Page 59 of Tess, Property of Blaze

He turns a corner, and I can see the ocean ahead. “We’re going to the beach?” I ask. I’m excited, Blaze knows it’s my favorite place in the whole world.

“Not exactly,” he teases. “Just be patient.”

“No fair. But okay, for you, I’ll be patient.”

We turn down a street that has beautiful homes overlooking the ocean. On the other side of the houses is a sandy bay, with the bluest water I’ve ever seen.

Blaze parks the SUV, then turns to me and smiles. “We’re here.”

“We are?” I ask, all giddy and looking around.

“Wait right here.”

Blaze jumps out of the car and walks around the front of it, and then opens my door.

“Can you walk, baby?”

I smile at him. “Sure I can.”

He helps me out of the car, grabbing me when I nearly trip. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. We should come back tomorrow.”

“Don’t you dare,” I warn him. “You are not making me wait another day.”

“Yes, ma’am. “

He leads me to the footpath, then goes back to shut the door and lock the SUV. When he returns after a moment, he takes my hand and holds it in his, the warmth of it seeping into my skin. He walks me toward a house that has a signboard out front declaring Sold.

“Wait, aren’t we going the wrong way?” I ask, looking behind me and toward the ocean.

“No, babe. This is it,” he says, pointing to the house.

I turn toward Blaze in confusion. “What do you mean?”

He faces me, his hands gently holding onto my arms. “I’ve bought this for us. I figured we might like somewhere to go, to have our own space, some privacy.”

I look up at the house, still in shock and trying to process what Blaze just said. It’s a beautiful white weatherboard house, with a balcony overlooking the ocean. There’s a white picket fence surrounding the property, and a small yard with beautiful flowers in several garden beds.

I glance back at him, tears now filling my eyes. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll move in with me, beautiful, say yes.”

I turn back to look at the house, and Blaze moves in behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder. “I want us to have something—something that’s ours—because, baby, I need you to know how much I still love you, and how much I still want you in my life.”

I sniffle and lean my head against Blaze’s, because even after everything I’ve done, he still wants me.

“Say you’ll do it. Say you’ll move in with me.”

My heart is aching. I want to give him this, because he deserves to be happy. But do I deserve to? Am I good for him? I don’t think I am.

I’m spun around in his arms, making me let out a squeak, and he leans down and kisses me gently. “I still love you, babe. So much,” he declares, emotion evident in his voice.

“I do believe that you love me, I do. But, Blaze… I’m not worthy of your love, you deserve someone better.”

“I’m not letting you talk like that, babe,” he says, shaking his head.

“Blaze, baby, you can’t even say my name. You haven’t called me Tess these past two weeks,” I remind him, tears now flowing freely down my cheeks.

Blaze’s jaw tightens, and he sniffs, clearly holding back his own tears. Then he lets out a deep sigh. “I know… I know…. I’m working on it. Please give this a try, you’ll see that we can be happy.”

I pull away from Blaze and look up at the house. “Okay, I will,” I say, knowing in my heart that’s not exactly true.

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