How soon is too soon to think you’re in love?
Because if this isn’t it...
Then I don’t know what else could be.
Chapter 22 - Tessa
I don’t remember the last time I had a Saturday this quiet.
No alarms, no calls, no urgent cases.Just me, a hot coffee, and the faint hum of the ceiling fan trying its best to fight off the August heat.
Nate had gone back to Summit City last night for another team meeting.When I’d asked what it was about, he said it was preseason stuff, schedules, marketing,andPR.The usual.He’d kissed my forehead, said he’d be back tonight, and that was it.
It shouldn’t have felt off, but it did.
I’d spent last night at Chase’s, sprawled on his couch with Adam, half-watching a movie, half-arguing about whether or not pineapple belonged on pizza.Kenzie had bailed, saying she was “busy,” which, from the smile in her voice, told me everything I needed to know.
Now it’s morning, the sky hazy with late-summer sun, and I’ve decided to keep my promise to Olivia.
By late morning, I’ve loaded Olivia’s tiny pink helmet and a bag of apples and carrots into my truck.Marcus meets me at the riding camp my friend runs just outside Summit City.
The place smells like hay and sun-warmed leather, horses shifting lazily in their stalls.Olivia’s practically bouncing out of her new riding boots.
“Do I get my own horse?”she asks, clutching my hand.
“Today you get to meet a few and see which one likes you best,” I tell her.“That’s how it works, you don’t pick them, they pick you.”
She nods solemnly, as if I’ve just explained one of the great truths of the universe.
Watching her meet the horses, I feel myself relax in a way I didn’t realize I needed to.The last few weeks have been a blur of movement and moments with Nate.His voice on the phone late at night.His hand finding mine when we walk through a crowd.His eyes always on me.I try to push him out of my head.Focus on this.On the way, Olivia laughs when Sugar, the mare, nudges her shoulder for another apple.
Marcus leans on the rail beside me, quiet for a while before he finally says, “Thanks for doing this.Liv’s been talking about it non-stop.”
I smile.“She’s a natural.”
He watches her, eyes soft, and I think, not for the first time, how much strength it takes to raise a kid alone.
When I ask him why he didn’t have to go to the meeting with the rest of the team, he gives me a look I can’t quite read.
“I was there for the first part.Scheduling, some sponsor stuff,” he says.“But I told them I’m done with Liv being used for PR.She’s just a kid, Tess.That’s not her job.”
That makes me still.The wordPRfeels like static in my veins.
“You told them that today?”
He nods.“Yeah.Nate was still there when I left.”
That’s when I check the time, almost three.He should’ve called by now.
By the time I am back at my truck, the sky’s gone golden.I check my phone again, nothing.No text.No call.Not even a stupid meme.
I tell myself he’s busy, that he’s got a lot on his plate.But the silence feels heavier than usual.Finally, I call him.
It rings twice before he answers, voice low and rough.“Hey.”
Something’s off immediately.
“Hey, yourself,” I say gently.“You heading home tonight?”
