Blue Love

by Mj Fields

  “No Tessa not like that either,” He wanted to kiss her to show her how he felt but he knew it wasn’t right yet. He watched how she reacted with Luke today and he wanted her to be sure. He knew where this could wind up and she wasn’t that kind of girl, even if she thought she wanted to be.

  They walked to the house and he opened the door for her. He grabbed her hand as she walked in stopping her. “Tessa you need to know I find you irresistible and every part of my body wants to hold you and kiss you and, well, my heart says not yet.”

  She could feel her heart start beating faster, yippee she thought. She grinned at him and said “Good.”

  She walked in smiling and her Dad shook his head, she knew he had heard everything. “I am taking Toby to the airport after practice,” she told him. She kissed his head and went and got the kids and herself ready for bed.

  Her phone chimed and there was Lucas staring at her.

  -Your skills amaze me my new friend. The only time my mind wandered was when you said “do it again” Day 3 without Tessa Ross was a little better, I didn’t make her cry, it’s a start ….LYA Luke

  She smiled as she read, and put her head on her pillow and fell asleep.

  ~

  The morning went by fast, she thought of Toby whenever she didn’t come face to face with Luke. They were eating lunch when the boys walked in, Tommy sat down and Luke stopped and started to walk away.

  “Sit with us,” Tessa said pointing across the table, “We are friends now right?” she said smiling and he sat.

  “So at church yesterday the sermon was on forgiveness,” Jade said smiling knowing this is where Tessa’s head was.

  “I am not sure I remember what ours was do you Luke?” he asked.

  “Forbidden fruit,” he answered quickly looking down at his tray.

  Tessa had just taken a drink and was now trying not to spit it across the table, she grabbed her napkin and let the milk fly into that.

  “Tessa are you okay?” Phoebe asked.

  She laughed “Yes Phoebe I am fine,” she couldn’t stop smirking.

  “Well,” Becca said, “He certainly does give us the message we need when we need it,” she said looking at each of them sternly.

  Tessa and Luke’s eyes met and they both started laughing and smiled at each other.

  “Well isn’t this nice,” Sadi said “Did we kiss and make up?” she asked.

  “No Sadi,” she said “Good news, I was so impressed with your scuba techniques that I decided to just go for it, we fucked all weekend,” she said and smiled.

  “Whore,” Sadi said and walked away.

  “Good at it,” Tessa yelled back.

  “Tessa,” Becca snapped, “What happened to forgiveness?”

  “I forgave the bitch and she blew my boyfriend,” Tessa said as she stood up and stormed out of the cafeteria.

  ~

  Luke went after her and grabbed her arm. She was crying, he grabbed her and hugged her, she pulled away. He held his hands up showing her that he wouldn’t touch her. He bent his knees so he they would see eyes to eye. “Tessa, don’t cry,” he said and gently wiped her tears away. “Please, Tessa look at me,” she looked at him and she was angry, “I am so sorry,” he said.

  “I can’t do this Luke, I want to but it hurts,” she said.

  “You said we were friends in there… we started backwards, I am trying to fix this, I will take friends but I love you,” Luke said trying to stay calm.

  Tessa grabbed his face and kissed him, he moaned, she kissed him harder and he opened his mouth and her tongue plunged deeply into his. He grabbed her hair and his tongue met hers. He started to pull away and she grabbed his waist band a pulled him to her again. He kissed her neck, she whispered “Luke,” in his ear and he moved back to her lips, she was on fire and he was too. She took her mouth away and he hugged her.

  “I can’t do friends Luke when all I want to do is that,” Tessa said, “and I can’t do that again because it hurts so badly,” she started to pull away.

  He bent down to meet her eyes, “I am going to put you back together Tessa,” he said and stroked her hair like she was a child, “I broke you and I am working on fixing you.”

  She was angry, “How are you going to do that when you’re out at the mall with your next partner?” she asked.

  He smiled at her, he knew she didn’t get it, “She was an ex Tessa, I need to fix myself before I can fix you. Don’t stop being my friend regardless of where this journey ends up. I can never lose you, do you understand? Never,” he kissed her head and held her.

  “Luke, I am taking Toby to the airport after practice,” she told him.

  “Tell him I said good riddance, I mean goodbye” he smirked. She smiled back at him.

  “You two done?” Sadi asked.

  “Never,” he said looking at Tessa.

  “Wow kind of like us hu Luke?” Sadi smiled.

  “Nothing like us Sadi, I told you that the other night,” he didn’t look away from Tessa while he spoke to Sadi. Tessa thought about the other night and got angry. “Now walk away,” he said to Sadi. The bell rang. “Friends Tessa?”

  “We will see,” she said and left.

  ~

  After practice Toby was in the driveway, “Hey angel,” he said as she walked up to his Jeep, “We can take the Jeep if you’ll do me a favor.”

  “Sure anything,” she said, she saw Luke in his white hat standing with Tommy looking at her. He opened the door for her and she got in, he buckled her seat belt.

  “Can you drive this back to your place and park it out back? Your dad said it was ok. You can drive it anytime you want ok?” Toby said.

  She smiled, “Absolutely! Thank you!”

  Tessa and Toby drove by the lake and stopped. He grabbed a cooler out of the back. They sat on the ground, her back against his chest and ate sandwiches he had made. She told him about what happened with Luke today and he wasn’t upset at all, “Tessa you’ll get through this just go slow. Promise me you’ll go slow,” Toby asked her.

  “I will Toby, I know this is none of my business but do you date when you’re down there?” she asked.

  He laughed, “No Tessa and I wouldn’t want to; I told you I have a past and have learned from it. I am focused and have goals. I want you to be able to figure things out, you’re young angel.”

  They went to the airport and his flight was called. “Can I kiss you goodbye?” he asked.

  She was tearing up, she didn’t want him to leave, he had been so good to her and she could be strong when he was here. “Please,” she said.

  He held her face and gently kissed her lips. Tessa sat and watched as the plane left the runway. She stood up and walked out the doors. Since she was in the city she thought she would go shopping.

  ~

  Tessa parked outside the large department store and jumped out of the Jeep. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for so she just wandered around. She walked towards the food court and there he stood again with a different girl, this one was short with chin length brown hair, she was cute. She was smiling and looking at him, she hugged him and he hugged her back, it was not a long lingering, I want to throw you down right here hug. She tried to avoid them but he saw her and smiled, “Is that her Luke,” she asked.

  “It is,” Luke smiled.

  She walked up to Tessa, “Hi I’m Amy and you are Tessa,” she said smiling. Luke walked up and stood with his hands in his pockets looking down. “Wow Lucas she is beautiful.”

  Tessa stood there frozen and finally said “Nice to meet you Amy,” and looked confused.

  “So I am one of his sexes,” she laughed. Tessa’s eyes widened and looked down. She looked at him and said “What number was I Luke?” he held up three fingers and shook his head. She laughed, “And I think it’s amazing what he is doing, I can see why he loves you Tessa, good luck you two I have to go meet my fiancé, wedding in six weeks, much to do,” she smiled and walked or skipped away.

  Tes
sa stood there still confused, he smiled looking at her. “Hello Tessa,” Luke said.

  “What was that?” Tessa asked.

  “That was number three… Amy,” Luke said.

  “Oh your third what did she call it?” she asked.

  “Sexes,” Luke laughed, “I guess that’s sounds better than saying ex fuck, I never dated her.”

  “Oh,” she said.

  “Come eat with me, I’m starving” he said grabbing her hand, she pulled it away. He looked at her and she could see he was hurt.

  “I already ate,” she said and smiled, trying to erase the hurt from his face.

  “Will you sit with me while I eat,” he asked looking at her with puppy dog eyes. Her eyes widened, “In a very public place, friend,” he said trying not to smirk.

  “Sure but I have to leave soon,” she said.

  “You aren’t buying anything, what are you doing all the way out here then,” he asked and looked at her and she rolled her eyes. “Oh GI Joe,” he said and laughed, “So how did that go? Did you tell him you kissed me today?” he whispered in her ear.

  “Actually I did,” Tessa said.

  “How did he take it,” Luke said and smiled.

  “Like a man,” Tessa said.

  He ordered Chinese and got her a drink; there were two sets of chop sticks on his plate. She smiled.

  “What,” Luke asked cocking his head to the side.

  “You know how to use those things?” she giggled.

  “Yep, you don’t?” he asked.

  “No I mastered the fork and it seems to work just fine for me,” Tessa said trying to hide the fact she felt inferior to him in most everything.

  He laughed, “Well I am going to teach you then.”

  He ate with them and she watched him the whole time. He opened hers and handed them to her, “No thank you,” she said.

  “Not up for discussion,” Luke jumped up and ran behind her and took her finger and showed her how to hold them and she practiced and he finally let go. With the sticks in her hands she tried and did well. He breathed her in as he stood and kissed her hair, “Good job baby.”

  He sat and watched her, as she took a bite of noodle it fell and landed on her chest, “Lucky noodle,” he said and grinned. Her eyes widened and jaw dropped, “Tessa do you need me to get it for you,” he smiled widely. She grabbed it and set it on the table. She opened a wet wipe and started cleaning the spot. When she was done he was staring at her with his eyebrow raised and a half smile.

  “Dead puppies FRIEND,” she snapped, he laughed.

  “Luke Links,” she heard from behind her as the two brunettes walked up to the table.

  “Hello Tina, hello Tammy” he said.

  “What’s up Linksy?” Tina smiled as she ogled him.

  He stood up, “This is Tessa the girl I am out of my mind in love with,” he said. Tessa blushed and looked down.

  “Oh so that’s why you haven’t called or texted lately,” she smiled at him and starred down at his lower half and bit her lip.

  “Ya about that, I am sorry that I have treated you like that, it’s disrespectful and I can promise it won’t happen again, I hope you two can find someone who makes you very happy, you both deserve that. I am sorry if I hurt either of you in any way,” he said.

  “Either of us?” Tammy asked, “You had sex with him?” she asked the other girl, “You knew I was sleeping with him, you’re my sister for crying out loud.”

  “You didn’t have dibs or something like that” she yelled back.

  “You where dating Mark,” she snapped.

  “Not the whole time,” she said.

  Tessa stood and shook her head and looked at him, “Can we go?” she asked.

  “Yep, good bye ladies,” Luke said and took his tray.

  He looked at Tessa “Seven and eight.”

  “Sisters Lucas?” she quietly snapped.

  “Ya I was drunk and didn’t realize it at the time,” he tried not to smile, she smacked him.

  “You really are awful,” and turned away so he didn’t see her smile.

  “I’m sorry,” he said “I am going to be better Tessa I promise,” he said and turned her towards him and saw her trying not to smile. “Really Tessa?”

  “What were you thinking? These partners of yours may be nice to look at but how could you stand to hear them talk? All but two I have met are train wrecks Lucas,” she said and began laughing.

  “Stop laughing at me,” Luke said, “in my defense I didn’t really talk to any of them,” they both laughed. “So that is nine Tessa only three more.”

  “Oh, are the rest as dreadful” Tessa asked. She finally realized what he was doing and it was exactly what she had wanted him to do with Sadi. She wondered if they all would end up in his hot tub.

  They walked past a pet store and a puppy was making a break for it. Tessa reached down and grabbed it. She picked it up and pet it and it licked her face and she laughed. She was beautiful but when she was happy everything paled in comparison, he thought. The clerk ran out and thanked her, “Can I carry him in,” she asked. She walked petting the golden lab and kissing its head. Luke followed her in. She played with him over the glass pen and he relentlessly tried to jump back into her arms. Smart dog he thought. When she turned towards Luke she took a deep breath through her nose and exhaled deeply.

  “You like him almost as much as he likes you baby don’t you?” Luke asked.

  “We had a dog like him for twelve years, his name was Hans, after Han Solo, Alex named him.” Tessa said. “I loved him, he died at the end of spring last year.”

  “You should get him Tessa look at him, he wants you to come take him, GET ME OUT OF THE PEN TESSA, I NEED YOU TO SAVE ME,” Luke said in his best puppy voice.

  Tessa laughed, “My Dad would kill me,” she said as she stopped and stared at him, “but the kids would love it,” she walked over and picked him up and he nuzzled into her neck and nibbled on her ear. She petted him and Eskimo kissed his wet black nose and set him down. He barked as she walked away.

  They walked by Victoria Secret and he grabbed her hand and tried to pull her in, and she laughed and kept walking. They got to the Gap and she went in to buy a couple pair of dress pants, he grabbed some polo’s. Tessa grabbed Jake and Kendall a new sweatshirt and some new socks and undies.

  He walked her out to the Jeep; “He gave you his Jeep?” he said in shock narrowing his eyes.

  “No but I can drive it whenever I want, I am probably going to just park it behind the shop,” she said shaking her head.

  “You want to make out in it and send him a picture?” he said and smiled his evil little grin.

  “I wouldn’t do that to him or with my friend,” Tessa said coolly.

  That’s not what you were thinking after lunch…better not press my luck he thought.

  “No harm in trying,” Luke said, “Can I hug my friend goodnight?” he asked looking at her with those puppy dog eyes.

  Tessa hugged him good night, and he kissed her head. She drove home happy but confused. The jeep was fun to drive and it was standard, good lord please don’t let me burn out the clutch, she thought.

  ~

  The stereo was loud and she was enjoying the music when her phone rang. She pulled over to answer. It was Toby. “Hello angel where are you?” Toby asked.

  “Driving your Jeep home,” she said, “It’s fun, just one thing, how did I not see it was standard?” she asked laughing.

  Toby laughed, “Are you on the hands free?” he asked.

  “No, where is it,” she asked.

  “Angel I think you should pull over you’re making me nervous,” he said.

  “I am Toby, I pulled over before I answered,” Tessa laughed.

  “Ok thank God I was worried about you,” Toby laughed.

  “Me or your Jeep?” she asked laughing.

  “Only you, that thing is replaceable, you are not!” he said in a very militant tone.

  “YES SIR,” s
he shouted and laughed, “When did you get in?” she asked.

  He told her he had a great flight and that he already missed seeing her smile. He explained how to use the blue tooth and if she wanted to take the top off, there was a tutorial on U-Tube.

  ~

  She drove home and did some chores and got them all ready for the next day.

  Her phone chimed and he was smiling in her face.

  -She kissed me!!! And I didn’t want to sneak her in the locker room and bend her over the bench,(Until now as my wildly filthy mind is racing) and then at the mall she dropped a noodle on her chest and well, all the dead puppies in the world could not have stopped my mind from racing then. Day 4 without Tessa Ross…well it wasn’t all that bad, I can fix this….LYA Luke

  Tessa fell asleep thinking about the locker room.

  Chapter 15

  Tessa woke up to a loud unfamiliar noise, she jumped out of bed and looked at the clock, it was only four thirty in the morning. Tessa had an hour before she needed to be out of bed. She ran down the stair and heard it again. Tessa went to the kitchen and Alex was standing there trying to figure out what the noise was too. The sound was coming from the mud room. They turned on the light and looked out, there in a huge black metal cage was a fuzzy little yellow lab, as soon as the light came on he started barking. She opened the door to the cage and took him out and he immediately stopped barking, he nuzzled into her hair and nibbled her ear and fell asleep. Tessa laughed when she saw the fifty pound bag of puppy food and cans of wet food. There was a navy collar and leash, on the collar was a tag, its name was engraved on it “CHEWY,” she said.

  “What is this all about Tessa,” Alex asked.

  “Luke,” she said.

  There was a bin with an envelope with papers and shot records, a packet of flea and tick ointment and about five chew toys. Under the bin was a large pillow that maybe someday he would grow in to. Next to that was a food and water dish.

  “You cleaned house today,” Alex said, “A jeep and a puppy, what the heck do they see in you,” he said smiling.

  “What the hell is that thing Tessa?” her Dad asked and Chewy growled at him.

  “A puppy Dad, his name is Chewy, he was a gift,” she said smiling.