Page 37 of Along Comes Trouble

Tessa shivers as the wind blows across the stadium. She crawls into my lap. “I thought life was all about following the rules. About doing what was expected of me until I checked off each and every goal on my list and had therefore earned the title successful . Since I met you and your sister, I’ve let go of more and more of my rules and found more and more ways to have fun and, let me tell you. Life is so much better this way. I wish I’d learned to relax sooner.” She leans her head against my shoulder .

I stare out over the field for a long time. “Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if I’d met you earlier. What would have happened if you’d grown up here and we’d gone to the same school ?”

Tessa picks at the hem of her jacket. “You probably wouldn’t have noticed me. If you were anything like I imagine, I would have been completely under your radar .”

“There’s no way.” I take her hand. “I would have noticed you .”

“Come on. A high school football star? I bet you had every single cheerleader lined up, waiting for you to crook your finger their way .”

I bob my head. “I can’t argue with that .”

Tessa looks sad. “Yeah. So. Someone like you never would have even seen someone like me. I was that weird kid who sat by herself at lunch, reading so I didn’t have to face the world and realize how alone I was. I doubt there’s one person in my graduating class who would even remember my name.” She shifts in my lap. “Don’t get me wrong. I was different enough that I was okay with it all. I ostracized myself more than anyone did it to me, you know? It’s just, sometimes I get…sad…looking back on it .”

A lock of hair falls across her face and I push it back and tuck it behind her ear. “I promise you, Tessa. I would have seen you. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I think if we’d met in high school, we would have had one of those romances people dream about. And you wouldn’t have had to sit alone at lunch. I’d have been right there with you .”

“And I would have been at each and every one of your games. Cheering and screaming your name louder than any of those cheerleaders .”

“And each time I made a touchdown, I’d have looked right at you and blown you a kiss so you knew you were the only reason I ever did anything .”

Tessa leans her head on my shoulder. “I like this daydream,” she says .

“Me, too.” I place a finger under her chin and turn her face to mine. I kiss her deeply, sitting on the bleachers that made up such an important part of my past, that might now be the key to my future, while holding the woman that’s quickly meaning more to me than anyone ever has .

---