Page 40 of Hot Blooded

Even through the phone, Tessa could sense the sudden alarm in his demeanor. “Me? I don’t have any room for Ma. And I’ve got my own family to take care of. I can’t exactly take on the extra expense.”

“What are you talking about? You just finished your basement last year with a guest suite. That would be perfect for Ma,” Tessa answered, keeping her voice calm even though her temper was urging her to scream at him.

“You expect me to stick Ma in the basement?” Rob countered weakly.

“It’s a pretty fuckin’ nice basement, Robbie. And you don’t even have to worry about the costs. The credit cards are paid off, the mortgage is no longer in arrears, and if Ma sold the house, she’d walk away with a little nest egg, plus she can start collecting Dad’s social security next year. Hell, moving Ma in would bring more money for you! And as a bonus, you’d always have somebody around to look after the kids instead of bothering to take care of them yourself!” She rattled off her argument with steadily increasing volume. It wasn’t until someone passing on the sidewalk gave her a nasty look that she realized she was shouting into her phone. Cringing, she pressed her lips together.

Rob spluttered some more nonsense about how “it’s not that simple” and “there’s more to consider than just money” and how Tessa’s “lifestyle” was more flexible for looking after their mother. With each weak rebuttal, Tessa’s anger shifted into helpless exhaustion. There was nothing she could do or say to make her family understand or care about what she wanted.

“I need my own life,” she said tiredly when Rob finally paused for breath.

“Your ‘own life’ doesn’t involve your mother?”

Her temper flashed to life again. “Fuck you, Rob.” She hung up.

So much for happy thoughts. The relief she’d been floating on just a few minutes ago had been replaced by guilt and anger and exhaustion. She stared up at the sky, annoyed to see the sun so far above the horizon. Why wasn’t it night yet? She wanted to be with Amos. He’d be happy for her. He’d celebrate with her. And he’d give her an outlet for all that helpless rage.

In preparation for her night with Amos, Tessa went home, necked two Benadryl, and went back to bed for a few hours. There was no way she was going to be falling asleep on him again.

At 7:25, she came downstairs, dressed and ready to go. Ma was at the kitchen table with Tía Carolina, Dad’s eldest and crabbiest sister, drinking coffees that they would never admit had RumChata instead of creamer.

“Hi, Tía,” Tessa said, bending for a kiss. “How are you?”

“Fine, fine,” she answered, flicking a critical look up and down Tessa’s body. “And where are you going, then?”

“To meet a friend,” Tessa answered.

“A friend,” Tía repeated skeptically, gaze settling on the tight fit of Tessa’s sweater dress and the knee-high boots and thigh-high socks she’d paired with it.

Tessa buttoned her coat up. “Yes. We’re going out for drinks.” Well, one of them would be drinking, anyway.

“On a Thursday?”

“That’s what I’m asking!” Ma chimed in, throwing out an emphatic hand.

“I have a weird work schedule. I have to find time where I can,” Tessa said defensively, even though she knew better than to engage with the criticism. She couldn’t seem to help herself.

“She can make time for her friend, but not for her Uncle’s sixtieth birthday,” Ma said to Tía.

Both of them raised their eyebrows at Tessa.

Tessa swallowed a sigh. “It was nice seeing you, Tía. I have to get going though. Bye. Ma, don’t forget to lock up tonight. I’ll be home later.”

“Later, huh?” Ma sniped.

“Yep, bye,” Tessa said quickly.

Outside, she paused at the top of the steps, exhaling a growling sigh. If it had been any other tía visiting—Martina, Cecilia, or Luz—the unexpected run-in would have been pleasant. But there was a reason Ma and Tía Carolina got on so well, and it wasn’t because of their understanding, supportive natures. They both saw themselves as the guardians of their families and felt it was their God-given right to be critical and controlling. And when the two of them got together, they amplified each other to a stressful degree. The easiest thing to do was to pay obeisance and then flee.

While she breathed through the stress, Tessa became aware of an unsettling, prickling feeling on the back of her neck. She lifted her head, glancing up and down the street, but it was quiet and empty and dark. Even so, that watched feeling wouldn’t fade. Her heart sped up and a small smile slowly tugged at her lips.

He was here.

Ducking her head to hide her smile, Tessa started walking.

She’d spent so much time imagining the endgame, but she’d failed to plan anything before that. Amos had told her to go wherever she pleased, but the only place she wanted to be was trapped in his unbreakable grip.

After a moment’s hesitation, she started towards Douglas Park. It was a long walk, through areas she wouldn’t normally traverse by herself at night. And while she would never believe that a woman’s clothing justified assault against her, she was well aware that too many men felt differently, and she had purposely dressed provocatively tonight—short, tight dress, tall boots, even taller stockings. So, while her conscious mind was unafraid because she believed Amos would keep her safe even as he hunted her, her subconscious rebelled against what she was doing.

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