Authors: MJ Fields
“
I have been asking him for weeks finally he said yes,” she said, “He is very big Tessa,” she said with her eyes wide.
Jade and Tommy already talked about getting married. Tessa knew Jade and Tommy were perfect for each other, she just wished she would have waited, which seemed pretty ironic coming from her.
Tessa told her what had went on today with Luke as they walked down to camp. “I hate that girl,” Jade said. Luke was at the back of the camp and they sat talking on the porch. He could hear everything they said.
“
That girl is going to have Lucas’s baby, I want her to be okay,” Tessa said quietly. “So I am going to ask you to be nice to her. If she sees kindness maybe she can be a decent mom to her child, to Luke’s child. It’s part of Luke and I love him Jade, I know he can be an amazing daddy.”
“
Are you going to be nice to her?” Jade asked.
“
I am going to tolerate her, it pretty much depends on how much shit I can take, for him I will try,” Tessa said. “And for him and his baby I need to move on, I think that would be easier for him and I.”
That stung but Luke knew she was right. If someone else was good to her, how could he ask for anything else? Tessa
’s happiness was important to him, more than he could have ever imagined.
Chapter
24
Church went well and the guys all shot as she made dinner. The week at school flew and Friday night the hunters started pulling in. Jade, Tessa, and Phoebe, made all sorts of food for them to graze on. She always loved the weekend before shotgun season
, they played cards and listened to music and listened to the men tell their tall tales. Ben and his father were the last to show up, when they walked in Luke watched Tessa. She avoided looking at him until he walked up to her.
“
Hello Tess,” Ben said smiling.
“
Hey Ben how was your trip up?” Tessa asked as she cut up carrots.
“
Well worth it” Ben said softly smiling knowing he was making her uncomfortable.
Tessa
’s phone chimed and she pulled it out of her pocket
-Damn Tessa could you at least look at the poor guy? This is painful to watch...LYA …LL
She laughed and looked around for Luke. He winked at her and texted her again.
-Let
’s see your moves girl…LYA…LL
Her eyebrow raised and she looked up at him.
“Sorry about that Ben,” she said and smiled at him. He wore an under armor shirt, gray long sleeves and loose fitting jeans and a gray knit cap that had a few loose light brown curls hanging out. Ben’s eyes where brown with gold flecks and stunning, his lips full and very pink, and his skin was perfect, he was tall and built. “Look at you, out of that football uniform. Nice,” Tessa said.
-much better Tessa Ross…LYA…LL
“So I brought my bow,” Ben said rubbing his head, “want to take a walk?” he smiled.
“
It’s kind of dark out don’t you think?” Tessa giggled.
“
Uh hu,” he said and smiled flashing his perfect straight white teeth and a deep dimple she had not noticed until now.
“
You want to shoot in the dark?” Tessa asked confused.
“
Not really,” he laughed, “but I do need to grab some more stuff out of my truck, walk with me,” he said and grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door.
Luke paced the floor and waited for them to return. Ben had his arms full and Tessa carried nothing, she held the door for him. They were laughing when they walked in.
“Do you play pitch Ben,” Tessa asked smiling.
“
Sounds super fun Tessa can I play?” Luke asked grinning obnoxiously.
“
Of course,” she said, they sat at one of the tables and Becca joined them. Ben sat next to Tessa and Luke across from her.
“
So Ben,” Luke said, “do you have a girlfriend?”
“
No,” he said and smiled at Tessa.
“
Okay so we all know how to play right?” Tessa asked.
“
Nicely,” Ben said and smiled at her.
“
Of course, Luke will be my partner and Becca will be yours got it?” Tessa asked as she dealt the cards.
“
Ben have you ever had a girlfriend?” Luke asked in a serious tone.
“
A few how about you,” Ben asked smirking.
Tessa laughed,
“A few as well hu Luke.”
“
No not really only dated two just fucked the others,” he said “two to you Ben, how long did you date your girlfriends?” he asked.
Ben laughed,
“Um let’s see one for a year and the others for about six months.”
“
Did you have sex with them,” Luke asked.
“
Yes actually. Sorry no pictures or videos to share,” Ben said and laughed.
Tessa laughed and shook her head and looked at Luke,
what was he doing she thought
.
“
You play basketball?” Luke asked.
“
Yep, love the game,” Ben said and smiled, “and you?”
“
I am, but football is my thing,” he said and smiled back,
but you already know that BEN he thought.
“
So Tessa are you playing any winter sports?” Ben asked.
“
Nope I am up to my elbows in Avita,” she smiled.
“
Come again?” Ben laughed, Tessa looked at Luke and grinned.
“
It our school musical,” she smiled.
“
Tessa has the lead in Avita,” Becca explained.
“
You sing?” Ben asked.
“
I do,” Tessa replied.
“
Awesome, I play guitar,” he said.
Tessa grinned looking down not wanting to see Luke
’s expression.
“
Do you go to church Ben?” Becca asked.
“
Yep, not as much as I should but I do,” Ben said and smiled.
Luke threw down two jacks and they took four.
“Are we done now?”
“
No man we play to fifteen,” Ben said and smiled and pointed to Luke’s seat, “I’m not done with you yet.”
Tessa laughed and looked at Luke who was clearly annoyed and bit her cheeks to try to stop.
“Hey Luke can we do this?” she asked.
“
Absolutely,” Luke said as he sat.
“
Good,” she said, “I like this game, so Ben do you dance?”
“
A little,” he said smirking, “I bid 3.”
“
I go four,” Luke said immediately not waiting his turn or looking at his cards.
Tessa and Becca laughed.
Luke led with the queen of hearts, and smiled at Tessa who looked terrified, she threw the 2, Ben a seven and Becca could not follow suit. Luke threw the King of hearts, Tessa the ten, and Ben the eight. Tessa looked at Luke and laughed. He threw six, Ben threw a jack and smiled, Tessa threw the ace. They all laughed. When the game was over Luke got up and walked away.
~
“So Tess how long did you two date?” Ben asked smiling.
“
Not long,” she said and blushed.
“
Long enough, I mean are you done with it?” Ben asked thoughtfully.
“
Yes I am, but he and I are friends,” she said and looked him in the eyes.
“
That’s it?” Ben asked.
“
Yep,” Tessa smiled.
“
Good, he’s not going to get all crazy on me is he? I would hate to have to kick his ass in front of you,” Ben said and winked.
She laughed,
“No he’s a good guy.”
“
Go for a walk with me?” Ben asked.
“
Sure Ben,” she said and smiled. They walked down to the pond.
“
I have to tell you Tessa, I have been crushing on you since I was about five,” Ben said and laughed.
“
Oh ya?” she said, “so where were you three months ago?” she asked. He laughed.
“
When you’re available and if you’re interested let me know Tess,” he said.
“
I will definitely keep that in mind,” she said, “In the meantime tell me about yourself Ben.”
“
Ask me anything you want Tess, I am an open book,” Ben said and he smiled.
“
Okay let’s walk, favorite subject?” Tessa asked.
They walked back down to the cabin as she asked him several questions. Ben
’s favorite subject was Science, his favorite color was green, his favorite sport to play was basketball, he loves water sports, music, racing dirt bike, hanging out with his boys, he went to church camp every summer until his sophomore year, his parents were still together, none of his relationships ended badly, all in fact because the girls moved. He didn’t feel the need to keep in contact with them but was friends with them on Facebook which he reminded her she had not accepted his request yet.
They walked in and grabbed a drink and walked back out to the porch, Ben sat down
“Your turn Tessa. I want to know everything. She felt comfortable enough to tell him about everything except that she loved Luke.
They went inside smiling, Alex invited Ben to stay at the house and join them in the hot tub.
“If Tess doesn’t mind I would love to,” Ben said.
“
Sounds like fun,” Tessa said.
“
I will meet you guys there,” she said and she cleaned up in the camp. Luke had already started cleaning.
“
How’s it going?” Luke asked avoiding eye contact.
“
Alright,” Tessa said softly.
“
Cool,” Luke said quickly.
“
Look I am in no hurry Luke, I am still not over my ex,” Tessa said moving in front of him so he had to look at her.
“
I am alright Tessa okay,” he said looking quickly at her.
“
Then take me home and get in the hot tub with us,” she said and stomped her foot.
“
Ok,” he said. He double bagged the garbage and threw it in the back of his SUV.
They pulled in and Luke dropped her by the door and drove out back to put the garbage in the dumpster.
~
When he went in Tessa was coming out, she had on swim shorts and a rash guard long sleeved swim top
, he laughed as he walked by, “What,” she asked.
“
That’s a lot of clothes for a hot tub,” he said as he bound up the stairs.
Tessa ran up behind him,
“Fine, I really feel like you’re trying to whore me out!”
She took the shirt off and threw it at him; he looked at her and saw her bare back. He stood and watched her as she slipped a top over her and tried to tie it. She stomped her foot.
“Let me get that,” he said softly. “I am not, I just want you to be happy,” Luke said and spun her around and kissed the top of her head. He looked down and pulled her top up a bit. “Perfect,” he said. She stared at him “Go Tessa, I will be out in a few minutes.”
She walked out and put her towel down as she got in.
“Sit here Tessa,” Ben said standing up and reaching for her hand.
Shit she thought he was perfect, too
he has some hair on his belly but he was built a lot like Luke. Tessa sat and Alex turned on the music. After a couple songs Luke came out and brought everyone sodas. He opened Tessa’s before he handed it to her. They all thanked him, he stepped in and Tessa put a towel over her face.
“
So you guys hunting all week?” Ben asked.
“
I will go out before school and after practice,” Alex said.
“
How about you Luke?” Ben asked smiling.
“
I’m not sure yet, this is my first year, gotta see how I like it,” Luke said sitting down.
“
Nice, I bet you’ll love it,” Ben said, “Hey Tessa you still cry if someone shoots a doe?”
“
Yes,” she said and smiled, “no actually, I don’t care.”
“
Yes she does,” Alex laughed, “she just doesn’t try to beat us up anymore. Oh and Bambi is way off limits.”
She took the towel off her face and splashed Alex and laughed.
Tessa looked at Luke and his eyes were twinkling. She put the towel back over her face and laid back. Alex turned up the music and Two Princes by the Black Crows started playing. Ben laughed,
he had a good laugh
. Tessa bit her lip and tried not to smile.
“
Tessa why aren’t you singing tonight?” Luke asked with a smile in his voice, “you always sing.”