Page 84 of Love Is…?

After a beat, Abby smiled softly at Sam, packaging the smile in a look of utter adoration. Tessa nearly sighed at how perfect it was.

“A sociopathic arsehole, more like it.” Grace huffed.

Tessa snorted, as Sam reached across and bumped Grace’s fist.

“I think that’s very apt,” Abby said. She wrapped her arms around Grace, like a cloak of protection, and her amazing tiger-coloured hair, which was held in a loose ponytail, brushed against Grace’s shoulder. This was Abby Taylor, the mum, not Abigail Taylor, the A-lister, and Tessa knew without a doubt that Abby would throw away every bit of fame, all the celebrity, to mend her daughter's broken heart.

“I want to kill him,” Sam said.

“That would interfere with the wedding, darling,” Abby said dryly.

Grace laughed, then scrubbed knuckles across her eyelids, and straightened. “Okay. No more crying. I want to think of things we can do. Mum?” She turned her head to look at Abby. “I know you said this won’t affect you but maybe Isabelle or Tom can create a smokescreen.”

Tessa decided it was a perfect time to step out of the room and call Jayde.

Jayde pickedup on the first ring, and Tessa began speaking before Jayde could utter a word.

“I’m so sorry that I ran out on you.” She drummed her fingers in agitation on the railing at the top of the stairs. “I’m sorry that you’ve been worried. It’s awful that you thought it was your fault. Not one bit of Saturday night was your?—”

“Tess.”

“Fault at all?—”

“Tess.”

Tessa snapped her mouth shut.

“Tess, I’m fine. Sure, Saturday night was…” Jayde inhaled. “Unexpected.”

Tessa winced. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Jayde laughed. “Please stop apologising. I’ve had time to think, which is good.”

The sound of her stomach dropping reverberated throughout Tessa’s body. Time to think meant time to say goodbye, didn’t it? It always meant goodbye.

“Oh. That’s… That is good. The thinking. Always clears things up, doesn’t it?” She was completely aware of how fast she was speaking. Babbling.

“It does.” Jayde paused and Tessa held her breath. “Tess, I’d love to get together and chat. I need to see you, hold you, talk to you. Please.”

It was the needing part of Jayde’s request that halted Tessa’s stomach cliff-diving.

“I need to see you as well,” Tessa whispered.

“I haven’t kissed you for a few days. My lips miss yours,” Jayde said, and Tessa heard the smile, the raised eyebrow, the hair being all sexy, the dark brown eyes twinkling.

Then Tessa’s stomach gave a pang of left over remorse. “You probably think I’m a crazy person. I would totally understand if you want to cut your losses and run.”

“I’m not cutting anything, Tess. There aren’t any losses to cut. No reasons to run.”

“Oh,” Tessa breathed softly, then her muscles began to relax. “I’ve missed you, and I truly need to talk to you in person. Do you want to come over to my place?”

“Sure. Maybe tomorrow night? Do you need to be at Abby and Sam’s then?”

Tessa thought about the heartbroken, embarrassed fifteen-year-old currently sitting in her bedroom, squished between the two people who loved her the most. Tessa would check but she reckoned that Abby and Sam had the next few days covered.

“I think I’ll be fine to leave. We’re in the middle of a crisis at the moment but Abby and Sam are?—”

“Shit! Is everyone okay?” Jayde’s concern poured from the phone.

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