Chapter 50

Tessa’s POV

I returned to my room shortly after my conversation with Joseph and he went straight to his so he could sleep for the day.

It was going to be a quiet and lonely day for sure and I needed to figure out what to do with myself while he slept. There was no way he’d let me go into the city without Jordan.

I suppose I could go back out into the gardens and do a little bit more writing.

First things first, I needed to get dressed.

I grabbed an outfit out of one of the many drawers this room had and went to take a shower. It felt like it’s been ages since I was able to shower without care or fear in the world. I felt incredibly relaxed and in bliss, as the hot water soaked my body and soothed my aching muscles.

I closed my eyes as the water soaked through my hair. I breathed in the lavender scent, and I couldn’t help but smile up at the steam that danced off the ceiling.

Once I was done in the shower, I threw my hair in its usual messy bun and then dressed before leaving the bathroom.

I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and frowned when I saw Ruby had texted me again.

My heart sank into my stomach when I read the text.

“You lied to me again, Tessa. You left your location on. I know you are at Prof. Evergreen’s house.”

Oh shit.

She couldn’t know about this. Joseph was going to absolutely kill me when he finds out that Ruby knows the truth.

I could have sworn I turned my location off when I moved here, but I must have only thought I did. I was such an idiot.

I went into my settings and turned off the location before anyone else had the bright idea to check. The last thing I needed was for Brian to find out where I was and then have him start unnecessary issues.

I needed to figure out a way to explain this to Ruby without her thinking that I’m a terrible friend. It was going to be difficult, and I worried about what she might say.

“Do you want to grab lunch this afternoon?” I finally texted her back. “We can go to that café in the city.”

“1 pm okay?” Ruby surprised me by texting back.

“Perfect,” I said in return. “I promise, I can explain everything.”

Well, at least everything I can explain without sounding crazy. I’ll obviously leave the vampire stuff out.

Once I finished dressing for the day, I grabbed my purse and made my way out of my room. I thought about breaking the rules to disturb Joseph while he slept because he probably should know that I’m leaving for a few hours. But then I thought about how he reacted when I was going into the city shopping.

I certainly didn’t want to chance him being upset with me for even suggesting going anywhere and I certainly didn’t want Jordan to come with me.

So, I just left.

He probably won’t even notice I’m gone anyways. If there’s one thing, I’m discovering about Joseph he’s a deep sleeper, and not a lot seems to wake him.

Joseph left his car keys on the kitchen counter. I felt a little guilty about stealing his car, but I was only going to be gone for a couple of hours. Maybe even less than that.

I’m sure he wouldn’t be too mad.

…

Ruby was already at the café when I arrived. She was sitting in the back corner with her coffee in front of her. She was gazing out the window, not knowing that I had walked in. She seemed lost in thought and I felt a little guilty knowing that I probably had something to do with that.

I went to the front counter and ordered my usual tea before going over to Ruby’s table and sitting down in front of her.

She continued to gaze out the window, refusing to look at me.

So, maybe she did know that I was here, she was just so hurt that she didn’t want to acknowledge it.

“Ruby, please let me explain,” I said softly as I placed my mug on the table.

“Explain what? That you’ve been completely lying to me?”

My heart ached at her words, and I had to fight hard to keep the tears from spilling from my eyes.

“I know it seems really bad…” I breathed.

“Which part? You lying to me? Or you living with our professor?”

She spoke a little too loudly and I was quick to shush her.

“Please, Ruby. It’s not what it seems like,” I told her. “I promised him I wouldn’t tell you for obvious reasons.”

“What obvious reason do you need to keep something like that from your best friend?”

“If word traveled around, he could lose his job, Ruby,” I told her, narrowing my eyes at her. “I’m sorry that I lied to you, but I was protecting his career.”

“What about your reputation, Tessa?” Ruby shot back. “You’re going to be labeled as the girl sleeping with her professor. Is that seriously what you want?”

I was quiet for a moment. I couldn’t tell her the entire truth about Joseph being a vampire and my blood being attractive to other vampires and that I and everyone around me are in danger and that I’m living with Joseph for my protection.

Not only would Joseph be furious with me, but she would also think I had lost my mind.

“Oh my god…” Ruby breathed, staring around my sunken face. “You really like him, don’t you?”

I wasn’t sure how she came up with that conclusion, but I decided to just go with it.

“I liked him before I knew he was my teacher. We can’t seem to get enough of each other,” I said, giving her a nervous laugh. “I just want to make sure word doesn’t get out about it and he was so worried about his career and reputation that he made me promise not to say anything.”

Ruby stared at me with disbelief on her face for a moment longer. I could tell she was shocked by this new discovery, but her face was soon hard to read.

“Tessa, you can always tell me things regardless of what it is. You know I would never share your secret with anyone,” she said, reaching out to grab my hand. “You’re my best friend and I’m so sorry if I made you feel like you couldn’t come to me with this.”

“I promise, Ruby, it wasn’t you,” I said in return, grasping her hand. “I’m so sorry for not being honest.”

I still wasn’t being honest, but at least I was closer to the truth than I was before. Maybe one day I’ll be able to tell her everything, but that day was not today.

“You’re totally going to have to give me the details of your new living arrangement,” Ruby chuckled as she sipped her coffee. “Like do you sleep in the same bed?”

I laughed at her excited face.

“I would love to get into it with you, but I shouldn’t stay here long. He doesn’t know I left, and I took his car without permission,” I told her as I began to stand.

“You stole his car?” She gasped. “Why didn’t you ask? Oh my god, is he one of those controlling types? Does he not let you leave his house?”

“It’s not like that,” I said, meeting her eyes. “He was just busy with work in his study, and I didn’t want to bother him.”

“I see,” she said, still staring at me questionably.

“Then, a rain check on the details?”

“Definitely,” I said as I opened my arms to give her a hug.

It felt good to be able to talk some with my best friend.

As I hugged her, Ruby’s demeanor began to change slightly, and I felt her tense.

“So, that guy Jordan. Whom did you say he was again?”

“Oh, I guess I didn’t. He’s Joseph’s friend,” I told her. “Why do you ask?”

“Because he just walked in, and he doesn’t look happy.”