Chapter 46

Tessa’s POV

“Tessa, what are you doing here? I thought you were busy today,” Ruby said, staring around my face with hurt clear in her eyes.

I was at a loss for words. I had texted Ruby earlier and told her I couldn’t hang out today because I had tons of homework I needed to finish. She understood and left it alone. But now she was standing in front of me and saw me dining with a gentleman she had never seen before.

She glanced at the table and her eyes found Jordans’ who looked unphased by the situation. He leaned back in his seat with almost amusement lingering in his eyes.

“Ruby…” I said slowly, trying to figure out what to say. “This is Jordan. My friend.”

The word “friend,” was like a bad taste on my tongue and I fought a wince. I could sense Jordan’s pure enjoyment from behind me and I wanted to punch him in the face. I would have thought about doing that if I wasn’t afraid, he’d kick my ass.

“Your friend?” She asked, raising her brows at me. “You never mentioned a Jordan and we talk every day.”

“He must have slipped my mind,” I said lamely. I wanted to slap myself for that terrible excuse.

“Slipped your mind?” She asked, staring between the two of us. “Tessa, what’s going on?”

“I’ve been staying with him,” I blurted out.

She gasped at my words and once again, I felt the heat rising in my features. I couldn’t believe I just lied to her so badly and now if she found out the truth it was only going to make things so much worse.

I hated myself for lying to her so deeply.

She genuinely looked hurt by my announcement as she took an unsteady step away from me.

“You told me you were living in a hotel,” she exclaimed, shaking her head at me. “You lied?”

“No! Of course, not,” I said in return, trying to recover the situation.

The last thing I wanted was for her to be upset with me.

“Then, what’s going on?”

“I was staying in a hotel,” I told her slowly. “But then I met Jordan, and he offered me a more permanent place to stay. I was going to tell you. I just wasn’t sure how. I thought you’d judge me for moving in with a complete stranger.”

“You moved in with him the very first night you met him?”

“Yes,” I lied, giving her an awkward smile. “Now you can see why I didn’t want you to know about it right now. I didn’t want you to think less of me. But things were really great. We’ve only lived together for a couple of days. So, I didn’t keep this from you for long. I promise I was going to tell you.”

Ruby was silent for a long while as she processed this information.

“Are you dating?” Ruby finally asked.

“No!” Jordan and I said at the same exact time.

“Not at all,” I quickly said.

“I would never,” Jordan said, shaking his head with disgust written all over his face.

Ruby was taken aback by that and glanced at me with worried eyes.

“So, you met a stranger and started living with him just because?” She asked, staring at me in the eyes. “Are you crazy, Tessa? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?”

“I know, that’s why I didn’t want to tell you,” I told her, biting onto my bottom lip and chewing on it nervously. “But he said he had an extra room, so I took him up on that. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“It’s a stupid move,” she muttered, shaking her head at me. “Has Brian taught you nothing?”

“Brian was different because I was dating him. But I’m not dating Jordan,” I repeated. “You don’t have to worry about anything, Ruby. I’m an adult. I can handle my own life.”

I was a little too forceful with my words and her mouth dropped open on the spot.

“I know that, Tessa. But you are my best friend and I still care about you. Living with a strange guy is out of character for you,” she said, furrowing her brows together. “I thought you were better than that. You were always the kind to play it safe.”

“Maybe I don’t want to play it safe anymore,” I shrugged. “Maybe I’m sick of playing it safe.”

“Then maybe I don’t know who you are anymore,” Ruby said with her eyes growing incredibly misty.

The look she was giving me was breaking my heart.

“You aren’t acting like you and now I’m realizing why,” she nearly spat as she glanced at Jordan with the most disgusted and disapproving face, I had ever seen Ruby give anybody.

It made my body visibly shudder and even Jordan looked a little alarmed.

“You hurt her, and I will come after you,” Ruby said through her gritted teeth. She then looked at me as she allowed her tears to freely fall down her features. “We are supposed to be best friends and friends don’t lie to one another, Tessa.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, lowering my gaze till I was fixated on the ground. “I’ll never lie to you again. I promise.”

Ruby looked at me for a moment longer before she turned away from me.

“I’ll see you at school,” she muttered before she left the café.

My heart ached in my chest, and it took everything I had not to crumble to the ground and burst into tears. Though, my body desperately wanted to do just that.

Jordan stood to his feet and came around the table to stand next to me.

“Well, that was rough,” Jordan said, shaking his head, his eyes never leaving the main entrance. “Are you okay?”

“Do you care?” I asked wiping away the stray tears that had fallen.

“I’d prefer to not bring you back crying,” he muttered, staring around my sunken features. “Seriously though, are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” I said, choking back more tears. “I just want to go home.”

Jordan nodded and began walking towards the entrance. I stood still for a moment longer before willing my feet to start moving as well.

Once we got back to Joseph’s Villa, Jordan helped me bring everything inside and pile them up in the living room.

The house was quiet and I assumed that meant Joseph was still asleep. It was still early in the afternoon and the sun had risen to the top of the sky.

“Sure you don’t need any help with anything else?” Jordan asked, peering over at me from the doorway.

I shook my head.

“Thank you for the help today,” I said, and I truly meant that.

He gave me one last look before shrugging and saying, “Yeah whatever.”

He might have acted like he didn’t care, but I knew he enjoyed himself today. I didn’t call him out on that though. Instead, I just gave him a smile and watched as he left.

Once he was gone, I turned towards all the stuff I had purchased.

Now to decorate.

…

Joseph’s POV

I woke up just as the sun was setting. I couldn’t believe I slept for most of the day. The last thing I remembered was Tessa leaving the Villa with Officer Jordan by her side.

He certainly wasn’t the first officer I chose, but he was the only available one, so it had to be him that accompanied her. As worried as I was about her safety while she was in the city with an officer that hated her, my exhaustion was too much for me to handle and I was able to sleep solidly for the day.

I shook my head as I got out of bed, rubbing my groggy eyes with my fingers. I went towards my window. There was barely any sunlight which meant it was perfect for me to open the shades and allow a little moonlight into my room.

My bedroom overlooked the garden that was maintained daily by the gardener. Looking down at the garden I saw Tessa sitting on one of the stone bushes near the rose section of the garden. She was writing in a journal with her leg crossed over the other.

She had her long hair resting around her shoulders and one side tucked behind her ear. Whatever she was writing, she looked like she was focused intently on it.

My heart sped up slightly and I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was.