Tessa

 

I left in the middle of the night. Afraid to face Beckett in the morning. Beckett. The man who took my virginity. He didn’t really take it, I gave it to him willingly. It was sensual and surreal. It was something I’d been wanting for some time.

 

Of course, I felt it was a teenaged crush. Something he would never even think about. Or actively pursue. I’d seen the way he would stare at me late at night, but I never imagined it would ever happen.

 

I dreamed it would. Even fantasized by touching myself late at night in my bed. He was always first thing on my mind when I wake up, and the last thing I think about when I lay my head down at night. He really is such a good man. The way he is with his son, well, it makes me swoon.

 

On my way home in the wee hours of the morning, I tried to talk myself out of the feelings beginning to take root deep inside me. I tried to make me forget about all the late night chats him and I would have discussing poetry, or pottery. We would discuss everything and anything.

 

This wasn’t anything to him. It was one night, and I’m sure he’d already regretting everything. I pull up to my tiny apartment complex and hop out of my two-door Sedan. Vera, my roommate, should be up and getting ready for school at this hour. My classes start a bit later, so I usually miss her in the mornings.

 

I walk inside, tossing my keys on the entryway table by the front door. I lean my body back against the white door, and scream a happy squeal. Vera rushes out of the bathroom, a red towel wrapped around her long torso.

“Is everything alright?” she asks.

 

“Everything is perfect. Well, kind of. I finally lost it.” I smile, wide.

 

Her eyes grow huge, and she comes closer to me, stepping over all the books and magazines in the middle of the floor. Most likely left there from her late-night studying. “It it?”

 

“Yes. Beckett and I had sex.” My grin is too big my own face can barely contain it.

 

She covers her mouth, her towel slipping a little and she adjusts it higher. “Are you freaking kidding me? Oh, wow. How was it?”

 

“Insane,” I say, kicking off the door and moving further into the apartment, tossing my purse on the purple couch we got at a thrift store.

 

Vera glances down at her towel. “Come to my room and tell me. I need to get dressed.”

 

I follow her, recounting my whole night with Beckett Prince. The way he held me close. His tender touch. His naughty words. Everything, I leave nothing out.

 

She hangs on my every word, and I can’t believe it’s all real either. She smiles as I tell her how I feel about him. It makes my chest heavy thinking about it. But, I’m an adult now. I need to act like one. Sleeping with my boss is something I should have never done, and I have to accept the consequences. I just hope I don’t lose this job.

 

I love Micah. I love working for Beckett. And I need the money. School and rent are expensive. I can not afford to be without a job right now. My resolve strengthens when I decide I will act like an adult and behave accordingly. Make sure to not mess up again. And, for God’s sake turn off my feelings for the gorgeous man with the dark hair and dark eyes that keep me company at night.

 

Vera leaves for school, and after a long, hot shower, I get ready to head off to class. I throw on my jeans and a little white babydoll tee, tossing my hair into a ponytail and I head off out the door.

 

Right when I step on campus, my phone chimes. Five words in a text from Beckett stare back at me:

 

I need to see you.

 

I fire off a rapid message about being busy with school and send it off, worried I may be overreacting. I will have to eventually see him again if I plan to keep my job.

 

Halfway through my first class, my mind is a mess of broken thoughts about Beckett. I send another text:

 

When?

 

Within a few minutes, he answers.

 

My place tonight.

 

My chest heats up, and a smile travels all over. As much as I want to push him away and pretend I don’t care, I can’t. It’s obvious. But, then, I worry. Is he firing me?

 

The rest of my day is spent in misery with looming thoughts of being fired and tossed aside. Not having money for bills, and possibly having to call my parents and beg for some money until I can get a new job.

 

The latter upsets me most. My parents never had much faith in me, and never thought I’d make it this far in school. They swore I’d come running home after my first semester.

 

Don’t get me wrong, they love me. I’m sure somewhere they want to see me succeed, but they feel I need to lean on them every step of the way. Moving out on my own was a big deal to them, they didn’t like it.

 

I guess they just want me to stay their little girl forever.