Chapter 217

Tessa’s POV

Joseph was here. He was actually here. And we just made the best love. My entire body was still tingling from his touch, and I didn’t think anything could ruin this moment.

Until I heard the bathroom door closing and I remembered that we weren’t alone in this apartment. I felt completely paralyzed and my entire body was heated from the embarrassment I felt. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to move, but then I saw Joseph looking as if he was ready to hunt whoever was in my apartment and I had to stop him.

I wrapped my arms around his biceps to keep him calm before telling him that my father and Penny were in my apartment. He didn’t look relieved by that, but his body relaxed.

“They are early,” he said, furrowing his brows. “Graduation isn’t until tomorrow. I thought they’d be getting in tonight or tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah, you and me both,” I said, sitting up. “If you had answered your phone, you would have known that they got here yesterday morning.”

He frowned and then leaned in to kiss my cheek gently.

“I told you; my phone is broken. I’m getting a new one today. I just wanted to see you first,” he said softly.

My body warmed from his touch, and I lifted my head to kiss him before pulling away quickly.

“My father is here,” I said, my eyes widening.

He nodded, looking confused.

“Yes, we just established that,” Joseph said, a bit of humor in his tone.

“He can’t see you, Joseph,” I said, trying and failing to shove him out of my bed. “He will kill you!”

This made Joseph laugh with his entire body which only aggravated me.

“Do you really think he has a chance at killing me?” Joseph asked, shaking his head at my ignorance.

“I’m serious, Joseph. He can’t see you. You have to leave.”

He looked me in the eyes for a moment; he must have seen the desperation in my gaze because his face softened, and he nodded. After kissing me briefly on the lips he quickly got out of bed and grabbed his clothes off the floor.

I got out of bed too and put my nightgown back on, along with a robe that I kept on my desk chair. Joseph’s hair was a scruffy mess, and I couldn’t help but smile at how adorable he looked. Remembering that it was morning invaded my mind and I rushed to the window to look outside.

It was cloudy out and the sun wasn’t fully up yet; he’d be able to get home safely. At least I hoped so.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, startling me. He buried his face in the nape of my neck and feathered kisses across my flesh, making my entire body relax and melt into his.

“I’m going to get a new phone and then I’ll call you later, okay?” I felt the warmth of his breath caressing my flesh and the sensation made me close my eyes.

I nodded.

“You better,” I whispered.

The bathroom door creaked open, and I heard footsteps in the hallway. Joseph and I both froze but then I heard the guest room door opening and shutting a second later, making us both breathe out relieved. One of them was already awake, but they were both still in the guest room. We had a small window of time for Joseph to sneak out of this apartment undetected.

“You should go,” I said, turning around to face them. “Before they leave the guest room again.”

Joseph nodded and brushed his lips across mine. My heart swelled from his affection.

I knew he didn’t want to leave, and I didn’t want him to leave. But I couldn’t let my father see him in my apartment, at least not right now. I wanted to remain civil with my father for the next few days and I knew seeing Joseph would only set him.

I walked with Joseph out of my room, and we quietly walked down the hallway. As we passed the guest room, I heard soft murmurs.

They were both awake.

We continued to walk into the living room until we reached the front door.

He bent down and kissed me tenderly on the lips, taking my entire breath away.

Then he was gone.

A few minutes later, my father and Penny emerged from the bedroom.

“Good morning,” I said, trying to sound cheerful. “Are you hungry? I was about to make breakfast.”

“Breakfast sounds good,” my father said, trying his best at a smile.

I smiled in return, hoping my face didn’t give away my emotions. I was elated that Joseph was home early and that I got to spend a steamy morning with him. But I was also upset he had to leave in order to keep the peace with my father. A father who lied to me about what I am and about my mom my entire life.

My heart squeezed painfully at the thought, and I shook my head at the memory.

I went into the kitchen and grabbed the carton of eggs from the fridge. Penny walked into the kitchen moments later and I saw that my father made himself comfortable on the couch with the remote in his hands.

“I’ll brew some coffee,” Penny said as she grabbed the coffee grinds and started to fill the coffee maker.

“Thanks,” I said as I continued to make eggs and bacon.

“I’m excited to see your school today,” Penny said as she turned the coffee maker on.

I completely forgot they were coming with me today and I had to stifle a groan.

“Yeah, me too,” I said in return.

I really didn’t want them to come with me, but I knew I couldn’t back out of it now. I just had to deal with it and hope that no rumors about Joseph and me surfaced while they were there. Margot and Kenzi were huge gossips and they spoke about Joseph a lot I’ve noticed from these last few days.

They don’t directly ask me if anything is going on between us, but I hear them whispering to one another. I try to ignore it, but if it comes up again today, I don’t know if I’ll be able to ignore it with my father lurking around.

I shuddered at the thought.

Once breakfast was ready, Penny helped me plate the food and we all sat around the small dining table and ate silently. Penny tried to start a conversation, but my mind was too far gone, and my father was dead silent.

Ruby had asked if we wanted a ride to the school, but Penny and my father agreed they wanted to take their own car just in case they decided to leave early which I certainly wouldn’t complain about.

I ended up going with my father and Penny to the school and met Ruby there. We didn’t get to the school until later in the afternoon though because Penny wanted to tour some of the city. I texted Ruby and told her we were going to be late.

We finally got to the school, and Penny wanted to tour the entire school before we went to the auditorium.

Ruby met up with us in the parking lot and I was grateful for that. She said there were a few extra helpers in the auditorium, and they hardly even noticed me missing. So, she was able to slip out and join us.

“Wow, this place is huge,” Penny breathed, gawking at the school.

“It’s a nice school,” Ruby agreed. “I’m going to miss it.”

“Oh, but you girls will move on to bigger and better things,” Penny assured her.

“Hopefully my career takes me to New York City,” Ruby said with a grin spreading across her face. “I’m a design major so I’m hoping to open my own shop in the city.”

“That’s incredible, Ruby,” Penny said, wrapping an arm around her as we took a small tour around campus. “What about you, Tessa? What’s your goal for after graduation?”

I shrugged.

“I’m not really sure,” I admitted. “I know I want to be a writer. I’m not sure where I’m going with it though.”

“What do you mean?” Ruby asked, furrowing her brows together. “You are coming with me to New York and you’re going to be a blogging icon and New York’s best seller.”

She spoke so simply that it felt like she had it all planned out already, but I was still uncertain about where my life was going to go. Mainly because if Joseph was returning to the mountains, I would probably go with him. There was no way I was going to live anywhere without him.

When I didn’t say anything, I saw from my peripheral Ruby’s smile dropping.

“Tessa?” She asked, and I could hear the worry in her voice.

“I guess we will see what happens,” I said with a shrug.

“I thought that was always the plan,” she said, staring at the ground. “You don’t want to go to the big city anymore?”

“I didn’t say that,” I said sharply. “I just said we will see what the future holds. I can’t predict what will happen.”

She was quiet as we continued walking and I suddenly felt very guilty. Maybe I was a little too harsh.

“Well, whatever you plan on doing, I know it’s going to be great,” Penny breathed, a fond smile on her lips.

We showed them around a majority of the campus and Penny spent time taking pictures of literally everything.

“Maybe we should get to the auditorium and see if they need any help,” Ruby suggested.

I nodded in agreement, and we went through the campus until we reached the auditorium. But just as we reached the door, I heard my father grumble from behind me, “What the hell is he doing here?”

I paused and turned in the direction my father was glaring, and my entire heart fell into my stomach as I saw Joseph walking down the hallway.