Page 28 of Pretty Broken Things

Tessa and Tracy make an appearance at the top of the stairs. There’s a hush in the conversation as everyone turns to look at them. They make a striking image standing side by side. Tracy, as usual, is wearing tight black clothes, and heeled boots. Of course she’s striking, but it’s Tessa that takes my breath away. The thing is, she did earlier too when she was wearing oversized men’s sweats.

Now though, she’s wearing a red dress in some kind of clingy fabric that hugs her body like a second layer of skin. I can’t take my eyes off her, but I also feel the need to make sure none of my friends are checking her out. Shane catches me staring down everyone who dares look at her. He laughs at me, and claps his hand on my shoulder.

“You want her,” he states.

“I’ve already told her that,” I snap. “What exactly are you trying to get me to admit?”

“Nothing. Admitting how you feel isn’t the issue. You’re a pretty self-aware guy. I want you to accept it. Doing shit like making me take credit for this party is going to bite you in the ass. There’s nothing wrong with having feelings for her,” he says.

“Really? Look where she lives.” I hold my arms out wide. “This is the world she’s used to existing in. It’s not fair of me to bring her into mine.”

Shane squeezes my shoulder hard, almost to the point of pain. “So let her bring you into hers. You don’t belong in the gutter, Ford. You never have.”

“I can’t do that,” I mutter and shake his hand off.

“Would you quit being a martyr? There’s nothing wrong with letting someone help you. You think she doesn’t need something from you? I know I’m not the only one to see how lonely she is being in this house alone. Am I less of a man for letting my grandparents give me a safe place to escape to? No, I’m not, and you won’t be either for letting her look after you a little too. You both should be looking after each other.”

His words echo through my mind while I make my way over to her. I wrap my arm around her waist and glue her to my side. I lean down to her ear and whisper, “This is not what we talked about you wearing. Do you remember why I insisted you cover up?”

Her cheeks flush a deep red. “You told me to wear a lot of clothes,” she says quietly.

I turn her to face me. “And did you listen to me?”

She shakes her head. “No,” she says with a smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

“Was that a smart decision?” I ask her, and she shivers.

“That depends on what you’re going to do about it,” she whispers close to my ear.

“You’ll find out when I get you alone later. I warned you we should take things slow, but you kept pushing me. Now, you’re going to get all of me.”

Tessa kisses my cheek. “Promise?”

* * *

Waitingfor the cake to be cut and the guests I stupidly invited over to leave seems to take forever. From the moment I saw Tessa at the top of the stairs in that evil red dress, I wanted to be alone with her.

Tessa rolls her eyes at me as I start packing up the food. “It’s still early. Why are you putting everything away?”

“Because you’re not wearing sweats,” I grumble.

She laughs at me, and wanders off to talk to the girls. Since it seems I’ve become even more antisocial than before, I don’t follow her lead and go talk to my friends. Instead I lean against the wall, and glare at all the guys who so much as look in her direction. Guys I’ve been friends with since I was in elementary school. I’d trust them any other time, but right now they’re on my shit list.

Ted strolls over and offers me a game controller. “Come on and let me kick your ass in Combat Zone. She’s not going anywhere.”

Since I’m already pissed off, I give him a dirty look like I have all my other friends. “Pass. I’m fine right here.”

He stands taller, his shoulders roll back, and for a moment I get the sense that nerdy Ted might actually be able to kick my ass. The look on his face tells me he’d enjoy it even. He’s intimidating enough that I take the controller. Once I’m complying with his demand, his shoulders slouch a bit, and a goofy grin makes an appearance on his face. I shake it off. With my mood turning sour, I’m clearly seeing a threat in every person I deal with.

“Let’s go and commit some virtual violence before you do it in real life. You like Craig and Jason. I don’t think you’ll feel good about smashing their faces in for trying to flirt with Hailey just because she’s standing too close to Tessa,” he says.

I take a deep breath, and look closer at the group across the room. Hailey twirls her hair around her finger, and is giving off all the vibes that she’s interested in one or the both of them. No judgment here.

“Okay, so you’re right about that, but I’m not in the mood to play video games right now.” I set the controller down on one of the pointless tables that seem to be scattered all over the house. Other than to collect random shit, I don’t understand the point of them, but it’s pretty damn convenient right now.

Ted looks like he’s about to argue with me, when Shane pushes his way into our conversation. “Leave him be, Ted. Our boy is practically feral right now. If you try and pull him away from his woman, he’s going to club someone over the head and drag her away by her hair.”

“There’s actually no scientific evidence that Neanderthals dragged women by their hair,” Ted argues.

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