Chapter 40
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Andrew
“I’m not your personal chauffeur you know,” I snap bitterly as I drive my sister to her abandoned car.
“Jeez, cranky much?”
“What makes you so special? Why is Tessa hanging out with you all of a sudden after she told us to get bent?”
I’ve tried to be understanding and supportive, but this is bullshit.
“Well for one, I kind of blindsided her when Ma gave the heads up that she took off in the middle of the night. It’s not like she invited me over for pedicures and gossip for Christ’s sake.”
I snort at the image of Tessa doing anything so girly. “So is she done being stubborn and trying to shoulder all this shit by herself?”
She shrugs. “I hope? I honestly have no clue, you know how she is, bro.”
I park next to her car and look up to the ceiling with a deep sigh. “It’s not supposed to be this difficult, Marybeth.”
“What, love? Says who?” she scoffs.
“Easy, our parents. Remember how we always swore that we would find that kind of love? Look at me now, constantly chasing a girl who seems to go up in smoke as soon as I reach her.”
Her eyes slide to look out the window and across the lake. “Even they had their struggles Andrew, no relationship is perfect.”
“Bullshit.” She makes a move to open the car door, but I place my hand on her arm. “Wait, what do you know?” I ask with a tilt of my head.
“Drew, c’mon. You’ve always had this beautiful ideal of Mom and Dad’s marriage, I don’t want to be the one to ruin it.”
“Mary-Elizabeth, spit it out,” I warn.
She blows a strand of hair out of her face in frustration. “Fine. You want to hear that Dad cheated on Mom?”
My head kicks back like I’ve been struck. “No way in hell, Dad would never.”
“Yup, I guess it was when they were in college or something. Years before they were married. He got drunk at a party and one thing led to another. . .”
I close my eyes and run a hand through my hair. “Poor Mom. Wait, how did you know this? Why didn’t she dump his ass?” I seethe.
“I overheard Mom talking about it when her old college roommate was visiting. She did leave him, dumped his ass on the spot, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He knew he messed up, so he decided he would spend the rest of his life making it up to her. He showed up at her room with flowers every day for two months, until she finally let him in. Two freaking months, he would knock, tell her how sorry he was and how much he loved her through the door, then he’d leave. She forgave him, and the rest is history. Look, I’m not trying to burst your bubble, but not all love is a frolic through the park. Sometimes it’s a treacherous excursion through the jungle. You found your dik-dik Andrew.
“What did you call me?”
“No stupid, a dik-dik is that cute little African animal I did a research project on freshman year. They mate for life, also they mark their territory with tears. I mean if that ain’t yours and Tessa’s entire relationship, then I don’t know what is.” She sniggers.
“Could you please stop saying it?”
“What, dik-dik?”
“Alright, time to leave. Goodbye Marybeth.” I push on her arm until she laughs and swings the car door open. I raise an eyebrow when she moves around to the back of the car. From the rearview mirror, I watch as she sticks a finger on the dusty window and writes “dik-dik” with a heart around it.
“Come on!” I shout, as she skips back over to her car and zooms away.
I thrum my fingers on the steering wheel as I contemplate my next move. I should go to her right this second. She can’t just tell me to stay away, she’s shouldn’t be alone, not at a time like this.
Fuck it.
She wants some space? Too bad. I need to be there for her, and she can’t just shut herself off to the world. She’s my girl, and we will figure this out together, as a team.
I spin out of the parking lot and head to my parent’s house. I don’t see Sparkles, but that doesn’t mean the Prius isn’t tucked away in the garage. Thankful I hung on to my old house key, I unlock the front door and step inside. The house is quiet, but it’s still pretty early. Mom will be teaching, and Dad is likely at the office, working on his big case. I know from them that Tessa doesn’t go back to work until next week, so fingers crossed she’s home.
I turn to climb the stairs up to her room, but on a hunch decide to continue to the back of the house. Glancing outside, I do a quick scan of the yard and spot her underneath the old maple tree. She’s stretched out like a cat, and there’s a peek of skin where her shirt has ridden up. Tiny black shorts show off her long legs, and freed from shoes, her little toes wiggle back and forth in the grass. Her arms prop up a thick book, eyes scanning back and forth as she reads, completely lost in a fictional world.
I can’t count how many times I found her reading in this exact position when we were kids.
Adorable or not, I’m here on business. I take a deep breath as I give myself a pep talk.
Now listen here. . . you’re my girl and we are going to get through this together. . . no more hiding. . . No. I said listen woman!
I throw open the door and stomp outside until I am looking down at her pretty lips parted in quiet surprise.
“Now, listen here, Kinsley. I know that you are trying to process everything, and I know you have been through hell and back, but that does not mean you get to cut me out. You’re my girl, Tessa, we’re a team and—”
“Andrew, I—”
“No woman, I said listen!” Her jaw snaps shut, and I give myself a mental pat on the back. “I love you so much it fucking hurts, and every day you shut me out I can’t eat, can’t sleep, I’m making myself sick with worry about you after what those monsters did to you. Please stop pushing me away. I missed you, and I need you right now just as much as I know you need me. Let me help you, baby, just like when we were kids and I would keep the demons at bay, let me do that now.”
Blue eyes never leave mine as she gets to her feet. “Are you done?” she asks with an eyebrow raised. I nod roughly, preparing myself for whatever argument she throws my way.
“What I was going to say before I was cut off is, I’m sorry for being an idiot, and I wanted to know if you would spend the day with me?” The corner of her mouth tilts up in a small smile.
Wait, what?
“So, wait, you’re not going to argue with me on this?” I ask slowly.
Is this one of those woman traps?
“No. I mean, I can if you really want.” Her grin widens. “You’re pretty sexy when you try to tell me what to do.”
“What do you mean try? I wasn’t leaving here without a yes.” My eyes narrow when she laughs out right.
“Just kiss me already.”
I hold out my arms, and she jumps into them with a squeal, wrapping her legs tightly around my lower back. She looks down at me with a smile so beautiful it makes me dizzy. Her bump presses against me, and I know that I now hold my whole future in my arms.
We kiss like it’s the first time, and I savor every second of the way her soft lips feel against mine. When she finally breaks away, I gaze into her ocean blue eyes. “I’m never letting you out of my sight again, you hear me?” I growl.
She gives me a sad smile. “Promise?” I nod and kiss her cheeks, forehead, and the tip of her nose, making her giggle.
Tessa Kinsley is not like any girl I’ve ever met, or likely ever will. Like some sort of abstract shape, she has so many sides and angles. Some face out for the world to see, and others fold in, hidden away. It’s daunting at times, downright confusing at others, but I have come to accept that it’s what makes her so unique. Of all her hidden sides, this is the one I treasure the most, the little girl in her who thought a real prince was in her yard, rather than just a dirty boy; who now giggles as she balances on the balls of her bare feet to give me another kiss.
I love her more than I thought it was possible to love someone, and I know what I have to do.
“Later today, I am going to take you out, anywhere you want to go,” I whisper against her cheek.
“What will we do in the meantime?” she asks with a sly smile.
“As much as I want to do that, we have to talk.”
She breathes in sharp through her nose and her hands go around her bump. “So, the baby elephant in the room?”
I chuckle but shake my head. Her head tilts in confusion. “We can’t talk about that, or our future, or anything, until I know everything. From beginning to end, I need your full story, Tessa Kinsley.”
Her smile drops as she takes a step back. “No.”
“You have told pieces to me, my sister, and to Chase. But I don’t think a single other soul knows the full story. You have to be able to tell someone, Tess, and I’m right here, volunteering. I want to know everything about you, each moment that I missed, from every scar to every smile.” I move to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, but she shoves my hand away.
“There’s a reason I haven’t told you, or anyone. It’s not a fucking fairytale, it’s a nightmare. A bloodstain you will never be able to wash clean from your mind. I live with my ghosts, I have even become friends with some of them, but I refuse to let them haunt you.”
“You’ve carried this burden, all the weight of your horrors on your back for so long. Let me share the burden with you, sweetheart.”
Her eyes glitter with unshed tears. “You’re not going to budge on this are you?”
I don’t answer, and I can tell by the defeated look in her eyes, she didn’t really expect me to. It’s a beautiful day outside, so I lie down on the grass and nod my head for her to join me.
She rests her head on my chest, and after a few minutes of listening to a breeze rustle the leaves of the branches above, she begins to weave a sad tale of darkness and despair.
“When I was eight years old, I met a prince. . .”