She glances over her shoulder, smiling. “It’s a good thing.”
“How long were you out there? You’re half-snowman.” Her cheeks are rosy red and I swear if I touch her she’ll shatter like a thin sheet of ice.
She laughs, shaking the melting flakes loose. “You always this charming when rescuing damsels in distress?”
“Only when the damsel ignores road warnings.”
That earns me a grin. “Admit it—you missed having me around to keep you on your toes.”
“I think I’ve had enough excitement for one lifetime, Pope.”
“You keep saying that, but your expression says otherwise,” Tessa says, moving closer to the fire to warm up.
She’s baiting me. Just like she used to. But now, it feels different and I’m not sure that I like it.
“I can find some dry clothes for you to change into. Show you where the shower’s at if you want to warm up.”
Tessa looks at me and bites her lip. “You don’t have to play host.”
“Not like I can send you back out there,” I say, nodding toward the front windows. Snow drives sideways against the glass. “You’ll have to stay until morning. Might as well get comfy.”
Her lips twitch. “Guess I’m your problem for the night.”
“That’s one way to put it.” I pick up that glass of bourbon I left behind and down it in one swallow. I’m gonna need it, I’m sure of it. “Better call and let your parents know.”
Tessa pulls her phone out of her pocket and waves it in the air. “Phone’s dead.”
I shake my head. “Shocker. Lucky for you, there’s a phone right there.” I point to the land line hanging on the wall. “And a phone charger on the end table.”
Her eyes widen as she looks at the phone on the wall. “Whoa. I didn’t know they still made those. You might be the only person who has one. I thought they kept those things in museums these days,” she says with a straight face.
She maintains the serious expression for longer than I expected before she falls apart into giggles. “Oh, Hale, if you could see your face right now.”
“Laugh it up, Tessa.” I try not to smirk. “Go on. I bet you don’t even know how to work arealphone. Better yet, I bet youdon’t even remember your parent’s number because it’s saved in your silly littlesmartphone.”
Her jaw drops. “I…I…damnit.I do know how to use that…antique.”
“But you don’t know their number.” With an amused expression of my own, I take my cell phone out of my back pocket and pull up Jack Pope’s name. “Here.” I hold the device out to her. “Call your dad.”
While she checks in with them, I try to remind myself that she’s “Little” Tessa Pope. A woman twenty years my junior. Thekidwho was always causing trouble. Even though the Tessa standing in my living room now is nothing like the rebel teen who I’m pretty sure is solely responsible for most of my gray hair.
This version of Tessa is smart, successful,beautiful.And now the universe has forced us together, in my house that suddenly feels a lot smaller with her standing in the middle of it.
five
. . .
Tessa
“Hey. Nathan,”my dad answers after the first ring, not expecting me to be on the other end of the line. “What can I do for you this evening?”
“Daddy,” I say, and my voice cracks. In an instant, I feel like a little girl again—knees scraped, tears threatening. I didn’t realize how shaken I was until I heard his voice.
“Tessa…” he draws my name out with that familiar mix of worry and resignation. “Honey, why are you calling me from Chief Hale’s phone? What have you done this time?”
A breathy laugh escapes me. “Everything’s fine, Daddy. Just had a little car trouble.”
“Where are you, sweetheart? I’ll come get you.”
