Chapter 190

Tessa’s POV

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My heart stopped.

“Dad?” I said in a trembling tone.

When he didn’t answer, I looked at my phone screen and when I saw my home screen, my phone slipped from my hand and landed on the ground.

My father hung up on me.

My entire body began to tremble as I fought the urge to burst into tears. As my breathing picked up speed, I bent and grabbed my phone off the ground. Instinctively I went into my contacts and scrolled until I found my dad. Clicking on his name, I put the phone back to my ear and waited. It rang several times before I got his voicemail box.

I hung up the phone and slowly lowered myself until I was sitting on my bed. My whole head was in a daze.

I couldn’t even comprehend what had happened.

I just asked him if Mom was a witch, and his response was to hang up on me. I went from being shocked, to being straight-up furious. Was I ever going to get the answers I sought? Was this it? Was he just going to hang up on me whenever I asked him a question?

Tears brimmed the corner of my eyes, and I bit my lower lip to keep myself from sobbing. I refused to cry over this. I was going to brush myself off and focus on school because that’s what is important right now. I had way too many exams this week and these exams determine whether or not I can graduate.

I refuse to let my father and this entire mess cloud my mind any longer.

I stood to my feet and squared my shoulders. I needed to put a smile on my face and get to school. I left my room and grabbed my backpack off the couch. After checking to make sure everything was inside of it, I put it on my back, grabbed my purse off the kitchen counter and left the apartment.

It was a short walk to the school, but it was nice to get some fresh air. It was a bit cold outside, but I didn’t mind it. I took a deep breath and allowed the air to enter my lungs and soothe my body. I tried desperately to get my father out of my mind.

He hadn’t bothered to call me back; he hadn’t even sent me a text. I thought about texting him and asking him what his problem was. But I decided against it. I didn’t need that distraction right now and I wasn’t really sure if knowing this information would make me feel better or worse.

I shook the thought from my mind as I entered the school.

I was surprised by how many students were lurking around the halls. It was still early, but I suppose everybody wanted to get an early start. Everybody looked as exhausted as I felt.

When I got to my locker, I was relieved to see Ruby already there holding not one but two coffees. When she saw me, she gave me a bright smile and held out one of the coffees.

I gladly took it.

“Thanks,” I said as I worked to open my locker.

“So?” She asked, raising her brows.

“What?” I asked, genuinely curious.

She frowned.

“How was your date last night?”

I couldn’t believe I had forgotten about my date. My entire face felt like it was on fire as the memory of last night surfaced in my mind. Her eyes widened at my expression and then a hint of a smile played on her lips.

“That good?” She asked, giving me a wide grin and a knowing look.

I nodded.

“It was amazing,” I told her. “We went to the ice rink and skated. Then we had this entirely private candlelight dinner.”

“Awe, he’s such a romantic,” Ruby breathed, leaning against the lockers. “I wonder if Carter is as romantic as Joseph.”

I frowned at my best friend.

“Are things with the two of you moving forward?” I asked; last I checked they were only texting. I didn’t think they were talking about dating.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about the two of them dating, but I was determined to keep that opinion to myself.

She sighed and glanced at me.

“I’m not sure,” she murmured. “I can’t help but think he’s hiding something from me.”

I froze when I glanced at her.

“What do you mean?” I asked, trying not to sound as guilty as I felt.

Of course, I knew what Carter was hiding from her and I also knew that it was killing him not being able to tell her the truth. I shouldn’t be surprised that Ruby could pick up that there was something different about him.

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “He’s just so mysterious. The mysterious thing stopped being attractive years ago. I like a guy who can be open and honest with me. You know what I mean?”

I nodded.

I understood exactly what she meant, and I agreed with her. If people couldn’t be honest, then what’s the point?

“Have you talked to him about it?”

I couldn’t help but notice her cheeks growing pink as she shook her head.

“We aren’t at that part in our relationship yet,” she said with wide eyes. “But I don’t know. Maybe I’ll find a way to bring it up casually next time we talk.”

I nodded and gave her a reassuring smile.

“Are you ready for the exams this week?” She asked once I got my stuff situated and closed my locker door.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I sighed. “You?”

“Same.”

Most of today was just reviewing the material for the exams and private studying. I checked my phone periodically to see if my father decided to call me back, and to my dismay, I saw that he hadn’t. Joseph hasn’t tried to reach out to me either, but I assumed it’s because he’s been busy trying to get his exams and last-minute projects in order before Wednesday, which was technically our last official class.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit nervous seeing him. We kind of left off in a weird place last night and I wasn’t sure where we stood. I truly did love him, and I know he loves me, but was that love enough to keep us together through all this?

I sat with Ruby at lunch, and we continued to study while we munched on our food. I couldn’t help but notice Brian was sitting with his friends and he was glancing over in my direction. I tried to keep my eyes from finding him, but it was hard when I could literally feel his eyes on me.

“Are you okay?” Ruby asked as she took a big bite of her spaghetti.

“Brian is staring at me,” I whispered, trying not to look in Brian's direction.

“Ew, want me to say something to him?” Ruby asked, narrowing her eyes at Brian.

She clearly wasn’t shy about staring at him in return or letting him know that we were most definitely talking about him.

I shook my head.

“No, it’s fine,” I muttered.

Soon, there was a hand on the table and my entire body froze as I slowly lifted my gaze. My eyes found Joseph’s and he gave me a sexy smirk as he glanced at my food and then back at my face.

“Can we talk in my office?” He asked, keeping his eyes on mine.

Ruby was mid-bite and she was watching our exchange with wide and curious eyes.

I swallowed the bit of food that was still in my mouth, and I nodded as I stood.

“I’ll see you later, Ruby,” I said to her as I grabbed my trash and went over to the garbage to throw it away.

I then grabbed the books I was studying and hurried after Joseph who had already left the lunchroom. I didn’t bother looking back in Brian’s direction, but I knew his eyes were still on me. My face warmed knowing that he was watching me hurry after Jospeh’s like I was some pathetic schoolgirl.

I was surprised that Joseph had already disappeared when I left the lunchroom. I pouted knowing that he most likely used his abilities to beat me to his office. But I didn’t let it bother me too much; it would probably look weird if we were spotted walking together anyway.

I made my way up the stairs, and I froze when I saw Miss Emily leaving her office with a Tupperware. She was heading in the direction of Joseph’s office. I couldn’t get my legs to move as I stood there, watching her.

She didn’t seem to notice me; she was lost in her own little world.

She stood in front of Joseph’s office and gave it a couple of knocks before she opened the door herself and allowed herself in. I tried not to seem disappointed and hurt. It’s not like Joseph invited her into his office; he invited me.

Before she could step into the office, Joseph poked his head out, making her freeze.

“Oh, hey, Emily,” he said politely. “What can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch together?” She asked, peering up at him with her large pretty eyes.

He frowned at her, appearing uninterested, which made my heart swell.

“Sorry, but I already have lunch plans,” he told her simply.

I tried not to smile as I watched her face fall.

Joseph lifted his gaze and met mine; his expression softened.

“Tessa,” he greeted, giving me a fond smile, and making me stand straight as Emily turned her attention to me. “I’m glad you could make it. Why don’t you step into my office.”

Emily stared at me with a gaping mouth and wide eyes, but I tried my best to ignore her as I nodded and walked past her and into Joseph’s office.

“Sorry, Emily,” I heard him saying to her in a low tone. “I’m sure you can understand though.”

She was quiet for a moment, and I wouldn’t dare turn around and look at her. I just stood in front of Joseph’s desk with my arms wrapped around my body and my back turned in their direction.

“Of course,” Emily murmured, definitely disappointed. “Students come first.”

I wanted to laugh in her face that I was much more than his student, but I didn’t think Joseph would appreciate that, so I kept my mouth shut.

He thanked her before closing the door and separating her from us.

There was a long stretch of silence before I felt his arms wrapped around my waist and Joseph’s lips found the nape of my neck.

“I've missed you,” he whispered to me.

My entire body warmed from his touch and kisses, and I realized that I truly missed him as well. I turned around to face him and when I peered up at his face, I saw the love and concern he had in his eyes. I wanted to tell him everything that had happened since I left his villa last night. I wanted to tell him how my father hung up on me after I asked him about my mother. I wanted to tell him about how Brian was staring at me all through lunch.

I wanted to tell the love of my life what was on my mind. But the most I could do at that moment was stand on my toes and brush my lips against his.

He didn’t fight me on it; he deepened the kiss and wrapped his arms around my body, pulling me close to him.

Feeling his love and affection was everything I needed at that moment and when he told me he loved me, I didn’t hesitate to return those words.

But just as he lifted me into his arms and sat me on his desk, I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket, making me freeze.

Joseph felt it too and looked down at me with a curious frown.

“Who is it?” He asked as I struggled to get my phone free from my pocket.

When I looked at the screen, my heart fell deep into my stomach, and I suddenly felt very cold.

I looked back up at Joseph and my breathing hitched as I said, “It’s my father.”