”
Except for Lark and Harper, the rest of the girls were thoroughly confused. Mia asked, “What do you mean?”
“Someone else has been helping Tessa see that she deserves better,” Lark revealed with a smile.
Chloe’s eyes rounded. “Who is it?”
“Is it a guy?” Olivia pressed.
Mia asked, “Do we know him?”
From where I was seated in the living room, I had a clear line of sight to the kitchen. My eyes went there, landing on the devilishly handsome guy who’d rocked my world with that kiss yesterday.
“Wait a minute,” Savanna murmured. “Is he in the kitchen?”
“Who? What?” Chloe wondered.
“Is it…” Mia trailed off. “Well, it can’t be Taj, Hawk, Archer, or Phoenix.”
“So that means it’s either Ace or Kingston,” Olivia declared.
“My brother?” Chloe gasped.
“It’s my brother,” Lark shared. “Ace has been spending a lot of time with Tessa recently.”
Harper let out an audible sigh. “But don’t get your hopes up, ladies. Tessa has already insisted that they’re just friends.”
Savanna’s eyes met mine. “Is that true?”
“It was… until he kissed me yesterday.”
“What?!” Lark gasped. Her voice was loud enough that even the men looked in our direction.
“Don’t freak out,” I hissed. “It… Well, there was an incident.”
My sister leaned in. “What incident could’ve happened that led to Ace kissing you?”
Inhaling deeply, I braced for all that was going to come after I shared what happened at the café.
“Ace and I made plans to meet at the café after I got finished with a bridal party yesterday…” I went on to tell them how I’d arrived a few minutes before Ace and Ryan happened to be there.
Of course, I shared how Ryan was insistent on us getting together to talk and work things out because he believed he was a changed man.
And finally, I revealed that Ace showed up, acted like we were seeing one another, and whispered in my ear to play along before he kissed me.
“So, he was trying to get Ryan to see that you moved on,” Harper said.
I nodded. “Yes. That was part of it.”
“Part of it?”
“After Ryan left, Ace and I discussed it.”
“And?” Chloe might’ve asked, but every single woman sitting around me was eager for more information.
I licked my lips, glanced at him in the kitchen again, and shared, “And he told me he cares deeply about me, wants more with me, and understands I’ve just gotten out of a bad relationship.
He’s willing to wait until I’m ready, and if I don’t get there, he promised it wouldn’t change a thing about our friendship. ”
“Oh, my heart,” Mia practically sang. “I never thought about any of us ending up with any of them, but this makes me so happy.”
I expected nothing less than that response from Mia, the hopeless romantic of the group.
“How do you feel about Ace?” Olivia asked.
It was such a loaded question, but I knew that if I stood any chance of sorting out all that I was feeling, these were the women I could rely on to help me work through it.
“Those first few minutes after I heard that woman’s voice when I was on the phone with Ryan were gut-wrenching.
And in the immediate days after, I was so upset.
When I learned more about how long it had gone on, I was devastated.
But as I’ve kept my distance and spent time with Ace, I find that I don’t spend much time thinking about Ryan at all any longer.
In fact, I spend a lot of my time thinking about Ace.
It’ll be something he said or did to make me laugh.
Or, over the last twenty-four hours, it’s been about the way it felt to have him kiss me. ”
Savanna squealed with delight and clapped her hands. “So, the kiss was good?”
My eyes moved to Lark. “I’m sorry if this grosses you out.”
She held her hands up in surrender. “I’m not grossed out. Not yet anyway. And since nothing would make me happier than to see the two of you together, I want you to share whatever it is you need to share.”
With a gentle nod, I returned my attention to the group.
“The last thing I want to do is make comparisons, but I was with Ryan for eight months. We kissed a lot during that time. Not one of the many kisses I shared with Ryan ever made me feel the way Ace’s kiss did.
And Ace didn’t even get around to using his tongue. ”
“Okay. Yep. That would’ve been too much,” Lark blurted.
Laughter filled the air before Harper said, “Tessa, this sounds wonderful. Are you not happy about it?”
“I’m worried.”
“Why?”
Shaking my head as one reason after another filtered through, I explained, “I’ve just gotten out of a relationship. It can’t be good to just hop into another, even if the guy is consuming most of my thoughts.”
“Are you happy when you’re with him?” Mia asked.
I smiled. “I am.”
“And you said he wants something more than just friendship with you, right?” Savanna confirmed.
I gave her a nod.
“I don’t think there should be a problem,” Mia said. “Yes, you just got out of a relationship, but it clearly wasn’t right for you. Plus, you said it yourself. You don’t spend all your time down in the dumps over what Ryan did. Maybe it’s that way for a reason.”