“Well, it’s quitting time anyway. Go home and shower first.”
“Planning to.”
I head home to have the dreaded conversation.
“I have some news... Where are you?” I ask, my voice carrying from the living room.
Emily replies, “In the kitchen.”
The aroma of whatever concoction Tessa has cooked this time and the laughter from Emily make me stop for a minute. This could very well be the last night I get to enjoy this, and I’m going to soak it in.
“How was work?” Tessa asks as I sit down at the table.
I shrug my shoulder. “Uneventful, but the duplexes are officially ready.”
“We’re leaving?” Emily asks, staring up at her mom.
Tessa brushes her hand through her hair. “It was going to happen eventually, sweetie. We can’t stay here forever. It’s just not logical.”
“I didn’t say you had to leave. You’re more than welcome to stay here as long as you like. But if you feel you need to go somewhere else, the duplex will be there waiting for you,” I say, keeping my eyes focused on the floor. I can’t make direct eye contact with her because then she will be able to see how much this is killing me inside.
“Please. We can stay. He just said so,” Emily says, running over to me and engulfing me in a hug. “I never want to leave. Damon’s my best friend. Why can’t we just stay here forever?”
The tears start leaking from everybody’s eyes. I wish nothing more than to have them next to me all the time.
“Emily, why don’t you go get ready for bed and lie down so we can talk for a minute.”
She stomps off to the bedroom.
Tessa wipes her eyes and takes a drink of her wine. “Listen, we have both enjoyed staying here, and your company, but I can’t keep going down this road. Emily’s becoming attached to you... and so am I...”
Without words, her body language and glances tell me all I need to know. “Tess—”
“No, please. Let me finish.” She cuts me off. “I know you’re not ready, and again I understand. But I can’t keep waking up in the same house as you every morning and going to bed every night with you in the next room. It would be easier if we were living separately, more like friends, since that’s what you want to be.”
I want to pull her close, apologize for my idiocy, and tell her how every time she smiles at me, my heart beats faster. “I completely understand. You and Emily have completely brightened up my life since you stepped in it...”
“And...”
“I guess what I am trying to say is...” I can’t find the right words, so instead I get a little bit closer to her, and say, “I’d like to show you.”
My lips touch hers and there isn’t time to stop. Even though I’ve been in denial, this is exactly what I need. Her.
“You should think about this,” Tessa says, easily backing away.
“What do you mean?” I shake my head.
“Are you absolutely sure you want to be with me? No more rejections. You have to open up to me all the way, and let us in. For all three of our sakes.”
Right now, all I can think about is getting closer, rubbing my nose along her neck and taking in that sweet lavender scent. Her beautiful green eyes captivate me, and I can’t seem to get enough of her. I keep asking myself if I should back away and give it some time to see if it’s just us living together making these feelings appear or if she is supposed to become a huge part of my life. I hope for the latter because Tessa is one hell of a woman. Just thinking about someone else touching her makes my knuckles turn white.
“Tess, it’s you. Ever since I saw you in that grocery store, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. It’s time for me to move on and follow my heart.”
It is only moments later that she begins to scoot closer on the couch to me. Come on, a little more. Her eyes keep darting from my lower half to my eyes, and I can tell she is obviously thinking along the same lines as me.
What am I waiting for? Just fucking do it, you pussy. Get in there and get your girl.
My lips land on hers as they part and invite my tongue inside, leaving my hands caressing her back as they skim down her spine.