Chapter 3

Tess's POV

The next morning, I got up early and went to the apartment complex that Jack and I lived at. I didn't see his car in our assigned spots. I told him I was coming here today, and I was praying that he wasn't going to be here. I just wanted my clothes and a few other things. 

When I walked into our apartment it finally hit me. I had been so angry about everything that I hadn't broken down and cried, until now. Seeing our engagement photos hanging on the walls and how in love I am with this man. Grabbing one of the photos off the wall to anyone looking at it, we looked like we were in love but when I studied Jack's face, I could see it. He might be looking at me and smiling but his eyes gave it away. He wasn't in love. I was an obligation he had to his parents. They expected him to get married and take over the company and I was easy to convince, and I was dumb enough that I didn't figure it out. 

I threw the picture on the floor, shattering the glass and wiped my face and went to our bedroom. I grabbed my suitcase and started piling my clothes in it. It didn't take long to fill up. I wouldn't be taking everything with me because tomorrow I was out of this god forsaken state. 

I had filled three suitcases with stuff and dragged them down to my car. I went back up once last time to make sure that I had everything I wanted and what was left Jack could deal with.

When I got back out to my car, the spot next to mine had a car parked in it. I groaned because it was one of three people and when the person stepped out, I groaned again not wanting to deal with her. 

"Tessalynn, what are you doing?" She snapped at me.

"I'm leaving Mrs. Wellington."

"Jack is at my house just sick about this." She said and I just had to shake my head because I am sure he isn't. I'm sure he's somewhere nursing a hangover in some girl's bed or probably Sloans bed.

"I don't owe you anything. I sure as shit don't owe him anything. He wasted four years of my life, I'm just thankful that I found out what lying piece of shit he is before I actually married him."

"Watch it, that is my son, and you embarrassed my family enough yesterday."

"No Judy, your son did that," I yelled at her. I had never called her by her first name. I wouldn't be the proper southern belle if I did that. Well,

I'm fucking done being the good girl they think that I am. 

"If you refuse to make this right, this is for you."

She handed me an envelope, and she stood there with the perfect posture, and her perfect hair and makeup and it was only seven in the morning. I ripped the envelope open and pulled out a bill for fifty thousand dollars. 

"What the hell is this?"

"You're half of the wedding."

"I'm not paying for shit."  I said and shoved the bill into her chest, but she didn't take it from me, and it fell to the ground. 

"If you don't pay, I will go after your mother for it."

"Leave her alone and you are the one that wanted that shit. You booked everything and your son ruined it. I'm not paying for it."

I got in my car and sped off. I watched her in my rearview mirror as her driver got out and opened the door for her. It honestly made me sick that I thought I wanted to be a part of that family. 

When I pulled back up to my mother's house I went inside, and she was up sitting on the couch drinking coffee. I hadn't told her I was leaving yet but I guess now was better than ever because after my run in with his mom, I knew it was just going to keep happening.

I went and sat down on the couch and rested my head on her shoulder. "It's going to be alright sweetie. I know it feels like the world is ending, but it's going to be alright."

"I know and mom I don't know how to tell you this because you've been my everything. You are the best mom in the entire world but," I hesitated as my mouth went dry and it was hard to tell her this. 

"I know honey, you are leaving and I have something for you."

She made it so much easier for me, and I didn't have to actually tell her. She knew, like she always did. I swear this woman was a mind reader or something. 

She reached over to the table and handed me an old coffee can. I opened it up and it was full of cash. I instantly handed it back.

"Mom, I don't need this."

"Yes, you do. Take and get the hell out of this town."

"I really don't need this. We had been saving money for a down payment on a house. He didn't want to use his parent's money for things like that. Said we had to prove to the world we deserved to have everything, and I respected that and I still do, but we had savings account together and we had our separate accounts. I may have went last night and taken half of that savings account."

She started laughing and I had to join her. It wasn't really that funny, but I think the whole situation was just so much that all we could do is laugh. 

"I'm leaving today," I finally said after our laughter calmed down.

"Ok, well let's get your stuff packed and get you ready." she said with a confidence that I wish I could feel. I was scared and I was leaving not knowing where I was going but I wanted someone far away from here and I wanted the beach, so I was thinking California.

Three days later I pulled up to the first beach in California that I found. I wasn't sure which town I was in honestly and I really didn't care. It was warm and had a beach and for the first time in three days I felt at peace. Things felt right and I felt like this is where I was supposed to be. I got out of my car and walked down to the shoreline and kicked off my shoes and pulled my pants up and put my feet in the water. The warm water lapped around my feet, and I relaxed just a little. 

I snapped a picture of my feet in the water and sent it to my mom. Her reply was instant, with a smiley face emoji. 

I spent several hours before I left and found a cheap hotel and got a shower and ordered some food. I grabbed my laptop while I waited for food. I had to find a place to live and a job. 

I found several different places to apply for a job. I had my nursing licenses and so I started there at hospitals and then moved onto restaurants.  I knew that they would be faster and I needed income coming in. Then I moved onto apartments, and they were spendy in this area. Everything was to be honest with you, but I would figure it out. 

It only took me two days to find a job waiting tables at a high-end place. It was always packed, which was good because I made great tips and I had first round interviews set up at a hospital in town. They had several openings. 

I walked into work, and my apron was thrown at me instantly. "Tess, can you handle the back room tonight?" my manager asked.

"I think so."

"Good because Sofie called out and I need you back there."

I just nodded at him and started getting everything I needed. "Go, they are important clients. I need you to turn on that southern charm."

I took a deep breath and headed to the back room. I could hear multiple deep voices back there when I got close but the one right before I entered made my legs a little weak. It was deep and so authoritative. He was commanding the whole room. Everyone was listening to him. I smoothed back my ponytail and made sure my shirt was tucked in and pulled the curtain back and walked inside the room like I owned it. 

Ten men's heads all turned to me and God they were all hot. I wish I knew who these men were. They were all large and packed with muscles and tattoos. All of them had them in various locations. 

My face blushed and a few men chuckled and I had to shake my head to clear the dirty thoughts out of my head, because right now I was thinking about being the main course and good god I never had thought about being with more than one man at a time. In fact, I had only been with two men my entire life but right now, if one of them suggested for me to lay on the table I would in a heartbeat. 

"I'm Tess and I'll be your waitress tonight. Can I get you started with anything to drink?"

One guy there had a small black eye, and he looked at one of the guys who looked identical to him. "Where you from, beautiful?"

"I just moved here from Georgia."

"That accent is pretty."

"Thank you."

"How about a round of you?" he asked and my face heated to that of an overripe tomato. 

"Alex, knock your shit off," the man at the head of the table scolded him and God it was the man talking before I entered with the voice. He commanded the room, and he was the one in charge but looking at all the men several of them had to be related because they looked so much alike. 

"Give us a bottle on your top shelf whiskey."

"Yes, sir," I said and the man shifted in his chair from my formality. 

"You can leave now," he scolded and I quickly turned on my heel and ran out of the room and went and put their order in.

As soon as I pulled the curtain

shut, they all started laughing but the man at the head of the table growled at them to shut up. 

I moved away as fast as I could and went straight to the bar and ordered their whiskey and then went and got glasses and wasn't sure if they wanted ice or not. I went without since they wanted the whiskey. I grabbed enough glasses for them and headed back into the room.  

The room went silent as soon as I walked in and I felt like an intruder. All eyes were on me, and I slowly walked around the room and placed a glass in front of all of them. 

"Are you gentlemen ready to order, or would you like some more time?" I asked, looking at the man at the head of the table. His eyes were so dark and daring and there was something about him. I wanted to know his name. I wanted to know what it felt like to scream it while he was between my legs. 

"We're ready," the man that was hot as sin said. God, I needed to know his name and a picture would be even better.

They all took their turns ordering and I wrote things down as quickly as possible and prayed that I didn't get this wrong. 

"Will this be one check or separate checks?" I asked before I went to put their order in. It was easier if I could do it now.

"One," the man at the head of the table growled at me again and I wanted to see if I could get under his skin again.

"Yes, sir. I will get this put in right now."

It worked and he shifted in his seat and his face flushed just slightly. I gave him a small smile and winked at him letting him know I could see what that was doing. I had a feeling I was playing a dangerous game but God he was hot and totally worth it. 

I walked out of the room and took a deep breath because right now I don’t know what has come over me. I’ve never had thoughts like I was right now, and I’ve never flirted like this before. I was more reserved and polite. Maybe this was the change I needed, maybe this could be the new me.