by Mj Fields
���What the hell is that thing, Tessa?��� her Dad asked as he entered the mudroom running a tired hand through his hair.
Chewy growled at him.
���A puppy, Dad. His name is Chewy, and he was a gift.���
���And who do we have to thank for that?��� John asked.
���I don���t know. There wasn���t a note,��� she said, shooting Alex a look begging for him to keep her secret.
���I���m going back to bed.��� John yawned.
���Can we keep him? Please, Dad��� Tessa asked.
���As long as you take care of him,��� he yawned. ���We still have that invisible fence collar from Hans, right?���
She nodded.
���Alright, then.���
Tessa couldn���t wait to show the kids. She figured since she was up, she should get ready for school. She had a game tonight but was way too excited to sleep.
When she was dressed and ready, she held Chewy up next to her face and took a picture. She sent it to Lucas with a thank you message.
- He was still whining in agony when I walked back into the mall, he missed you, I understand how he feels, he may be a mess at first but with your guidance and love he will be ok, by the way the picture is priceless , my new screen saver ���LYA Lucas
* * *
It was lunchtime and Lucas sat across from Tessa. They stared at each other the entire time making stupid faces, what are we in junior high? she thought laughing at his cross eyes. The bell rang and neither of them got up. Jade turned to see where she was and Tessa and Lucas were at the table still staring at each other.
���Did either of you hear the bell?��� Jade asked.
They laughed and stood up. Lucas grabbed Tessa���s hand, and she stiffened up and he took a deep breath, kissed her hand and smiled. ���See you later, Tessa.���
God, I hope so, she thought.
* * *
They Saints were ahead by three at the end of the third quarter and Tessa heard a barking puppy. Lucas was carrying Chewy to the bleachers. He raised his paw and made him wave to her. She smiled and laughed.
���Lucas got a puppy?��� Phoebe asked.
���No Lucas got me a puppy,��� Tessa said and smiled, ���His name is Chewy.���
When the game ended she looked over to him and he was surrounded by girls. They were all gushing over him and Chewy. Lucas was smiling and set him down and his little feet ran as fast as they could to Tessa. She bent down and picked him up, he licked her face as she sucked in her lips and laughed. He walked over and half the swarm of B���s followed him. ���Links is that your baby?��� the goalie from the other team asked, ���got to be he���s a handsome little guy,��� she said and reached over and pet him.
���Hey Julie, he���s actually Tessa���s puppy. Tessa this is Julie,��� he said.
���Nice to meet you Julie,��� Tessa said trying to avoid Chewy���s tongue from slipping in her mouth.
���You too, so Lucas you free tonight, I���ve missed you?��� Julie said as she looked him up and down.
���Actually I have been meaning to get a hold of you,��� unbelievable Tessa thought as she walked away with her fuzzy little bundle.
As Tessa introduced Chewy to her team Lucas was apologizing to one of the dirty dozen. They were playing with him and Lucas walked over and yanked on her braid, ���Number six,��� and he bent down and kissed her sweaty head.
���How did that taste?��� Tessa asked laughing.
���Like more,��� he said and kissed her head again.
���S���mores?��� she asked laughing.
���Yeah, S���mores,��� he smiled.
���Can you keep him while I go shower?���
Lucas took a deep breath and set his jaw, ���Of course, he���s way more distracting then a basket of dead ones.���
Lucas threw a toy for Chewy in the field and Chewy fetched it, he certainly hadn���t mastered the art of bringing it back or the release yet but Lucas was sure he would do well at it soon enough.
Tessa walked out and Chewy was sniffing around looking for a place to pee.
���Awe he���s got to go potty,��� she said laughing. They watched him as he made his way to the exact spot Tessa started the game at and squatted and peed.
���He���s marking his territory baby,��� Lucas laughed.
���Great game Tessa Ross,��� Mark said as he looked her up and down and winked.
���Thanks Mark,��� she said and looked away. She saw Lucas scowling at Mark.
���Tessa?��� Lucas asked.
���Yes,��� she replied.
���Would you be offended if I pissed on your leg, mark you as mine,��� she smacked him. ���Was John angry?���
���Actually no, he was great about it,��� she said, ���We have invisible fence from Hans so he���s alright with it.���
���That���s cool so Chewy will be an outside dog?��� Lucas asked and she could see concern in his eyes.
���Well with Hans when we were outside he was too. The invisible fence kept him safe. He slept inside with us every night but if he wanted to go out and we were preoccupied he was safe to go out alone for a bit. When we weren���t home he was inside. Chewy has to be trained on the boundaries and we have to know he���s ready. It���ll be a while before he���s out without anyone supervising,��� Tessa explained reassuring him.
���Ok good,��� he smiled and looked relieved.
���Do you want to keep him for a few hours?���
���Like joint custody?��� he said and laughed, ���No Tessa he���s yours, he chose you.���
���Would you like to come up for dinner Lucas?��� Tessa asked.
He smiled, ���I wouldn���t want to impose.���
���Do I need to beg?���
���Oh God please don���t,��� he said looking down.
���Dead pu ��� .��� she started.
He put his hand over her mouth, ���Not in front of Chewy.���
She narrowed her eyes and bit his hand. His eyes rolled back and he closed them. ���You are sadistic,��� she said laughing.
���You have no idea,��� he moaned.
Her heart raced, what the hell am I thinking with what happened with Sadi just a few days ago and here I am having these thoughts again, unbelievable Tessa she thought.
���Okay no dinner then?��� she asked looking annoyed.
���I would love to but right now Tessa I think I should go home,��� he said sadly.
���Okay,��� she said and gave him a fake smile. ���Then why do you look sad?���
���I���ve just had a rough few days,��� he said, more like eighteen years.
He watched as her eyes changed, ���Ok come on, Chewy.���
���Hey Tessa, I just wanted to let you know that I���m going away for a few days,��� he said looking down.
���Oh why, I���m sorry, I mean have fun,��� she looked down and he laughed, ���Well I don���t know what I should say.���
���What do you want to say Tessa?��� Lucas asked.
���Are you okay, is your family alright, where are you going, are you going alone, do you want to have sex before you go so you won���t want anyone else? Probably all the creepy crazy jealous girlfriend things boys hate and I���m not even your girlfriend,��� Tessa admitted and he laughed.
���Well I���m driving down to New Jersey to see my Dad for a couple days, it���s been awhile. I loved that you asked if I was okay first, that���s not what a creepy crazy jealous girlfriend would ask,��� Lucas laughed. ���I am doing no one else, well no one at all actually. But there���s this girl I love, anyway.��� He stepped towards her and pulled her into a hug.
���Awe how cute ��� you two had a puppy,��� Sadi said as she walked by and flipped them off.
They both laughed.
���When will you leave?��� she asked. He told her tonight that way he would be home by Friday morning and still be able to play in their last game. ���Please drive safely and call me when you get there.���
* * *
Lucas walked into his house and stood in the kitchen for a few minutes. His bag was already packed and sitting by the door. He went through the house and made sure everything was locked up tightly. He grabbed his phone charger and turned off the light. He got in his car and pulled out of his driveway. He was dreading the five hour drive but at least one of his obligatory nights would be without the drama that always ensued when Dad was in a new relationship.
When he pulled into the driveway of his fathers lake house, the motion light came on. He looked at the house and he saw his Dad and a blonde who was way too young for him walk out onto the porch. Here we go, he thought.
���Lucas, this stunning woman is Mandi, with an ���i���,��� Landon said. Of course with an I Lucas thought. ���And Mandi, this is Lucas, star quarter back, honors student, and my devastatingly handsome son.���
She smiled. ���Nice to meet you, Lucas. My, you���re almost as cute as your Daddy,��� Mandi winked.
���You alone, Lucas?��� his dad asked. Lucas nodded. ���Losing your touch, boy?���
���Dad, can we discuss this later?��� Lucas said, looking toward Mandi.
���Just odd; you always bring something to keep you warm,��� Landon winked and laughed as they walked in the house.
Lucas walked into the kitchen and set his bag down. He put his phone on the island and sat in one of the leather stools lined up in front of the counter. ���Dad, can we talk alone for a minute?���
���Mandi can hear anything we need to talk about, son. Hey sexy, would you grab us a couple beers out of the fridge?��� Landon asked her.
���Sure, Landon,��� she said, smiling.
���Dad, I need to talk to you alone,��� Lucas said. Mandi brought over two beers and set them on the counter in front of them.
���Landon, I���m a little tired. I am going to head up to bed. You two talk.��� Mandi smiled, ���Very nice to meet you, Lucas.���
���What���s going on, Lucas?��� Landon asked.
���Mom���s in the hospital. She had a relapse last Friday. I want to get her into rehab, and I need your help,��� Lucas said, dreading what would come next.
���The psych ward again? What the fuck is wrong with her?��� Landon asked. ���That bitch has never been able to keep it together for more than six months.���
���Don���t talk about my mother that way,��� Lucas said. His phone chimed, and Tessa and Chewy���s picture popped up on the screen.
���Nice, Lucas,��� his dad said, grabbing the phone and smiling. ���How long have you been doing her?���
���I haven���t DONE anything with Tessa,��� Lucas said. ���It���s not like that with her.���
He grabbed the phone and checked the message.
- Hope you arrived safely, please let me know���.LYA Tessa
He smiled, when he saw the LYA, it had been awhile since she had signed that way
He typed a reply.
- Just got here safe and sound Baby���Thank you���LYA Lucas.
Landon was looking over his shoulder. ���What���s LYA mean Lucas?���
���Love You Anyways,��� Lucas said. ���So are you going to help Mom or not?���
���Why should I? I���ve paid for the house, I pay all the bills, and you have a credit card with free range, Lucas,��� Landon said. ���What more should I be obligated to do for her?���
���For her, Dad? You���ve been divorced since I was three. You try to make her feel worthless, and you put the house in my name. You are obligated even though you don���t fucking get it,��� Lucas snapped at him.
���Drink your beer, son, you need to relax. And don���t talk to me like that; I���m your father,��� Landon snapped back.
���My father who is giving his eighteen year old son a beer to relax. My father who wants to know why I didn���t bring a piece of ass with me and who wants his Flavor of the Month to be present for our conversation. My father who has known I���ve stayed alone since I was fourteen while my mother dries up.���
���That���s enough, Lucas,��� Landon interrupted. ���You cannot blame me for your mother���s problems. It���s not my fault she���s an alcoholic!���
���How many of your ex- wives aren���t alcoholics, Dad?���
���That���s not my fault,��� he said.
���Well, ask yourself what the common bond is between them.��� Lucas stood, grabbed his bag, and headed upstairs.
He picked up his phone to text Tessa.
* * *
Her phone chimed and she smiled.
- She���s more precious to me every day. Her innocence and heart are pure and perfect. I want to be her soft place to land when she feels like falling. I dream of making her as happy as she makes me���. Day 5 without Tessa Ross makes me know I have to become the man she deserves. To love and take care of her always ���.LYA Lucas
- you sound sad Lucas. Please don���t be sad, I Love you, like a friend���Tessa
- what happened to LYA? ���LYA Lucas
- Not necessary anymore, I just love my friend :)
- Not sad anymore, go to sleep baby you have school in the morning ���LYA Lucas
Tessa laid in bed smiling; he wasn���t perfect when she fell in love with him, but every day he seems to want to be better. She needed to step it up to make him happy and she was pretty sure she knew how. Now for some sweet dreams, she smiled.
* * *
When Lucas woke up, his dad was gone. Lucas grabbed a pair of shorts and laced up his sneakers. He pulled out his phone.
- good morning Tessa; I dreamt about you last night and woke hard as stone and had to rub one off��� wishing it was real and it was you instead of my hands that are now collecting calluses. Baby, I miss seeing your perfect smile….. LYA...Lucas.
He tossed his phone on the bed and went outside to run around the lake. He was running hard when he saw Leah outside her parents��� house, where he had first met her last year. Leah saw him and squinted to be sure it was him. Lucas slowed down and stopped in front of her; he smiled and held his finger up while he caught his breath. She laughed and smiled back. He turned his back to her and bent down concentrating, taking deep breaths
���Hey, you remember me?��� Lucas asked, finally able to speak after catching his breath.
���Of course I do, Lucas,��� she smiled.
���I���m going through something, and well��� I fell in love, and she made me realize how wrong I���d been to act like I did. I���m sorry, Leah.���
���She must be something special.���
���I hope you���ve found someone who treats you better than I did, Leah,��� Lucas said.
���I haven���t. I���ve been waiting to see you aga
in,��� Leah said softly.
���I���m sorry. Please forgive me,��� he said, pulling his shirt up to wipe the sweat from his face.
���Forgiven,��� she said, staring at his abs.
They shook hands, and Lucas went to finish his run.
* * *
When Lucas wasn���t at school, it was even harder to concentrate. Tessa missed his hand holding hers, his kisses, laugh and his smile, oh his smile was amazing. At lunch she tried to call him, but there was no answer. She hung up.
She jumped as her phone rang.
- Hey angel I have two minutes free and I wanted to say hello. Things are crazy here but I still think about you often. I hope all is well, hope to talk to you soon, be good to yourself���Toby
- TOBY!!! It is great hearing from you, send me a picture of you in uniform please I want to set it up as your ID when you text me again���BTW it better be more often! Tessa
Her phone chimed and it was a picture of them at homecoming, a second was of him in uniform, she smiled.
- smoking hot ���TTYS���Tessa
* * *
Landon came home at noon and brought lunch. Lucas had just gotten out of the shower and was getting dressed when his dad yelled up the stairs. ���Anyone home?���
���I���ll be down in a minute, Dad,��� Lucas answered.
���Let���s eat lunch, Lucas,��� Landon said. ���Your sisters will be her at two; I have a sitter coming to watch afterward while I���m at a meeting with possible investors. I���d like you to join me.���
Lucas decided to join his father for dinner with the hopeful investors; he would meet him downtown at about four. He would have a chance to spend a couple hours with the sisters that he barely knew.
He grabbed his phone and saw she had called. He knew she was in class now and that she wouldn���t be able to take his call.
- Miss you baby… Love Lucas.