Chapter 19
NINETEEN
TESSA
“So, it’s official?”
At Lark’s question, I gave her a nod and answered, “Yes, but it’s very new.”
“New? How do you figure that this is new, Tessa?”
Glancing over at her from the rack of dresses I’d been browsing through, I explained, “Well, Ace and I just decided on Friday to give this a shot. Today is only Sunday. It hasn’t even been a full forty-eight hours.”
My best friend burst into a fit of laughter. From where I was standing, there wasn’t a single thing that was funny. Of course, I was glad she found something amusing, but I didn’t have a clue what it was.
She picked me up this morning, so we could commence a day of shopping with one another.
And it didn’t take long for me to give her all the details of what happened after I left work on Friday.
Lark had been horrified to learn about me being run off the road, but she quickly got herself back on track, onto what she clearly believed was the best part of the entire story.
And as I finished telling her everything, explaining how Ace and I had decided to take things a step further between us, she was grinning from ear to ear.
Clearly, she’d been thrilled by our decision.
When she finally settled herself down, Lark said, “You’re joking, right? I mean, maybe you two only recently decided to make this the real deal, but this has been a lifetime in the making.”
“Pardon?”
Lark walked away from the dress she’d been eyeing for the last five minutes and moved in my direction.
She came to a stop just a few feet in front of me.
“Neither one of you was ready for it back then, and it’s obvious neither of you even realized it.
I’m not sure I did until recently, either.
But once I learned how Ace was helping you sort through your hurt over Ryan’s betrayal—going so far as to warn Ryan off you—it all hit me. ”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
A satisfied smile spread across her face.
“I thought back on all the time you and I spent together as kids. We were inseparable, so you know there were a lot of instances for me to recall. But a few stuck out to me. I think the first time it was obvious was when you and I had come back from getting our wedding day hair and makeup done while wearing veils. Ace looked at you like you were the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. ”
My throat tightened painfully as I realized what Lark was saying. “He told me I looked like a princess.”
“And he often called you that instead of Tessa from that point forward.” She returned her attention to the dresses.
“Of course, there were countless vacations our families went on together, but I know you remember that one when you and I were seventeen, and Ace was just about to turn twenty. He was still young, yes, but he was trying to build his career at that point. Ace should’ve been working on that, but he refused to miss that trip. ”
“He said he wanted one last family vacation,” I reasoned.
Lark cocked a brow. “Yeah? And who did he consistently go out of his way to spend time with on that trip?”
Oh, God. Oh, God, she was right.
My lips parted, and I stood there, staring at her in disbelief.
“I can see that you’re finally getting it.
” She pulled a dress off the rack, held it up, and inspected it.
Considering it as one of her options, she draped it over her arm and continued her search.
“But in case you’re still struggling, why don’t you think about it like this?
You suffered the worst kind of betrayal when you learned that Ryan had been cheating on you.
That was about a month ago. If you and Ace didn’t have the relationship you already had, if he wasn’t someone you knew you could trust implicitly, there isn’t a chance in hell that you would’ve been able to get involved with him like this.
Not after what Ryan did. Ace made you feel safe because you knew he was safe.
You knew he’d never do to you what Ryan did. ”
She was right about that much. “That’s sort of been nagging at me, Lark.”
“What?”
“A small part of me was worried that what happened between Ace and me was far too soon after things ended with Ryan.” I shrugged. “I don’t know. You aren’t worried that I’m just looking for comfort?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s such a bummer that you had to go through what you did with Ryan. I hate that for you. But maybe that’s what had to happen for you and Ace to see what’s been between you all these years. You’ve already proven to yourself what he is to you.”
“What do you mean?”
She shot me an incredulous look. “Tessa, someone ran you off the road in a crazy act of road rage. You didn’t call your dad or your brother, both of whom would’ve been there for you in a heartbeat.
You called Ace, the man who’d make you feel safe after such a terrifying incident.
A man you knew you could trust to be there for you.
You got worked up earlier when you told me how Ace has such confidence about the future for the two of you.
From where I’m standing, you’ve got that same confidence. ”
Those words seeped in, hit me square in my chest, and warmth spread through me. Warmth and relief that she could see this was something real for both Ace and me. I smiled at her. “Thanks, Lark. You’re the best friend in the whole world.”
“Yeah, I know. You really are so lucky to have me,” she teased.
“Am I ever going to get the chance?”
“For what?”
“To show you how good of a friend I can be to you?”
She squinted at me, clearly attempting to figure out where I was heading with this conversation. “You already do.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know. But I meant that it’d be nice to talk to you about the guy in your life.”
“I don’t have one.”
“Precisely the reason behind my question. When am I going to get the chance?”
Lark shrugged. “When my guy decides he can no longer live without me in his life, I guess.”
After adding three more dresses to the pile of those I intended to try on, I let out a sigh. “It makes no sense to me. You’re the most beautiful girl in the world, Lark. How could he not have found you yet?”
“I have no idea. Let’s just hope he hasn’t already found me and decided I wasn’t worth the trouble.”
“He’s a fool if that’s the case.”
She smiled at me. “Are you ready to go try these on?”
I nodded.
Then Lark and I hauled ourselves and more dresses than were reasonable to the fitting room.
We found some we liked, bought them, and continued to make our way through the mall, stopping at all our favorite stores.
We had the best time together—as we always did—and it wasn’t until hours later, approaching dinnertime, when we finally made our way out to her car.
Lark drove me home, and with multiple bags hanging from my arms, I waved at her from my front door. As she took off, I shoved the key into my door and stepped inside. I didn’t make it more than a few feet before I realized that something was wrong. That smell wasn’t right.
Quickly, I backed out of the house, closing the door behind me. Then I pulled out my phone and called the fire department before I called Ace.
“I wondered if I was going to hear from you today,” he greeted me. The happiness in his tone warmed my heart. “Are you and Lark done blowing all your money?”
“Ace, I need you,” I rasped.
Immediately, he was on alert. “Where are you?”
“Home. Well, outside my home.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Lark just dropped me off, and I went inside, but I came right back outside when I was smacked in the face by the overwhelming smell of sulfur. Something’s not right.”
“Shit,” he hissed. I heard some rustling in the background. “Did you call the gas company?”
“The gas company isn’t exactly saved in my phone,” I revealed. “I called 911 and requested the fire department.”
“Alright. I’m on the way. You stay outside as far from the house as possible. Do not go back inside unless someone from the fire department or gas company tells you that it’s safe. I’ll be right there.”
Safe. Safe. Why was I suddenly feeling so unsafe? First, my car. Now, this. “Okay.”
Ace must’ve sensed my distress, because he promised, “I’m coming, Princess.”
Nodding, I whispered, “I know.”
While I waited for Ace to arrive, my mind spiraled a bit. Was it strange that I was praying the experts would come in, sweep the home, and tell me everything was fine? I’d look like a crazy woman, but I’d have preferred that to the alternative.
That wouldn’t happen. The smell was too strong. So the next best alternative would be them telling me that I’d called just in time, because there was a leak from some crack in a pipe or something like that.
Random. This had to be random.
I stood there, holding my bags for a long time—at least, it felt like an eternity—until the first responders arrived. I told them what I knew; the words coming out even though I felt like I was in a haze. Then I waited even longer while they did what they had to do.
Eventually, finally, a big body pressed into me from behind as strong arms wrapped around me. Without hesitation, I spun around and plastered myself to him. With my arms still loaded with my purchases, I couldn’t hold on to him the way I wanted to, but I did the best I could.
“Have they told you anything yet?” he asked.
I shook my head, burying my face deeper into his chest. Ace sensed what I needed and held on just a bit tighter.
After a while—I no longer had any sense of time—a gentleman I assumed was from the gas company and a police officer walked up to us. “Is this your place?” the officer asked Ace.
“It’s hers,” Ace replied.
I twisted my neck to look at the men, and when they had my attention, the guy who wasn’t the officer asked, “When was the last time you cooked?”
A crease formed between my brows. “Pardon?”
“Did you use your stove this morning for breakfast?”
I shook my head. “No. I popped a bagel in the toaster.”
“And you live alone?”
That question came from the officer. “Yes.”