Page 84 of Always on My Mind

“Which relationship in your life do you feel is the most important?”

“Tessa,” Jamie answered.

In her heart, she knew it was the right one.

“Excellent,” Lila said. “Let’s begin, then.”

Tessa considered blowing off Jamie’s invitation to come over and stay the night. She might have been more compelled to follow through if Jamie hadn’t said there was a surprise waiting for her. Tessa was a sucker for a good surprise. At least, one she knew was coming. Not the kind where she nearly pissed herself in her kitchen because footballers were surprisingly quiet about the house. She had threatened to put a bell on both Niamh and Jamie more than once.

Her curiosity got the better of her, and she made her way to Jamie’s row house in her posh little neighborhood. They had exchanged keys ages ago, so Tessa let herself in upon arrival. A heavenly smell wafted from the kitchen—something buttery and garlicky, if she had to guess. Her stomach rumbled.

“Jamie?” she called as she came into the kitchen.

The lights were low, with two candles lit on the table. They stood between two place settings, with wine glasses and china plates and more than enough silverware. It was no wonder Jamie had told her to dress up. Tessa was glad she’d gone with a floral wrap dress and kitten heels.

She spotted Jamie at the stove, looking like a proper ride in her form-hugging trousers, and tank top. She wore some chunky boots, which the trousers draped over perfectly. Of course, everything was tailored, but her ass was particularly perky in the trousers. She’d wrapped her hair into a slick bun at the nape of her neck. Tessa noticed the tan lines at the spot where her training shirt stopped.

“You look hot,” Tessa said, setting her purse down on the island.

“Thank you,” Jamie replied.

She turned the burner down before walking over to kiss Tessa hello. The kiss was brief, but promising. Tessa held back a whimper when it ended.

“What’s all this about?” she asked, glancing around.

“I want to show you how much I love you,” Jamie told her. “With a steak dinner.”

Tessa swallowed down a reply that they could get a steak dinner and show off how sexy they looked if they went out instead of staying home. These gestures had a pattern. After Jamie hurt Tessa by pulling away, she did something akin to this to reel Tessa back in. And dammit, it worked. The sting of the baby shower slipped away, replaced by the soothing warmth of a candlelit dinner. Even if it was at home.

Tessa helped Jamie at the stove, where she seared their steaks for a few minutes on each side in a cast-iron skillet. The oven was already heated, so Jamie slid the whole thing inside once the meat was ready. In a second pot on the stove, she put a lid over the mashed potatoes.

Before Tessa could push for more about the dinner, Jamie picked up her phone and tapped the screen. A speaker on the island lit up and “Always on My Mind” by Willie Nelson played. Jamie held out her hand. Smiling, Tessa took it.

She let Jamie encircle her arms around her waist, while she coiled her own around Jamie’s neck. Pressed together, they swayed to the slow beat of the music.

“When we were apart, I used to listen to this song and miss you so much, it would physically hurt,” Jamie murmured into Tessa’s hair. “Little did I know it was centuries of missing you on top of the last three years.”

Tessa wanted to remind her whose fault that was, but even more than that, she didn’t want to spoil the moment.

“I missed you too, Jamie,” she said. “But we’re together now. That’s what matters.”

Jamie drew back to look Tessa in the eyes. “I agree. And I hope you know how dedicated I am to being with you, Tess. I know I’ve been fucking that up lately, but I promise, I’ll do better.”

“You haven’t been fucking it up,” Tessa said, though she only half-believed the words. “I think maybe we should talk more about our expectations and how we might go about expanding our circle. But we can do that.”

“Of course. I want it to work this time. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you again.”

Tessa smirked. “Probably listen to Willie Nelson and be a sad sack.”

A low chuckle rumbled in Jamie’s chest. “Yeah, probably. What did you do when we broke up, then?”

Tessa’s cheeks heated up. She wasn’t exactly proud of her behavior after her breakup. And she wasn’t sure how Jamie might react to hearing it.

“I, er. . . I was sad too,” she said. “Listening to sad music and the like. The same, really.”

Jamie hoisted an eyebrow. “Tessa. You don’t have to lie to me. I can handle it.”

“Are you sure?”

---