Page 76 of Confusing Hearts

“Um, something like that,” I told her. I knew I was terrible at evading questions.

I went to the kitchen and poured us both Cokes. I suspected it was going to be a long night. I only hoped Tessa kept her word and I really wouldn’t lose her after this—at least not yet.

I brought the drinks into the living room and sank down on the couch. The familiar smells surrounding me helped calm my nerves. I kicked off my shoes and sat criss-cross-applesauce with my back to the arm of the couch. Tessa came and joined me. I motioned towards her glass.

“Thanks,” she said, taking it and looking a little uncomfortable. “So, spill it, what’s going on with you?”

I took a deep breath. I still hadn’t come up with an easy way to say it; so, much like with Anita, I just blurted it out.

“Tessa, you don’t have to worry about Chase hurting me, because he can’t.”

“Jenna, I know you want to believe that, but . . .”

“No Tessa, you’re not hearing me. He can’t hurt me. Chase Westin is my one true mate. Trust me, I know how crazy that sounds, but it’s the absolute truth.” I waited with baited breath to see how she’d react. The last thing I expected was for her to laugh in my face. Hurt, I recoiled, pulling my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them as if that in some way would protect me.

“Your true mate is a freaking dog?” Tessa asked, laughing even harder.

Tears silently streamed down my face at the pain in her words.

When Tessa finally caught her breath and looked over at me she turned white as a sheet of paper. “Oh, no, Jenna, I didn’t mean it like that. Look there’s something you need to know that made me find that funny. I wasn’t laughing at you. Actually, I was laughing at Daddy, but I’ll explain that in a bit. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Tessa wrapped her arms around me and held me while I cried.

“I know how Daddy feels about mating outside our kind. You don’t know how hard this was to tell you,” I sobbed.

“Oh, sissy, please don’t cry. I’m so sorry,” Tessa said, using a pet name she called me when we were small children. “Look, just because Chase is your true mate doesn’t mean you have to accept him. That’s your decision to make.”

“Don’t you think I know that? It was my decision, Tessa, only mine, and I already made it.”

“Wh-what are you saying?”

I pulled back and dried my eyes. “Chase is my one true mate, and he always will be, Tess. I’ve already chosen him. This cabin is ours. We bought it last weekend. It’s not wolf and it’s not panther, it’s just ours. A safe place no matter what happens. Chase wanted that for me, for us.”

Before she could respond, my phone rang. I looked down and saw Maddie’s face on the screen. My stomach dropped as I tried to think of what could possibly have happened for her to call me.

“Sorry, Tess, I need to take this,” I said, grabbing the phone.

“Hello?”

“Jenna? Hey, it’s Maddie.”

“Hi Maddie, is everything okay?”

She must have heard the panic in my voice. “Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out. Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s just fine.”

“Oscar, the baby, everything?”

“Absolutely everything. I just wanted to give you a heads up about this weekend. We’re kidnapping you Saturday for a girls’ day! Elise wanted it to be a surprise, but I didn’t want to just spring it on you. She and Kelsey and Lily can’t wait to meet you. It’s going to be fun, I promise and if it’s too much, just let me know and I’ll tame it down a notch.”

“Oh, okay.” I couldn’t believe they’d be that excited to meet me. It was a little overwhelming already.

“You sure everything’s okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine, but hey look, I’m talking to my sister right now. Family stuff. Can I call you back later?”

“No need, Jenna. We’ll talk on Friday.”

“Right. Friday. Thanks for the heads up, Maddie.”

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