Chapter 8

TESSA

Leo walked me to his car without saying a word. The night air was cold, quiet. I slipped into the passenger seat, my heart still beating fast from what happened inside.

He got in too, shut the door, and fastened his seat belt. His jaw was tight. His hands gripped the steering wheel hard.

“Well, Leo,” I said softly, trying to ease the tension. “You didn’t have to do that. Miss Sloane works for you. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.”

He said nothing. He just started the car and drove. The silence was heavy. The only sound was the low hum of the engine.

After a few minutes, he pulled up in front of my house.

“Thank you for the ride,” I said, forcing a small smile.

He turned to me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Tessa Lane,” he said slowly.

I smiled back, a little nervous. “I remember you, Leo. You don’t have to send me more signals.”

Before he could answer, a voice called out. “Girl!”

I turned and saw Chloe, my friend, standing by the gate. She waved, grinning wide.

I sighed and stepped out of the car. “Hey, Chloe.”

“Oh my God, Leo!” she said, walking closer, eyes wide with excitement. “Wow, it’s such a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Chloe,” I said, trying to stop her.

“What?” she asked, acting innocent, but her eyes were all over Leo. “Tessa has told me so much about you.”

Leo gave a small nod, polite but quiet.

“She told me you two were dating,” Chloe said.

Leo looked at me sharply. His brows drew together.

“And she also said it’s fake, and will never be real,” Chloe added with a little laugh.

“Chloe!” I snapped, grabbing her arm and pulling her back. “That’s enough.”

I turned to Leo, my voice low. “You should go. Thanks for the ride.”

He looked at me for a moment, his jaw still tense, then nodded and got back into his car. The engine started, and he drove off without another word.

As soon as his car disappeared down the street, I let go of Chloe’s arm and pushed her lightly.

“Ouch, don’t hurt me,” she said, rubbing her shoulder, her voice small now.

I stared at her. “Your mouth is too loose, Chloe. Why would you say something like that?”

She blinked, confused. “I didn’t know it was a secret.”

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Just… please, next time, think before you talk.”

She nodded slowly. “Okay.”

I turned toward my house, my chest tight. Leo’s words, his look, and Chloe’s voice all echoed in my head.

For the first time, I didn’t know if Leo was angry—

or hurt.

I pushed the door open. My house was dark. Only the orange street light came through the window. I kicked my shoes off. My feet hurt bad. My heart still beat fast because of Leo’s angry face.

Chloe came in behind me. She shut the door with her foot.

I turned on the small lamp. Yellow light fell on the rug.

Three big dildos lay there like dead snakes. Pink. Black. Purple. One had a smiley face sticker.

My mouth opened wide. “Oh shit. What the fuck is this? What if Leo came in?”

Chloe laughed loud. “Well, he would practice on both of us.”

My face got hot. “Stop it! Where did you get them? Why do you need dildos? Did you break up with Bryan again?”

“Yeah. I did.” Chloe sat on the couch. She picked up the pink one and waved it like a flag.

“Again?” I crossed my arms.

“He cheated on me. What do you want me to do?” she said.

“You cheated first.” I said. My voice was hard. I walked to my bed and sat down.

Chloe rolled her eyes. “Let it go. Now I need a new man.”

“Focus on your job first.” I told her.

Chloe lay back on the couch. She held the purple dildo up to the light. “Girl, I need to fuck.”

I stood up fast. “Then fuck the dildos.” I walked to my room. I shut the door. Not hard. Just closed it.

I leaned on the door. My back felt the cold wood. I breathed in. I breathed out.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

One message.

Leo.

“Are you home safe?”

I stared at the screen. My thumb shook.

I typed slow.

“Yes. I am home.”

Three dots. Gone. Three dots again.

“I am outside.”

My heart jumped to my throat.

I opened my bedroom door fast.

Chloe was on the floor. She lined the dildos like toy soldiers.

I whispered loud. “Leo is outside.”

Chloe’s eyes got big. She jumped up. She grabbed all three dildos and ran to the kitchen. She opened the cabinet. Bang. Bang. Bang. She threw them in.

I ran to the front door. My hand shook. I opened it.

Leo stood there. Hands in his coat pockets. Wind moved his hair. His eyes looked tired and soft.

“I forgot to say good night,” he said.

I stepped outside. I closed the door behind me. The night air was cold on my arms.

“You came back.” I said.

Leo looked down at his shoes. Then up at me. “Chloe said it is fake. The dating.”

I swallowed hard. “It was fake. At first.”

Leo took one step closer. “And now?”

I looked at his black clean shoes. “Now I don’t know.”

Leo lifted his hand. He touched my cheek. His hand was warm. “I know.”

He leaned in, trying to kiss me, but then a voice broke out.

It was Chloe.

“Girl, your ex boyfriend is calling you.” She said, her voice loud as she raised my cellphone up.

I cleared my throat and took the phone from Chloe. “Must be John,” I said quickly, trying to play it off.

Chloe frowned. “No, this is clearly Thompson, and you know it.”

I shot her a look that could kill. “Chloe.”

“What?” she said, her voice small now, like she just realized she messed up again.

Leo stepped back a little, his hand dropping from my cheek. The soft look in his eyes faded. “I think I need to go,” he said quietly.

“Leo, wait—” I started, but he was already walking toward his car.

The sound of his footsteps echoed down the driveway. My heart hurt with each step he took away.

The streetlight hit his shoulders, his hair, his back. He stopped for just a second, turned halfway, and looked at me.

“You should answer your call,” he said softly.

Then he opened his car door, got in, and drove off.

The red tail lights glowed for a few seconds, then disappeared.

I stood there for a long time, the cold air biting at my skin. My phone was still ringing in my hand. I looked down at it. The name on the screen flashed again and again.

Thompson.

I pressed the side button and ended the call.

Chloe was still standing by the door, hugging herself like she didn’t know what to say. “I didn’t mean to ruin anything,” she whispered.

I sighed, walking past her. “You act foolishly then you apologize later on. What the fuck is going on with you?”

“You can’t miss Thompson’s call, remember he was once the love of your life. Maybe he is back now.” Chloe said, her voice low.

And without another word, I answered the phone.

“What?” I yelled, my voice sharp.

“Tessa,” the voice on the other end said, calm and deep. “Your mom came to see me.”

I froze. “What?” My voice dropped, small now. “She what?”

“She came to my office this evening,” Thompson said slowly. “She looked tired. She said she needed help. She said she couldn’t reach you.”

I stood still in the middle of the living room. The phone felt heavy in my hand. “Help with what?”

“She didn’t tell me much,” he said. “Just that she needed money. And that you’ve been avoiding her calls.”

My throat went dry. “I haven’t been avoiding her,” I whispered. “I just… I’ve been busy.”

Chloe stood beside the couch, watching me. Her face had gone quiet.

“Tessa,” Thompson said again, his tone softer now. “I gave her some cash. But she didn’t look okay. You should check on her.”

I bit my lip hard. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“I know,” he said. “But I couldn’t just let her walk out like that.”

I closed my eyes, pressing a hand to my forehead. “Why would she go to you of all people?”

“Maybe because she still trusts me,” he said quietly. “Even if you don’t.”

That stung. “You lost that trust, Thompson,” I said, my voice breaking a little.

“I know I did. But your mom didn’t. She still thinks I can take care of you.”

I let out a shaky breath. “You already did once. Look how that ended.”

Silence. Just breathing on both ends of the line.

Then his voice came again, low and calm. “You’re angry. I get it. But this isn’t about us. Go see your mom, Tessa. Please.”

I didn’t answer.

He sighed. “Take care of yourself.”

The line went dead.

I lowered the phone and stared at it, my mind spinning.

Chloe walked closer, her face worried now. “What happened?”

I looked up at her, still dazed. “My mom went to see Thompson. She asked him for money.”

Chloe’s eyes widened. “Oh my God.”

I sank onto the couch. My hands were shaking. “She knows what he did to me, Chloe. She knows everything. Why would she go to him?”

Chloe sat beside me, quiet for once. “Maybe she’s desperate,” she whispered.

“Well, that doesn’t give her the right to go to my ex.” I shot back at her in anger.