I’ve seen the way my dad has been with my mom. The way my brothers are with their women. With the expection of my sister, Eden, everyone is paired up. If I have questions, I know I can always go to them.
Even if they give me shit about it.
I would take on their razzing and anything else they might toss in my direction because I know there is no way I can go back to living my life without her. I have been living life halfway, and I’m done with it. It’s as if I just discovered what it is like to live in color, and the idea of going back to a black and white life would kill.
Fuck that.
I’ve had a taste of heaven, and I’m not letting my angel go.
Living without Tessa in my bed and under my roof isn’t an option. We will make it work. Most definitely. And with that decision in mind, I no longer dread the blizzard ending. Not when I’m one hundred percent ready for us to start a new week together. To integrate our lives together and find a way to make us work. Day after day, week after week until the end of time.
The thought calms me, and I let the heaviness in my eyes take over as I shut them and breathe in deeply. Her scent fills my lungs, and when I exhale, I’m more relaxed.
Sleep never came this easily before Tessa found her way to my bed. There is something about having my girl in my arms that has a smile over my face.
With it, a peace and calm I never knew existed.
8
TESSA
Iwake up slowly, and the moment I open my eyes I realize I’m alone. This isn’t the first morning I’ve woken up alone, but I prefer having Owen still in bed with me. I turn, not completely ready to roll out and go in search of him when my eyes catch the window.
He must have pulled the curtains before stepping out, and as beautiful as it is out there, my heart stills in my chest as I realize the snow has stopped.
The street in front of his home is clear. It’s obviously been plowed. I should feel grateful. I know what a blizzard can do to people on our mountain. It can be inconvenient and frightening if you’re not prepared. But a heaviness settles in the pit of my stomach.
The blizzard is gone.
What if our time is up? What happens now? I try to shake off the questions, but I can’t seem to shake the negative thoughts away.
Everything will be fine,I try to remind myself. What is the absolute worst-case scenario here? Owen sends me packing andthis is just a beautiful amazing memory that will have to fill my heart until the day I die.Dramatic much?I scold myself.
Everything will be fine!
Owen told me himself he has been loving his time with me. Why am I being a Debbie Downer now? After giving myself a small pep talk, I roll out of bed and reach for the blue flannel shirt Owen wore the day before. Buttoning all but the top two, leaving those undone to see if maybe I can manage to tempt him to come back to bed with me and pretend it’s still snowing outside, I go to look for him.
Not that I get too far.
I’m about halfway down the hall when I hear Eli’s voice, and my feet stop.
“What do you mean, she’s staying here?” Eli hisses. I rest my hand on the wall, hiding from being seen.
“She doesn’t need you to take her anywhere,” Owen tensely shares, and I feel my eyes widen. He almost sounds jealous.Of Eli?
“Look, man, can you just go to the guest room and…” Eli’s voice drifts off to almost nothing when all of a sudden, he growls. “What did you fucking do?”
“Eli—"
“It’s Tessa!” Eli shouts, and I hear Owen hush him.
“I know! Now keep your fucking voice down! She’s sleeping. You don’t think I know how it is?” Owen scolds.
“Jesus, please tell me you didn’t fuck her!” Eli hisses, and I wince.
“Don’t talk about her like that!” Owen clips. My feet take me closer to the archway that connects the hall with the living room.
“What the?—"
