Jordan's Justice: A New Adult Sport Romance (Tessa and Jordan Book 2)

by T Christensen

  He had a five-o’clock shadow, and his hair looked like he hadn’t combed it or even showered in days. It was his anguished eyes that gave her pause. She didn’t want to examine what that was about, so she moved her gaze downward.

  He had on black fleece jogger pants, and his gray USJ hoody had seen better days. The sleeve cuffs were ragged, and the bottom had lost its elasticity and hung haphazardly. The body of the sweatshirt had holes in it. It looked like the one she’d stolen from him.

  It was the sweatshirt, Tessa realized. The one she’d thrown in the garbage. Her eyebrows drew together. Did he actually take it out of there?

  Tessa’s heart stopped and filled with hope, but then she put the brakes on. She was tired of having it trampled on. Sophia was right. She needed to forgive herself and actually stand up to Jordan.

  At some point Sophia had stood up, but surprisingly she hadn’t said a word. Tessa reached over and squeezed her hand in thanks before looking at Jordan.

  “What are you doing here, Jordan? You’ve made it more than clear that you don’t want to see me.”

  He winced. Before he could answer, Sophia walked toward the door. She stopped after she opened the door and looked back at him.

  “I have stayed silent for too long. You will treat her right.”

  There was some silent communication between the two strong-minded people before Jordan nodded. Sophia gave him one last meaningful look and walked away.

  Despite finding her backbone, Tessa tensed when Jordan shut the door and turned to her. She needed to be strong, but she’d always failed at maintaining her strength when it came to him.

  Tessa warily followed Jordan’s movements as he made his way toward her. When he enveloped her into a hug, she didn’t know what was going on.

  “What are you doing?” She stood stiffly in his arms but still enjoyed his warmth and inhaling the distinctive spicy scent she would always associate with him.

  When Jordan just continued to hold her, Tessa stepped back and put some distance between them.

  “Please tell me what is going on.” Tessa didn’t like the vulnerability she heard in her voice and forced herself to lift her gaze to him.

  When she met his ravaged eyes, filled with more emotion than she’d ever seen from him, she was even more confused.

  “I’m here to ask for your forgiveness.”

  It sounded like Jordan was begging her, but that couldn’t be right.

  “What?” Tessa knew she sounded like a broken record, but she couldn’t put the pieces together through her shock.

  “My mom and dad came to see me Christmas morning,” Jordan cautiously told her.

  Tessa tensed up. Nothing good ever came from something that involved Christina Davis.

  “My dad forced her to tell me the truth.”

  She didn’t say a word while she waited to hear what Christina’s version of the truth was.

  “Can we please sit?”

  Tessa looked around the room. The only place to sit was the beds. The same beds that she and Lindy had had since elementary school. She sat on the corner of one and waited.

  Jordan sat on the twin bed across from her and lowered his elbows onto his knees. After dropping his head and raking his fingers through his hair, Jordan remained bent over. He looked defeated.

  Tessa’s nerves were shattered when Jordan finally raised his head. What came out of his mouth was something she’d never thought she would hear.

  “I know you came to the pool house four years ago. I’m guessing it was to tell me you were pregnant.”

  Jordan stopped and tried to gauge her reaction before continuing. “I was so angry with her I told her to leave, but then I talked with her again the next day. I realized I needed to know everything.”

  Tessa was stunned and didn’t know what to say or do. Every time she’d tried to defend herself or tell the truth, he had thrown it back in her face. This time she was going to be the silent one.

  “I’m going to tell you what she said because you deserve absolute honesty, but I want you to know I wouldn’t have agreed with her.”

  His voice broke, and Tessa curled her hand to stop it from reaching out to him.

  “Just tell me, Jordan.” She was proud of the toneless demand. Tessa wouldn’t allow herself to show any emotion, not in front of him.

  “My mom said she found you at my door and invited you to the house. She could tell you were upset, and based on the way you cupped your stomach, she guessed you were pregnant.”

  When Jordan paused, Tessa held herself as still as possible and waited for him to go on.

  “Quoting my mom, she was not going to let you—a whore from the ghetto—ruin my future.”

  Tessa knew that’s what Christina had thought, but to actually hear it was a punch to the gut. She looked blankly over Jordan’s shoulder.

  “She doesn’t think that now, Tessa,” he hastily tried to assure her.

  It didn’t work. The months of Christina’s cold greetings and passive-aggressive insults flew through her brain.

  When she said nothing, Jordan pleaded with her, “I’ve never thought of you like that.”

  Tessa couldn’t let that pass, and she snapped her gaze back to his. “Maybe not then, but you do now.”

  Jordan flinched. “No, I don’t,” he insisted.

  She wasn’t going to argue, but his words and actions contradicted him. “What else did she say?”

  Jordan narrowed his eyes like he wanted to argue, but then he deflated. “As my mom walked with you to the house, the idea to pay you off formed.”

  Tessa stiffened. “She didn’t buy me off, Jordan. Christina pointed out that I would never make a good society wife. I would embarrass you, your parents, and our child. When she saw that her point had hit home, she pulled out the checkbook. She said the amount would cover what we both knew needed to be done.”

  “Were you going to use it for an abortion?”

  Remembering how scared and unworthy she’d felt, Tessa recalled making the choice. “No. I needed the money for Jordis. I couldn’t tell you about the baby and ruin your future, but it was the only support I would get from you.”

  Tessa locked gazes with Jordan. She could feel the energy humming between them, both lost in the past. Tessa looked away first. It was the past, and she couldn’t change anything now.

  “Did she tell you I never signed a contract, and that it was her who threatened me? That she said if I ever came near you or your family, she would ruin my family?”

  Each question Tessa asked rose in volume. She sounded unhinged, but it was freeing to say the things she’d been longing to say and have him listen.

  “Yes, she did,” he said somberly.

  The relief that swept through after years of guilt and anxiety made her slump forward. Finally, the truth was out. That was all she’d wanted for so long, and now that she had it, she didn’t know what to do next.

  “Tessa.”

  She could hear the plea in Jordan’s voice, and despite everything, she responded to it. Tessa looked at his anguished face and felt nothing but satisfaction. It was his turn to feel the guilt.

  “I’m so sorry, and those words are beyond inadequate. I don’t know what else to say. I just never thought in a million years that my own mom would lie to me.”

  “But you thought I would?”

  Jordan blanched.

  His lack of response said it all, and the shredding of her heart was complete. Tessa longed to be back in that motel room where she could cry her heart out and be left alone to mourn. Instead she drew upon every last bit of composure she had. She tried to maintain a monotone voice, but it broke at the end.

  “Please go.”

  Jordan sat rooted in place like a tree firmly in the ground. “No. We need to talk. We need to work this out.”

  Tessa was moments away from crying, and she had promised herself Jordan would never see her cry again. He needed to go.

  “No.” Her voice trembled. Tessa leaned her
head back, closing her eyes and drawing in air like it would give her strength. When she opened them, she was equally as determined as Jordan.

  “You kicked me out. You weren’t willing to listen to anything I had to say. Now it’s your turn to listen to me. I want you to leave, and you will leave, or in the famous words of Christina Davis, I will have you escorted out.”

  Jordan snapped his head back up. “She said that to you?”

  “Yes, she did. Now leave.” Tessa punctuated her statement by firmly pointing to the door.

  With her heart beating out of her chest, she waited. Finally he moved to the door but stopped to look back at her.

  “I’m leaving. For now. Only for now, Tessa. I’m going to fight for both of us. I’m a better man with you and Jordis in my life. I’m not willing to give up.”

  With that warning Jordan left, the door clicking shut behind him. Tessa collapsed onto her bed and let her sorrow spread from her broken heart to the rest of her body. This was the last time she was going to cry over Jordan Davis. It was time to put on her big-girl panties and make a future for herself.

  ___________________

  Chapter 40

  ___________________

  Two days later, Tessa had kept her promise. It hadn’t been easy. There were times a memory would come over her and she wanted to hide away and cry, but she hadn’t done it. Crying only made her depressed and tired. After she was done, it was even more difficult to get up and forge her future.

  The first thing she needed to do was find a divorce attorney. The attorney who had helped her with her prenup hadn’t been forceful enough. Even though the only thing she wanted was Jordis, Tessa would need someone that wasn’t afraid of the powerful attorneys Jordan would bring to the table.

  She was contemplating how she would find an attorney that she could afford when the apartment door swung open. Tessa looked up the table to see Lindy filling the doorway.

  “Guess who’s home!” Lindy threw her bags down and spread her arms wide open. Her declaration boomed throughout the small apartment.

  “Indy! Indy! Indy!” Jordis couldn’t say her name yet, but there was no mistaking her excitement as she ran toward her.

  Lindy swooped her up in her arms, and seconds later, Tessa joined in. She engulfed Lindy and Jordis in something more than a hug. It was like her lifeline had arrived.

  It wasn’t long before Jordis squirmed between them. “Mommy, you squeeze me!”

  Tessa stepped back so Jordis could get down, and then she threw her arms back around Lindy’s neck.

  “Thank you for coming.” Her voice cracked, and she squeezed her harder.

  Reluctantly, they moved apart. Lindy squeezed her hands, and with the sass that Tessa had missed ordered, “You call me when shit is happening in your life, Tessa Marie Parker.”

  Tessa’s chest glowed. It had been a long year of not seeing Lindy, and it was so good to hug her again. Even when she had declared she was coming home, Tessa hadn’t wanted to get her hopes up. Now that she was here, she couldn’t wait to talk with her.

  Her ever present muscle-gripping anxiety loosened with her feisty, take-no-prisoners best friend in the house. She watched as Lindy greeted the moms, still unable to believe that she was there. She couldn’t solve her problems, but having her there helped Tessa gain strength.

  “Jordis, I’m putting a movie on my iPad for you. Mom, you and Jessica are going to stay out here and not attempt to eavesdrop.”

  Jessica and Sophia gave affronted scoffs. Lindy rolled her eyes and turned to her.

  “You and me,” she said, pointing between the two of them, “are going to our room, and you’re going to spill your guts.”

  An hour later, alternating between anger, sadness, and resolve, Tessa was done recounting everything. She had started from the moment she’d walked into the benefit and seen Jordan.

  Lindy left her bed and came over to Tessa’s, enveloping her in a hug. “You’ll get through this.”

  When they pulled away from each other, Tessa asked wryly, “Any chance you know a good divorce lawyer?”

  Lindy was pensive for a few seconds before she said, “No, but I know someone who probably does.”

  “You don’t live in San Jose anymore, and you’ve never been married. Who do you know who can give you the name of a lawyer?”

  “My boss frequently travels to Los Angeles, so I’m betting he can give me the name of a good divorce attorney.”

  That was one of her biggest concerns right now. It would be a relief to have a name. Then she would know how much this would cost her and could figure out a way to pay for it.

  “Thank you, Lindy.”

  “We are sisters, chica! Never forget that, and from now on, you’d better keep me in the loop,” she declared while pointing her index finger at Tessa.

  “I will. I just didn’t want you to worry about my problems. It’s not like you could rush to my side, except you did. How did you pay for this last-minute trip?”

  Lindy uncharacteristically hesitated before answering, “Let’s just say I owe my boss a favor.”

  The hairs on Tessa’s arms stood up. She was hiding something.

  “Lindy Isabella Garcia, you tell me what that means right now.”

  Her eyebrows lifted to her hairline. Tessa knew she didn’t demand many things from her, but she was worried. It sounded like Lindy was being manipulated, and that was not something she would typically allow.

  Lindy rolled her eyes. “Simmer down, Tessa. It means that I agreed to owe him a favor.”

  “What’s the favor?” she asked suspiciously.

  Her stomach tightened when Lindy looked away from her and bit her lip.

  “I don’t know yet. When he has something that needs to be done, I can’t give him my usual lip,” she said using air quotes, “and just have to do it.”

  “Sounds like the mafia, Lindy. I don’t like it.”

  With a belly laugh, she brushed away her concerns. “Oh, Tessa, it’s not like that. I’m sure I won’t like what he wants me to do because that’s how he gets his kicks, but it won’t be illegal.”

  Her boss sounded like a piece of work, so Tessa asked suspiciously, “Are you going to owe him a favor for getting me a name?”

  Lindy shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “Then don’t do it.”

  “I can handle him. You need this.”

  Tessa was about to launch into a fight when her phone rang. It was Laura. She couldn’t ignore the call.

  “It’s my old boss. I need to answer, but we’re not done talking about this.”

  “Yes, we are. I’m going to call him right now.” Lindy breezed out of the room.

  Ten minutes later, Tessa hung up the phone. She once again had a job at the SEC. Tessa had to decide if she wanted her previous tutoring position back or more hours as a coach. The coaching position meant she would work during the day and supervise the other tutors in the office.

  “I was actually going to call you this week. What made you call me?” she had asked Laura.

  “Your husband called,” she replied hesitantly.

  Tessa was too stunned to say anything, but Laura went on.

  “He said you were in the market for a job, but you weren’t sure if you should call me since you had left so abruptly.”

  Why would Jordan call Laura? Her mind was stuck on repeat, asking a question without getting an answer.

  Laura probably regretted calling her and offering her a job since Tessa couldn’t even manage an intelligent conversation after Jordan’s name came up. Through the buzzing in her head, she comprehended that Laura had told her about the two open positions and was offering her a choice.

  Tessa finally managed to choke out, “Ah, yeah, I’m interested in coming back.” A couple of seconds passed, and she realized Laura was waiting for more of a response. “Can I call you back in a couple of days with what position I want to take?”

  “Of course. I’ll wait to hear from you. And Tessa, we missed
you. I’m happy you’re coming back.”

  Tessa croaked out, “Me too.”

  She stared at her phone after she’d said goodbye to Laura. Her fingers itched to open Jordan’s texts and listen to the voicemails she’d been ignoring since he’d come to the apartment. With a deep breath, she swiped her finger across the screen and started reading his texts.

  J: I’m worried. Call me so I know you’re okay.

  Tessa snorted but kept reading.

  J: I know what my mom did. Call me.

  J: At least text me.

  J: Are you okay?

  J: PLEASE talk to me.

  J: You have every right not to, but please talk to me.

  J: I’m sorry.

  The final texts were from this morning.

  J: Come home. It’s yours.

  J: I won’t be there.

  What did he mean, it was hers? There had to be strings. She started typing.

  T: What do you mean, it’s mine?

  Stupidly Tessa stared at the screen like she could will him to answer. There was a small kernel of hope stirring in her that she could go back to the home she fell in love with. The home Jordis missed and repeatedly asked her about.

  Her heart leaped when the dots appeared, but she quickly stomped it down and told herself to proceed with caution.

  J: You and Jordis keep the house. I moved out.

  Tessa thought about it, and the first obstacle was obvious.

  T: I can’t afford it.

  J: No mortgage. House is in your name.

  Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted it, but if something sounded too good to be true then it probably was. She thought of everything else involved with the house. It sat on a gorgeous acre of land, but she wouldn’t be able to keep up the required maintenance. Come to think of it, she wasn’t even sure she would be able to afford the house's everyday costs. The electricity, heat, internet, garbage, and the other bills she wasn’t aware of would add up quickly.

  The phone rang, and Tessa jumped. Her heart pounded when she saw it was Jordan. As quickly as the phone started ringing, it stopped, and then came a text.

  J: Answer the phone.