Tessa: Sure.
We hashed out the details, and settled on meeting the next day in the evening.
I found it hard to fall asleep. My mind couldn’t stop making up scenarios of how things would play out when we met each other.
I arrived at The Cozy Bean five minutes early, prepared to buy our drinks and grab a table, but as I made my way to the counter, I caught sight of Ryan. He sat in the corner by the window, two mugs in front of him, and he was messing with his hair. He pushed a hand through it, stilled for a few seconds, then combed it again.
“Ryan?” I asked after walking over.
He jumped, his green eyes widening. “Tessa. Hi.” He gestured at one of the cups on the table. “I got you a hot chocolate.”
“You didn’t have to,” I said as I said down opposite him. “I was planning on treating you.” I ran my gaze over him. “You look nice.”
Nicer than usual. His button-up collared shirt looked freshly ironed, the cream color suiting his complexion perfectly. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing strong forearms. His hair wasstyled — usually he left it, but today it looked like he’d combed and pushed it back, making him look proper and preppy.
It suited him. But it was also surprising.
His gaze fell on the table. “Oh, this is nothing.”
“Did you dress up for me?” I joked.
He glanced at me, startled, and it took me a moment to realize — oh. He had.
And I suddenly felt underdressed in my cardigan, tank top, and blue jeans.
“Um,” I began, desperately needing to fill the awkward silence. “I just wanted to thank you in person for all your help.”
His eyes caught mine, his gaze steady. “It was my pleasure.”
It was a simple sentence. A common phrase. But my spine tingled and my mind flashed back to his apartment, to his bedroom —
I cleared my throat. “About that kiss —”
“Tessa?” A loud voice interrupted. “Tessa Davenport?”
I turned around, about to glare at whoever the hell was interrupting our conversation. Then my eyes caught on the speaker and my blood went cold.
No. No, no, no.
Damon and Dahlia Hayes looked exactly as they had in high school: tall, runway model proportions. Raven black hair and eyes that glittered like onyx. Full, berry red lips that twisted into snarls.
The twins had been the king and queen of my high school. Their father was a successful businessman and their mother used to be a high fashion model. They were beautiful and vicious. And they had made high school a living hell.
“Oh my god!” Dahlia shrieked, voice high and sharp like cut glass. She strode over, blinking at me. “Itisher.”
Damon fell into step beside her, appraising me from head to toe. “We almost didn’t recognize you. What happened to your glasses?”
“What happened to your acne?” Dahlia asked. “You used to have it all over your face. Did you finally take my advice? I kept telling you, you need to wash your face.”
I could feel blood rushing in my ears. I wanted to run away, but I was frozen in my seat.
“I did wash my face.” My voice was almost a whisper. I had done everything to fix my acne, but only seeing a dermatologist had fixed the problem.
“You actually look alright,” Damon said, tilting his head. “You used to be a two, but now you’re a solid six.”
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. This couldn’t be happening. Not them. Anyone but them.
“Excuse me.” A cold voice sliced through the conversation and I realized it was Ryan. He was giving the twins his iciest glare. “Who exactly are you?”
