He shook his head and smiled down at her, completely in awe of his feelings for her and how amazing she was. He gave her body a tight squeeze and kissed her lips firmly.
“I’m not going anywhere, Tess. As long as I have you in my arms like this, I’m a happy guy.”
CHAPTER 6
10 Years Ago
“Just stick with me girl and you’ll be fine!”
Katie, Jordan’s girlfriend, looped her arm through Tessa’s and gave her a reassuring squeeze, guiding her through the huge crowd of the football game as they pushed their way to the family section of the stands. They had only met a few minutes prior, only finding out right before the game that Tristan and Jordan had set it up so thatthey were sitting together. Luckily, both girls bondedimmediately,and Tessa was grateful for Katie taking the lead on getting them safely to their seats. This was only Tessa’s second game, and it was all still very new to her.
Once they found theirseatsKatie turned to the group of guys behind them and eyed their beers. Tessa and Katie were both under 21, so were unable to get anything from the concession stands before the game.
“Would one of you big strong gentlemen like to give up a beer for twopretty underageblondes?”
Tessa snickered and hid her face in embarrassment but burst into laughter when all three guys handed over their drinks immediately.
“One for both of us? How chivalrous of you,” Katie said in a suggestive tone as she grabbed two beers and handed one to Tessa. The guysonthe end felt left out since Katie did not take his beer. “Don’tworry Romeo,I’lltakeyourslater.Don’tdrink it all!”
Tessa took the beer from Katie’s hand and took a sip of the cool liquid andgrimacedslightly. She was never a beergirl butwas grateful for the liquid courage regardless of what it was.
“I hear you’re from Pennsylvania,” Katie said before chugging her beer.
“We live near Reading,” she said wistfully, thinking back to her hometown. “My dad owns a Christmas tree farm on our property so they are very busy right now as you can imagine,” Tessa took out her phone and showed Katie a few pictures of the farm, looking longingly at the multiple pictures that her mom had sent her of the rows and rows of perfectly grown trees.
“You’re shitting me, that’s so cool!” Katie said enthusiastically. “So,you’reonly an hour from where my family is! Do you miss it as badly as I do every day?”
“Oh my God, yes,” Tessa replied with a genuine head nod, “I do really like Nashville though.I’mglad I ended up here.”
“What do you think you’ll do after you get your degree?”
“I have no idea,” Tessa said with a laugh, “I mean, the ultimate goal is to be a journalist, I just don’t know if that will take me to New York or LA. Preferably one of the two since I also do a lot with music so the potential for me to do something on the side in one of those cities isimportant to me. Whatabout you?”
Katie sighed and looked out at the field of players that were warming up. Her eyes scanned until she found Jordan, and Tessa watched as Katie’s eyessparkledand she smiled to herself.
“Wherever he goes, I’ll go,” she said quietly.
“You guys love each other?” Tessa asked with a small voice, herheart burstingat the sight of Katie looking longingly at her boyfriend.
“Very much. Mydad’snot thrilledI endedup with a football player but, it is what it is at this point.Literally nothinghe can do to stop it.”
“Jordan’s also a great guy, so that makes it easier.”
“He’s the best,” Katie said with a smile. “The Eagles have their eye on him.They’vehad their scouts out here a fewtimesand they keep calling him for interviews. I amliterally prayingto God thatthat’swhere he ends up.”
“That would be amazing,” Tessa said with a smile, “Imagine ending up back in Pennsylvania.”
“And playing for the only teamI’veever routed for? Itcouldn’tget any better than that.We’llknow a bit more after graduation so, keep your fingers crossed for him - for us.”
“I will,” Tessa said as she took another sip of her beer. There was a comfortable silence between them asboth youngwomen focused their eyes on the field. “How do you handle being with a football player?” Tessa asked nervously.
“What do you mean, like their schedule and stuff?”
“Yeah,” she replied with a shy shrug, “Like their schedule, not knowing wherethey’llend up if they even do get drafted. There just seems like a lot of uncertainty.”
“There is for sure,” Katie replied. “I guess I’m just very committed to Jordan. Like I feel so confident that we are supposed to be together and that he’ll take care of me no matter where his career takes him. I’m prepared to move around the country if that’s what it takes for him to follow his dreams.”
Tessa sat quietly and processed Katie’s words. Tessa liked having her life planned out years in advance. She knew what she wanted to be when she grew up since she was 5 years old and she very rarely leaned into spontaneity. The idea of being with Tristan when he got drafted in some state she had never been to made her belly flutter with nerves.
