Chapter Twelve
Tessa found Michelle at the nurse’s station the next day. “Hey, girl. Is there a chance we can get together after work?”
Michelle studied her. “Of course. What’s going on?”
“Let’s talk about that later. Okay?”
Michelle hugged her. “All right. I’ll meet you in the lounge, and we’ll go to my house. Is that okay?”
Tessa nodded. “Should we pick up some wine on the way there?”
“If it’s okay, I’ll have Nicole pick some up and meet us at my house. Is it all right that she’s there?”
“Yes. That would be great. I need any advice I can get,” Tessa said.
Michelle squeezed her arm. “I’ll see you soon.”
Tessa nodded and walked the other way. The next few hours seemed to drag. She knew part of it was lack of sleep, but also how miserable she felt about the discord in her relationship. When Dominik woke her in the middle of the night and made love to her, she felt herself relax, but when she felt the same turmoil from him when they got up the next morning, she grew anxious.
The ride to the hospital that morning was mostly in silence. It helped a bit that he still held her hand and kissed her breathlessly when they got to her floor, but not enough to keep the worry that things had changed between them and that they might not be able to go back to what it was.
When the shift change came, Tessa collected her things and waited for Michelle.
“I’m sorry,” Michelle said as she hustled in.
“Don’t be. We had many patients today,” Tessa said.
Michelle pulled out her bag. “I’m having David walk us to my car. It’s just an extra precaution.”
“That’s fine.”
The three talked as they walked out to the parking lot. David, the security guard, waited until they left before heading back into the hospital.
They stopped at the light. “I asked Nicole to pick up Chinese and the wine.”
“That’s sounds good,” Tessa said. “I didn’t get any time for lunch.”
“Me either, and I’m starving.”
They pulled up to Michelle’s small house and walked in. After locking the door behind them, Michelle headed to the back of her house. “I’m going to change. I’ll be right back.”
“I brought a change of clothes, too.”
“Use the hallway bathroom, and I’ll meet you in the living room,” Michelle said.
Tessa quickly changed into old jeans and a t-shirt before she stuffed her work clothes into the bag, and then washed her face and hands.
When she got to the living room, Michelle set glasses and plates down on the low sofa table. Not five minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
Michelle looked out the window before opening it. Nicole rushed in with several bags.
Tessa grinned. “What in the world did you get?”
Nicole chuckled and set everything down on the table. “Besides a couple of bottles of wine and the Chinese, I stopped by Betty’s Bakery and got some brownies. We can’t have a girls’ night without chocolate.”
Tessa groaned. She hadn’t had them in a long time and was now salivating. The gooey fudge brownies were so good she could have eaten them every day.
The three sat around and consumed one bottle of wine with dinner. After they had eaten, they lounged around and drank a second bottle of wine while picking at their brownies.
“Talk to us,” Michelle said.
Tessa thought she should probably stop drinking because her buzz was quickly becoming intoxication. But she couldn’t. She felt more relaxed than she had in a while. Most of it had to do with the wine, but being with her friends was always fun.
She explained that Dominik had come up behind them when Dr. Farley was trying to flirt with her.
Nicole laughed. “Oh, God, I wish I could have seen his face when he saw Dominik.”
Tessa grinned. “It was hilarious. What was also funny was the way he stayed as far away from me as he could today and didn’t talk to me unless it was necessary.”
“Good, that bastard has made it hard for several of us. Maybe Dominik scared him enough to stay away from all the women.”
Tessa nodded. “I think he did.”
Tessa went on to talk about the woman in the elevator and the ride home, how the night went slowly downhill, and how she went to bed alone for the first time she and Dominik had been together.
“What do you think is bothering him so much?” Michelle asked.
“I’m not positive, but he acted like he had thought about children but didn’t want them with me.”
The feeling of despair was still fresh.
“I can’t believe that,” Nicole said. “That man loves you more than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
“I think he loves me, but I’m not positive. He said a few things the first night we were together but nothing about feelings or the future since,” Tessa told them.
“Guys are such pussies,” Michelle growled.
Tessa and Nicole burst out laughing. The three didn’t drink very often and were all feeling buzzed and loose.
Nicole raised her glass. “I agree with that.”
Tessa just snorted and took another drink. “What should I do?”
“Could you just ask him what the problem is?” Nicole asked.
Tessa thought about it for a minute. “I don’t know. I’m afraid of the answer. What if he’s with me until Pierce is caught?”
“He asked you to move in with him,” Michelle said.
“Yes, but the way he phrased it was because his house had better security and a bigger bed. Nothing has been said about making it permanent.”
The three sat in silence for a minute.
“God, I don’t know what I’d do,” Nicole confessed.
Michelle patted her arm. “I say give it time. You guys have only been together for a little over four months.”
Tessa nodded. “I’m planning on it, but I hate the awkwardness between us, and I don’t know how to change it.”
“Act normal,” Nicole said. “Try to put it out of your mind for now. Put all your feelings out there. You don’t have to say anything. I think the actions will speak for themselves.”
Michelle nodded. “I agree.”
“I’m horrible at pretending or lying,” she said.
“Don’t think of it like that,” Michelle said. “Think of it as keeping the peace for now.”
Tessa thought about it for a moment and nodded. “Yeah. I’ll try that. I’m glad we got together tonight.”
“I am, too. We need to do this at least once a month,” Nicole said.
Tessa smiled. “I’d like that. How about my place in a few weeks?”
“Sounds good,” Michelle said and poured the last of the wine into everyone’s glass.
Tessa had just finished her brownie and wine when someone knocked on the door. All three women stiffened until Tessa remembered Dominik was coming to pick her up.
“It’s okay. It’s Dominik. I didn’t realize it was already nine,” Tessa said and stood. She gasped as the room spun, and she bent to grab onto the sofa. “Whoa, I’m wasted,” she said and then giggled.
The other two giggled and slowly tried to stand. Michelle finally got over to the door.
“Who’s there?” she asked.
“It’s me, Dominik.”
Michelle unlocked and opened the door.
Tessa saw him step into the house, and the room suddenly felt very small. She was still trying to get her balance as she picked up her bag and giggled again when she swayed.
Dominik was by her side within a second, holding onto her. “How much did you have to drink, girls?”
“Just two bottles,” Nicole said and then laughed.
Tessa saw Dominik frown.
“Nicole, how are you getting home?” he asked.
“I’m crashing here,” Nicole said.
“We can take you home, too.”
She shook her head. “No, but thank you. Michelle has a spare room.”
“All right. I’ll get Tessa out of here so you guys can go to sleep. If you need anything, call us,” he said.
Tessa had her arms around his waist. He tightened his grip on her and used his other hand to carry her bag.
“Good night, guys,” Tessa said.
“Night,” the other two called out.
Dominik got her into the truck and put her seat belt on. By the time he climbed in, she was out.