Page 33 of Where Wild Hearts Dance
Dearest Fed,
I really hope you’re ok. It’s been two months now and I haven’t heard from you. I hope I haven’t upset you by saying I wanted to be just friends. I think I justfreaked out a bit. It felt like a big deal losing my virginity, but I’m so glad it was to you.
I’m sure that with a bit of time I’ll make good girlfriend material, lol. You know what a headcase I am—maybe I don’t feel ready, or like I’d be any good at it. If you can be patient with me, I’ll try to get there.
I’m so sorry if I made you think it was an impossibility. I think I just need some time, that’s all.
Please forgive me for being an idiot, and write me back!
All my love, Tess xxx
P.S. It’s official - Kelly Richards is dating Seth Turner, the quarterback. That’s all the gossip I know though, I’m afraid. I’ll listen out for more just for you!
A knock sounds at the door, making me jump.
“Yeah?” I try to hide the irritation in my voice.
The door opens and Allegra, my aunt, pops her face through it. Just as she opens her mouth to speak, her gaze dropsto the box in my lap.
“Ah, I was just coming to let you know a package had arrived for you, but you’ve found it. Anything interesting?”
When I don’t reply, she steps into the room, seeing a response on my face anyway. “What is it, Tess? Is everything okay?”
I shrug and place the second note back in its envelope. “Everything’s fine,” I say in a monotone voice.
She walks over and sits beside me on the bed. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I shake my head but answer anyway. “They’re all the letters I sent to Federico.”
She peers over my shoulder. “They’ve been opened.”
I sigh heavily. “Yeah.”
“That’s weird,” she says slowly. “Normally, mail is returnedunopened. Why would Fed read the letters then send them back?”
“Maybe it wasn’t Fed who read them.”
She purses her lips in thought.
“Don’t worry, there’s nothing incriminating in them,” I assure her.
She nudges me with her elbow. “I didn’t think there would be. But I do think it’s odd that someone would hold onto them for this long, read them and then send all of them back at once. I mean, you haven’t actually heard from Federico since he left, have you?”
“No,” I whisper, sadly.
“When did you send the last letter?”
I sift through the envelopes until I land on the very bottom one, and look at the postmark. “One month ago exactly.”
“Did you say anything in the letter that would give him a reason to send everything back?”
“I don’t know. Maybe…” I frown and stare at the wall.
“Listen…” Allegra gets to her feet and places a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll give you a moment but you know where I am if you want to talk about it. But, for what it’s worth, Tess, I think you held out for that boy long enough. If he was going to write you at all, it would have been within the first few weeks. I don’t think he’s going to come through. I know you’re hurting over him, but he’s not worth your tears.”
“Oh don’t worry,” I huff. “I haven’t cried for him at all.”
She smiles. “Good.” Then she walks back to the door. “Besides, he was just a friend at the end of the day. Friends come and go and you’ll always make new ones.”
