Chapter 45
Chapter forty-five
Teddy
There’s a knock on the door, which is strange. Helen has her key, and I’m not expecting anyone else. I open it to find Gina standing there, eyes red-rimmed, like she’s been crying all day.
“Hi, Teddy.”
My stomach sinks. “Gina? What are you—?”
“Can I come in?” she cuts me off. “Please. It’s important.”
Everything in me screams no, but I step back. Old habits die hard, especially the polite ones my mother drilled into me.
Gina steps inside, takes one look at the enormous tree Helen’s mom had delivered, and lets out a sharp laugh. “Wow. Didn’t peg you as a tinsel guy.”
I don’t let her distract me. “What do you want?”
“I’ve been thinking about you, a lot.”
My spine stiffens. “There’s nothing to think about.”
“Yes, there is,” she insists. She steps closer, and it takes everything in me not to back away.
“I know you think I’m here to win you back, to beg you, but it’s not that.” Her hands flutter like she’s not sure what to do with them.
I narrow my eyes, suspicious. Gina’s rarely direct.
She usually gets her way with a lot of passive-aggressive back talk, but maybe I’m not the only one who has done some growing recently because she says, “I saw you at the boat parade with…her. I’ve known you a long time, Teddy.
I’ve never seen you look so, I don’t know, content? ”
My shoulders relax back into their normal position. “Thanks,” I say hesitantly. “That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here.”
Tears well in her eyes, but she dashes them away before they can fall. “I’ve been keeping a secret, and it’s eating me up.” She takes in a deep breath. “You know how Anthony and I’ve been together for the past couple of months?”
I nod and ease back to lean against the couch, the weight shifting off my bad leg. It’s doing better, but right now it feels like it might fold beneath me.
“A few weeks ago, he’d been drinking, and he said something that shook me.
” She sniffles, wiping away another tear.
“I should’ve told you right away, but, to be honest, I’ve been jealous.
I hated that you found your special person before I did.
I wanted Anthony to be that for me, and I couldn’t admit he’s done something wrong. ”
Now, I’m becoming alarmed. “What’d he do, Gina? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” My heart kicks. If he laid a hand on her, I swear to God I’ll fight him myself. No one hurts a woman while I’m around.
“No. No,” she corrects me quickly. “It’s not me he hurt. It’s you.”
I cock my head, not understanding. “Come again?”
“He left you in the ocean, Teddy. That night you almost died.”
My body goes still, muscles locking, while my mind sprints in every direction. Gina’s voice fades, drowned out by the phantom rush of waves in my ears, the crushing press of the water on my chest.
“You were both drunk and high, but that doesn’t excuse it.” Gina shakes her head, voice low. “He said he wanted to stop surfing. You didn’t. So he left you out there alone. I asked him, didn’t he know how dangerous that was?”
My throat works, but only one word comes out. “And?”
“He said he thought you’d be fine. That you’d follow, and if you didn’t, well, that was your problem.
You were a big boy. He didn’t realize how bad it was until later, and by then it was too late.
I would never have done that, and I’m sure Jamie would not have either.
We would have dragged you back with us, even if it was a fight.
” She breaks then, big shuddering sobs she hides behind her hands.
I don’t think. I just move. One step forward, and my arms go around her, solid and automatic.
“But I asked him about it,” I say to the top of her head. “I asked if he knew what happened that night.”
“I’m not surprised. I think he felt bad afterward, didn’t want to admit it, but that doesn’t change what he did,” she cries into my chest. “He’s been good to me, but how can I be with someone so careless?”
Heat spikes under my skin, rage curling tight in my chest. He knew.
He left me and then lied to my face about it.
My jaw aches from how hard I’m clenching it, arms tightening around Gina, as if that pressure can hold back the storm inside me.
For a second, I want to hunt Anthony down, to make him feel the same helpless terror I did when I woke up in the hospital with my leg shattered, my ribs broken.
There’s the click of a key in a lock. The door to the condo swings open, and Helen walks in. For a second, I forget how to breathe.
This looks bad. I know it.
Me holding my ex-girlfriend in front of my new girlfriend.
I brace myself for the tirade, the accusations. For Helen to demand answers, or at least dramatically throw a candy cane at my head, but instead she rushes over, her eyes wide with concern.
“Gina,” she cries out. “What’s wrong?”
To my absolute shock, Gina turns away from me and throws herself into Helen’s arms, sobbing even louder.
Helen staggers under the weight but catches herself quickly.
She holds Gina without hesitation, one arm around her shoulders, the other gently patting her back.
It hits me then that this is what Helen does.
She handles people in crisis. She steadies them when they can’t stand on their own.
She’s not just good at it. She’s incredible, and the craziest thing is that she’s mine.
This amazing woman chooses me. Wants me.
My chest swells with pride and with something far deeper as I watch her.
In between sobs, Gina repeats to Helen everything she just told me. Helen’s worried gaze meets mine as she guides Gina gently toward the couch. I trail behind them, then perch on the armrest, hands steepled between my knees.
Gina’s still crying, though it’s softened into hiccuping breaths. “I feel so stupid.”
Helen shakes her head, calm and steady. “You’re not stupid. You’re hurting.” Helen leans toward her and says, “What Anthony did to Teddy wasn’t just immature. It was dangerous.”
“I know.” Gina wipes her nose with her sleeve. “I wanted someone, even if it wasn’t the right one.”
I glance at Helen, and she meets my gaze. There’s this soft, unspoken look between us, something like relief that we don’t have to worry about that anymore. We’ve found the person who fits, the one we can trust.
Helen puts a hand over Gina’s. “Being with the wrong person out of fear or loneliness doesn’t make you weak, but staying after you know better? That’s different.”
Gina gazes sadly out the window. “I get what I need to do. I just hope I can do it.”
I nudge her toe with my shoe. “The fact you came over here proves you can.”
We sit in silence for a moment.
Gina’s fingers twist in the hem of her shirt. She glances between us, then settles her gaze on Helen.
“I owe you an apology,” she says, her voice shaky. “A real one.”
Helen blinks, clearly surprised. “You don’t have to—”
“No,” Gina cuts her off gently. “I do. I was awful to you that day outside your dance studio.”
“What?” I ask, having no idea what she’s talking about. “You two talked? When was this?”
Helen raises a hand without looking at me. “Teddy, please. We’re having a moment.”
I may not always be the brightest guy in the room, but I’m smart enough to know when to stay quiet. I shut up and just listen.
“When I found out you and Teddy were…whatever this is.” Gina waves her hand between Helen and me. “I hated it. I told myself it was too fast. That you didn’t get him.”
Gina looks down, shame coloring her expression. “That wasn’t about you, Helen. It was me not wanting to admit Teddy and I were over.”
Helen says nothing, just watching her without a hint of judgment.
“I was cruel,” Gina admits. “You didn’t deserve that. It’s been hard to admit you’re a better match for him than I ever was.” Gina swallows and meets Helen’s gaze. “I just needed to say something about it.”
Helen’s quiet for a long moment. Then she nods. “Thanks for that, and for telling Teddy the truth today. That took guts.”
Gina sniffles and nods, her tears slowing. “Well,” she says hesitantly, her eyes bouncing between Helen and me. “That’s all I came to say.” Her eyes drop to the floor. “I don’t want to take up any more of your time.” She stands and moves to the entryway while we follow her.
I open the door and stand aside awkwardly, not quite sure what to say. Gina’s already in the hallway when Helen brushes past me and steps outside.
“Hey, Gina?” she calls to Gina’s retreating back.
Slowly, Gina turns to face her.
“Do—do you maybe want to grab coffee sometime?” Helen asks hesitantly.
Gina’s eyes widen slightly, but after a tiny pause she nods her head. “Yeah. I’d like that. Thanks.”
Helen smiles, wide and bright. She gives a wave. “Okay. I’ll call you.”
Gina waves back and walks away with her shoulders a little straighter.
Once the door is closed, I grin at Helen. “Look at you,” I tease. “My social butterfly, making friends left and right.”
Her cheeks go pink. “It’s just coffee.”
“Mmm.” I sling an arm around her shoulders. “First coffee, then brunch, next thing I know you’re hosting dinner parties without me.”
She tilts her chin, pretending to think, lips twitching. “Guess you’ll just have to keep my attention, then.”
I grin, dropping my voice as I bend to kiss her. “Oh, I intend to.”