by Jodie Larson
The door swings open and I can’t help the grin spreading across my face. I glance over at the bed, messed up completely with the blankets all askew and pillows not where they’re supposed to be. Visions of the last few hours play before my eyes; her naked form beneath me, her heated breath panting against my skin, her fingernails raking across my body as she called out my name. I will never be able to sleep in that bed without thinking of her and the magical night we spent together.
But an eerie sense of dread creeps into my chest. Something feels off. I stop and listen for any movements or noises coming from the kitchen area.
Silence.
Maybe she decided to sit out on the patio. It’s a bit nippy out this morning. Although she may be used to that since she does live in Minnesota. My feet carry me down the hallway as I wait for any indication that she’s still here. But there’s nothing. The curtains are still drawn over the patio doors. The coffee maker is off. There are no dirty dishes indicating that she already had something to eat.
I move quickly throughout the flat, opening doors, calling out her name. Where could she be? I asked her to wait for me. She wouldn’t have left, would she?
“Tessa?” I call out again, panic lacing my voice. Each door I whip open turns up the same result. Nothing. I run my hands through my hair, gripping it tightly at the root and holding myself back from ripping it completely out of my head altogether. I storm back toward the living room, desperate to find any trace of her. But there isn’t any. She’s vanished, disappeared without a note or a reason why. Why would she leave me like this?
I check the chair where she laid her purse last night and it’s missing, along with her shoes. That’s my confirmation, like a dagger to my heart, the loud cry before there’s silence. She’s gone.
I run to my bedroom, needing to grab my phone and keys. A message alert appears on my screen and I swipe my finger across it to see who it’s from. Maybe she’s letting me know where she is.
Andrew, it’s imperative that you call me. I’ll be over in an hour. It can’t wait any longer. I need to see you. Evie.
Is it possible she had seen this before she left? I’ll admit the message is suggestive, but she doesn’t know the reason behind it. She doesn’t know that there’s a minor issue with my best friend’s family. Something they would like me to look into. Apparently something has happened since I first spoke with Evie this morning. Would this one text message be enough to scare Tessa away from me?
My mind travels back to what she told me of her last relationship, the way her supposed boyfriend used her, treated her like rubbish and then dumped her like she was filth. I shove my phone into my pocket and run my hands over my face. This is bad. She’s already a timid, insecure woman and if she happened to misconstrue the message it may have sent her running.
No. I won’t let her leave. I need to clear this up, make sure she understands how I feel about her. Bloody hell why didn’t I just tell her this morning how I felt. Then she wouldn’t have felt the need to be jealous or suspicious.
Fate has another plan for me apparently because the bloody wench has shoved every slow driver in front of me, blocking my way to reach her in time. I know where she is and I know where she’s going to end up. The question is which do I choose first? I keep dialing her number, begging her to answer but every time it’s the same result; her voicemail.
The tires screech to a halt in front of her hotel, almost hitting the town car that is leaving the front entrance. I do not need to add an accident to my morning. A morning that started out fantastic, waking up to Tessa wrapped safely in my arms, feeling her warm body pressed against mine. It took everything that I had in me to wake her this morning. She looked so peaceful as she laid in my arms. Her lips would curl into a smile as I stroked the side of her cheek then snuggle into the warmth of my body even further.
Several people block my way to the elevator as I bump into them, mumbling an apology of sorts while doing so. My foot taps impatiently on the marble floor as I will the damn thing to hurry its descent. I need to find her, pull her back into my arms where she belongs and explain everything; if there’s anything to explain.
“Fuck it,” I exclaim as I take the stairs up to her room. Reaching into my back pocket, I pull out her room key, anxious to get inside and see her. But before I even get to her door, a tall man emerges from the room next to hers. A man that I should know because I have dealt with him several times through video conferences.
“Andrew?” he says as I rush past him.
“Not now Mattson. I need to speak with Tessa.”
He shakes his head. “She’s not there.”
Now he has my attention, turning to fully face him. His face falls as he takes me in. I’m sure I appear to be a mess, but my appearance is inconsequential. I have one thing on my mind and that’s my hazel-eyed beauty.
“What do you mean she’s not there? Where is she?”
He sighs and drops the bags to the ground. It’s then I notice that it’s not just his bag that he is carrying. Several suitcases fall to the side and I know that they are Kara’s. Unless Chris has a penchant for bright pink luggage, which I highly doubt.
“She’s already at the airport with Kara. She came back upset this morning, crying hysterically about something. I didn’t catch it all, but Kara told me that she was taking her to the airport and that I’m to meet them there.”
Then that’s it. I’m too late. My back falls hard against the wall as I slide down, holding my head in my hands while bouncing on my balls of my feet. Chris joins me against the wall but not at my level. His legs cross at the ankle as he looks down at me, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“Look, I don’t want to get in the middle of this thing between you two. I don’t know what happened. But I know that Tessa’s hurting right now. I also know that she has a tendency of overreacting and creating issues that aren’t there. If that’s not the case, then I suggest you walk away because I can’t allow you to hurt her. She’s been hurt enough.”
I shake my head and look up at him. “It has to be a misunderstanding. We were so good. I thought we were in a right place. Everything was perfect yesterday and right away this morning. She never let on about being unhappy, except for having to leave today. But then I received a text message that she must have seen and misinterpreted it somehow, causing her to run.”
Chris chuckles quietly under his breath. “Yeah, that sounds like something she’d do.”
“I swear to you that I don’t want to hurt her. If she doesn’t want anything more to do with me, then I will grant her that privacy. It will be the hardest thing I ever do, but I will do it for her.”
I lift off the ground and match his stance against the wall. He turns his head and tilts it slightly in my direction. “You love her?”
“More than life itself,” I answer without hesitation.
He pats my shoulder and turns to leave. “Give it a few days. Let her cool off and sort things through. It could very well be the stress of having to leave that pushed her to this. As I said, it doesn’t surprise me.”
I nod my head and watch him pick up the luggage. “Oh,” he says, turning back toward me. I cock an eyebrow in response. “Don’t give up. If I know Kara, and I do, she won’t let this drop. She’s seen you two together and knows that Tessa has never been this happy before. And I’ll do what I can to help as well. Hang in there.”
And with that he turns to disappear down the hallway, leaving me to think about what he said. From what I know of Kara, I know that she can be tenacious and stubborn, never settling until she gets her way. Perhaps she could be an asset to my cause.
I slide my key into her door, listening to the latch click to indicate it’s open. But I am unprepared for what I find. Everything is the same only it’s not. Her stuff is gone, along with the air in the room. The bed is unkempt still from our one night together here. I’ve never been more content just sleeping next to someone in my entire life. I walk further into the silence, my
spirit falling with each step. The only noise present is the sound of blood rushing through my ears with each frantic heartbeat. My duffle sits on the edge of the bed, exactly where I had placed it. I glance closer and find a note tucked at the top.
My unsteady hands unfold it as I read the heartbreaking note written in her beautiful script.
The note falls from my hands as I sit on the edge of the bed, feeling more like I’m sitting on the brink of a precipice, waiting to fall. I cannot accept this brush off or believe she doesn’t care about me. I know better. I know she’s scared and feels like she’s alone. But she’s not. Even if I’m not there physically, I will always be there. I just need to show her.
My head hangs in my hands, propped up on my knees as I think of a way to get her back before it’s too late.
This book has been a process and an adventure, to say the least. I started writing it in October 2013 because I had this story stuck in my head and it wouldn’t be happy until it got onto paper. The thought of ever publishing it didn’t cross my mind at first. But after the many persistent voices of my friends who encouraged me to take the leap, here we are today. It has been an amazing journey from the beginning, one that I will definitely not forget. And I am so thankful to those that pushed me to this point because this truly is a dream come true.
There are so many people to thank that I really hope I don’t forget anyone! If I do, please know that I love you more than life itself!
Of course, I’d like to thank my husband first. He’s been a great source of support, telling me that whatever I need to just take it. Whether it comes in the form of him taking the kids for a while or emotional support when I’m feeling down, I know he’s got my back. And from that support, I found the courage to believe that I could do it and that he will support me in my crazy adventure.
Billie, you’ve been with me from the beginning, reading this book chapter by chapter, even through the incredibly rough draft that I picked apart and put back together. Without your help and insight, I probably wouldn’t be here. You’ve been one of my biggest cheerleaders and one of my best friends. Thank you for pushing me to do this, for believing in me and for picking me up when I was having my down days.
Patricia, Tara, and Stacy, you have been my lifesavers! The amount of support that you have given me is unbelievable at times and I have no idea how I was ever fortunate enough to find you all! All your help, all the notes and suggestions and offering to help me when I needed it means more than you will ever know. Your support and friendship have been a lifesaver and I love you hard for it!
Amanda, Andi, Gloria, Heather, Jenn, Melissa, Samantha, Stephanie, and Stephanie: your videos and messages of encouragement have helped me so much that words don’t even exist to describe it. Your love and support show me the true power of friendship and faith. I have no idea how I was lucky enough to become friends with all of you but whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me for life!
And, of course, I need to throw a shout out to the Vixens because they truly are the nicest and most wonderful people that I know!! Thank you for showing your support and keeping everything positive! #VixenLoveForever
Murphy, you have no idea how happy I was that Tara suggested you to me. Your work on this cover is absolutely amazing! I came to you with zero ideas of what I wanted for the cover and you turned it into the most beautiful creation, capturing the feel of the book entirely! Thank you for all your help and for putting up with my non-stop emails.
And to you, my readers, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for taking the chance on this book! Without you, this wouldn’t even be possible. This has been a dream come true and I’m so happy to finally share Tessa and Andrew’s story with you!
Jodie Larson is a wife and mother to four beautiful girls, making their home in northern Minnesota along the shore of Lake Superior. When she isn’t running around to various activities or working her regular job, you can find her sitting in her favorite spot reading her new favorite book or camped out somewhere quiet trying to write her next manuscript. She’s addicted to reading (just ask her kids or husband) and loves talking books even more with her friends. She’s also a lover of all things romance and happily ever afters, whether in movies or in books, as shown in her extensive collection of both.
You can find Jodie at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jodielarsonauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jlarsonauthor
