by Mj Fields
���Then come back, Mom.���
���I don���t think I can.���
���Dad loves you; can���t you see the way he looks at you?���
���Tessa I know your father, and he would never. I would demand counseling. I want to feel the way you do now. The passionate love forever, and he and I are way past that.���
We shall see, Tessa thought and smiled ���Okay mom,��� she hugged her.
���Tessa, please don���t tell your brother or father about this conversation.���
���I won���t.���
* * *
���John, I���m sorry,��� Lucas said walking up to him nervously.
���I���m not stupid,��� John said as he basted the chicken. ���Are you honestly sorry?���
���If you���re angry I���m sorry. I love her and well, always will,��� Lucas looked down.
���Alright then, make sure you do,��� John said. ���We have a party to get ready for boy,��� he said as he smacked him on the back. ���It wasn���t in the hot tub was it?���
���No, sir we haven���t done it there yet,��� Lucas said and wished he could eat his words.
Alex laughed out loud.
John looked at Alex ���Have you?���
���No Dad��� although I can���t say I haven���t wanted to,��� Alex smiled.
���You haven���t?��� Lucas asked.
���No Lucas, I���ve been waiting for you,��� Alex laughed.
���Well, at least someone���s getting some,��� John said under his breath.
The boys laughed.
Tessa walked up and tapped her father on the back, ���Daddy are you mad?���
���Disappointed Tessa,��� John said his face immediately changing.
���But Dad, you just said you were happy someone was������ Alex started.
���Enough son,��� John said glaring at him. ���And happy was not the word I used.���
���Sorry Daddy.���
���Good��� don���t do it again,��� he looked down.
Tessa hugged him and walked away.
* * *
Lucas���s family pulled in, and there was a steady pace of traffic for the rest of the day. They had a great time, dancing and laughing. Lucas and Tessa kept their distance for the first few hours. Maggie and John sat together and watched them exchange glances and smiles.
���She loves him, Mag���s.���
���I know.���
���What are we going to do?���
���Well, we can���t push her, she���s eighteen.���
���I told her not to do it again,��� he smiled.
Maggie laughed, ���And what did she say?���
���Well, she hugged me and didn���t say a damn word,��� he laughed.
���Well, we didn���t raise a liar,��� she laughed and grabbed his hand. His body stiffened, ���Oh I���m sorry,��� she said and went to pull her hand away.
���Mag���s don���t be, you just caught me off guard,��� he squeezed her hand. ���We have four wonderful kids and one pain in the ass,��� he laughed, ���all perfect. We need to be able to be friends, right?���
���Yes John, friends,��� she whispered and looked at him.
Ben���s family pulled in. Tessa saw them getting out and smiled. She saw Lucas stare at her and she walked over to him, ���We okay?���
���Well, this very uncomfortable day just keeps getting more uncomfortable,��� she hugged him.
They watched as Ben helped a girl out of the car. Lucas looked at Tessa to see her reaction, she smiled.
���You okay with that?���
���Absolutely! I���m glad he is happy, can we go say hi?��� Tessa���s feet started moving, and he shook his head yes.
���Hey Ben,��� Tessa hugged him.
���Hello Tess,��� Ben grinned and hugged her back.
���Hello Links��� he stuck his hand out to shake Lucas���s hand.
Lucas shook it and smiled.
Ben looked back at the tall curly haired blonde behind him.
���This is Lauren,��� Ben took her hand.
���Hello,��� Lauren smiled politely. ���Tessa right?���
���Yep,��� Tessa hugged her.
Lauren looked shocked, ���I uh��� recognized you from the videos on Ben���s page. You have an amazing voice.���
���Thank you, and this is Lucas, my boyfriend,��� Tessa smiled
���I don���t know Tess ��� checkout that ring,��� Ben winked. ���What���s this mean?���
���When she is ready we, we���ll switch hands, and then we���ll get married. When she���s ready,��� Lucas repeated.
���That is so sweet,��� Lauren looked a bit relieved.
Tessa and Ben both noticed and smiled at each other. They all walked toward the tents.
���You���re both coming to mine next weekend, right?��� Ben looked at Lucas.
���Sure, sounds good,��� Lucas said, ���Is that alright with you, Baby?��� he kissed Tessa on the head.
���I���d love that,��� Tessa smiled knowing that Lucas was trying.
Ben spotted the Karaoke machine, ���Links, you going to let Tess sing with me?���
���If she wants to,��� Lucas���s smile was guarded.
Tessa walked up to Alex and Phoebe, ���Ben���s here,��� she smiled, ���His girlfriend Lauren is with him, you should say hello.���
Tessa walked into the house dragging Lucas behind her. She smiled as she passed some family and shut the kitchen door behind them. She looked at him, ���We okay?���
���I don���t know, are we?��� Lucas searched her face.
���Always Lucas,��� kissed him. He was a little stiff, and she pulled back. ���Please don���t do this.���
���Do what?��� he asked coolly.
���That. I kiss you and you��� I don���t know it just,��� she said and let go of him and looked at him and stood waiting for him to say something.
���Do you want him?���
���No,��� she laughed.
���I don���t find it funny, why do you?��� he asked crossing his arms in front of him.
���It���s stupid Lucas, I love you and you know that.���
���Your mouth was on his…��� Lucas began.
���Alright that was a mistake, and what were you doing before that with that brunette?��� ���Should I be angry about that?��� she asked.
���You would be if you saw me hugging her and acting all happy when I saw her ass. Or if I told you I could love her someday,��� he said sternly.
���Okay. I won���t talk to him if that���ll make you feel better. Because that���s not how I feel about him. He���s my friend Lucas. I explained before that what I feel for you could not ever be with anyone else, but if you���re having reservations about my feelings for you, it makes me wonder why,��� she turned to walk away.
He grabbed her waist and pulled her into him. ���I don’t want to fight, baby.���
���I don���t either Lucas, but I���ve never given you reason to think I���d be anything but faithf
ul to you. You, on the other hand,��� she stopped, ���I forgave you.���
���Tessa, I didn���t cheat on you,��� he whispered.
���But you would have, that���s the difference,��� she said quietly.
She turned around and looked at him, what she said stung him and she knew it.
���Tessa I���m sorry, I trust you. I want to know that you trust me, too.���
���I do now,��� she whispered.
He kissed her, and she kissed him back, their tongues met, he pulled her tighter to him.
She pulled away, ���We need to go back outside Lucas.���
���Now?��� he kissed her again.
She smiled and pulled back, ���Yes now, or we���ll be missing for a long time, and with my parents now on high alert I don���t think that���s a good idea.���
���It can be quick, Baby,��� Lucas kissed her slowly walking towards the stairs.
���I don���t want quick,��� she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
���No?��� Lucas bent down and lightly bit her breast.
���Lucas,��� Tessa moaned.
They heard someone walking in, and she ran to the bathroom and shut the door.
���We���re good, right?��� he asked when she came out.
���Yeah, real good,��� she said, and they walked out hand in hand.
It was getting dark, and John turned on the lights. The tents, dance floor and yard, were all lit up. Jade, Phoebe, and Becca were dancing. Lucas sat with his parents, and he was a bit on edge; it was weird to be sitting there with the four of them. Audrianna and Landon each held one of the sleepy girls on their laps.
���How are you doing, Lucas?���
���Good Dad,��� he sat watching her dance.
���How���re you feeling about Syracuse?���
���Pretty excited,��� he smiled and looked at him.
���Excellent,��� Landon smiled.
A slow song played, and Tessa around, ���Got to go.���
He grabbed her, and they danced, slow and very close looking into each other���s eyes.
���Do me a favor?��� she asked him.
���Anything,��� he said his eyes locked on hers.
���Go ask my Mom to dance?���
���Oh wow, alright,��� he kissed her and walked away.
Tessa grabbed her Dad, and he danced with her. Lucas and Maggie came up beside them and danced.
The song changed another slow one.
���Dad I want to dance with Lucas, could you ask Mom to dance?��� she turned to her Mom, ���May I cut in?���
John stood there looking at her, ���Mag���s��� dance with me?���
���Sure,��� she blushed.
Tessa looked away and smiled at Lucas.
���You���re very sneaky baby,��� he smiled.
���Well, I feel bad for them, they fell out of love. I���m pretty sure they can find their way back,��� she giggled, ���Plus neither of them has had sex in a year!���
���Truth is you want them back together right?���
���Yes very much,��� he pulled her close. ���Look at my Dad���s eyes, he loves her. She never had sex with Dr. Feel Good, and she misses our family. But I promised I wouldn���t tell anyone, so it���s top secret, alright?���
���Testing one two,��� came from the microphone.
���Tess come sing for us,��� Ben smiled.
She looked up at Lucas ���What should I do Lucas?���
���Go sing for me baby,��� he kissed her.
Tessa went up and picked a song. She wanted to keep it slow so her parents would still dance.
Tessa sang Eternal Flame and her parents continued dancing. Lucas grabbed Kendall, who shook her head no but caved.
She sang and looked at Lucas the entire time.
���Your turn, Ben.���
He bound up and grabbed the microphone; he sang the song from the video he had posted on Facebook, Shimmer by Fuel.
Tessa watched him and smiled. She looked for Lauren and went and dragged her to the dance floor with Phoebe, Becca, and Jade. She grabbed Kendall and kissed Lucas. He smiled and sat next to his Dad. Tessa was dancing with Kendall and Lucas��� sisters ran out to her, and she danced with them. The first verse finished, and Ben walked out and grabbed Lauren and winked at Tessa. He turned Lauren to him and danced with her. He walked back up towards the DJ and sang the chorus. Phoebe looked at Tessa and smirked. Tessa looked away. The song ended, and Tessa walked the girls over to Audrianna.
���What was that about?��� Audrianna whispered.
���Nothing,��� Tessa blushed.
���Tessa, he winked at you,��� she whispered.
���I didn���t notice.���
���Ok. You and Lucas alright?���
���Absolutely,��� she smiled. ���Audrianna I have known Ben forever, there���s nothing. A failed attempt to stay away from Lucas, which I never wanted to do. Lucas knows, he just gets so angry, and I don���t want him to be. Ben and Lucas have exchanged blows once, I don���t want that again. I chose Lucas and would over and over and over again.��� Audrianna looked up, ���He���s standing right behind me isn���t he?���
���Yes I am,��� he pulled her up to him ���I love you, baby.���
She turned and smiled ���Anyways?���
���Yes, of course. Boy��� are we going to have fun at his party,��� he said smiled sarcastically.
Audrianna smiled, ���Thank God.���
���Can I sing again?���
���Yes, of course.���
She went up and picked a song, she dragged Kendall with her.
���No,��� Kendall said.
���Kendall you know this one,��� she dragged her up.
Don���t Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John played. They did a duet and she sang to Lucas, and he smiled. He watched Tessa and Kendall being childish and laughed. All the older people were enjoying themselves, and she forced Kendall to sing Daniel.
When they finished, Ben sang a couple Steve Miller tunes. Then asked Tessa to come sing with him, she looked at Lucas, and he smiled and mouthed, go.
They sang Crocodile Rock and danced with the crowd and laughed. They threw in all the silly dance moves they could. When the song ended, they were trying to catch their breath and laughed.
���Another one?��� she asked Ben.
���Not right now, I���ll save it for later,��� he hugged her quickly and pointed towards Lucas ���Go, he���s very impatiently waiting.���
She ran up to Lucas and jumped on him and kissed him.
���Will you dance with me?��� she asked.
���Of course baby, anything you want.���
���I left you a present in your back seat,��� she smiled, ���I want that later.���
���How about now?���
���Oh no, not now, too many people,��� she laughed. ���But feel free to go look if you want, but I���m not coming with you.���
���Go dance, I���ll be right back,��� Lucas said.
Lucas came back, and his eyes were very dark and heated, she grinned at him. He tapped his wrist and mouthed let���s go. She shook her head no and laughed until her belly hurt it felt crampy. She walked fast into the house and went to the bathroom. Great, she thought.
She walked out, and he was standing there.
���Tessa everyone���s dancing, we could disappear for an hour, and no one would know baby, please.���
She shook her head, ���Not for a few days, Lucas.���
���No way,��� he banged his head against the wall.
���Sorry,��� she rubbed his head and laughed.
���You didn���t know?���
���Really Lucas, do you think if I knew I would have put that in your vehicle?���
He laughed, ���No��� your appetite is bigger than mine, let���s go get some cake, baby.���
She looked at him, ���I���m sorry.���
���For you or me?��� he laughed.
She pushed him away and he smiled.
* * *
He brought her cake and pulled her on his lap. She snuggled into him, and he fed her cake.
���We���re taking off, Mom and Dad are tired,��� Ben laughed.
���Where are you going to school Ben?��� Lucas asked and fed Tessa another bite.
���Ithaca, actually.���
���Lauren did you graduate this year?��� Lucas asked.
���Yes, I���m going to Ithaca as well.���
���Cool, Lucas is going to SU,��� Tessa said, ���Drive safe Ben.���
���Of course, we���ll text you when we get home.���
���Please do,��� Lucas said, ���Tessa worries about her friends.���
They left, and Lucas finished feeding Tessa. She saw her parents watching them. She waved them over.
���Hey, can Lucas spend the night?��� she asked.
���Tessa,��� her father said warning her not to push.
���What Dad, I have my period and anyway for some reason Lucas has a no hands policy when we���re here,��� Tessa shrugged and took a bit of Lucas���s cake…
���Fine��� he can stay in Alex���s room��� with the alarm,��� John walked away flustered.
Maggie walked with him, ���You���re really okay with that?���