by Mj Fields
When the song ends, she starts to pull away.
“Tessa—”
She wiggles out of my arms. “I’m going to burn the bacon.”
I grab the plates from the cupboard as I watch her shake that ass as she stands at the stove, singing softly to every song that comes on.
“Want me to grab your book?” her little sister, who is seriously sweet, asks.
I mess up her hair. “Book?”
“She writes down her favorites every week,” Kendall explains.
“Don’t spill all my weirdo secrets,” Tessa warns with a smile.
After I set the table, with Kendall’s help and guidance, she runs to the other room. I swear that girl can’t just chill, either. Chewy starts whining, so I take him out, and we play fetch for a long damn time. Works for me, though; a nice slow warmup for the day to come.
When I walk inside, I see Tessa and Kendall dancing to “Come Baby Come” and I can’t help but laugh.
Kendall stops dancing. I assume she thinks I’m laughing at her, which is a hell of a lot better than the fact that I have all intentions in the fold of making Tessa do just that tonight.
“Go grab the book, Kendall. This songs gotta make a list.”
She looks at Tess, who is fighting a grin. “You want me, too?”
“Yeah,” she says, not looking away.
Kendall jets, and I turn my hat backward and make my way to her, and then we dance.
“Damn boy, can you suck at just one thing?”
“Not in my nature.” I turn her around then pull her back against me, and she laughs as she grinds her tiny little ass with the obvious intention of making me hard.
When we hear feet tapping down the stairs, we both step away, and yeah, I sit my ass down so my semi is under the table, making a note to myself that wearing sweats sans boxers is a bad idea.
John walks in, Jake and Alex following behind him, and shakes his head when he sees Tessa dancing. Then, just like every meal at the Ross home, chaos ensues.
Not going to lie and say it wasn’t jarring the first couple days I was here—hell, it still is—but now it’s in the best possible way.
By the end of breakfast, we’ve all written in Tessa’s notebook.
When John, Kendall, and Jake leave to head to town to go to the parts store, and Alex hits the shower, Tessa and I finish cleaning up.
“Glad you’re finally allowing me to help.” I smile at her as I dry off a dish.
“You’re not a guest anymore; been here a week now. You’re officially part of the family.” She grins. “Lucas Ross.”
I hip-check her. “Love your last name, baby, but you need to know you’ll be the one changing yours.”
She looks at me and gives me that face, the cute one when she’s trying not to smile, and her face starts to pinken. “We’ll see about that.”
“You’re gonna wanna be one of those women who hyphenates her name, there will be consequences.”
“You don’t scare me, Lucas Links-Ross.”
You scare the hell out of me, I think. But I push past that and grab her, pretending like I’m going to pick her up and throw her over my shoulder.
She wiggles away and laughs. “Let’s focus on today, yeah?”
“Today’s in the bag. I’m focusing on the after-party, the private celebration.”
She washes a plate, ignoring the comment. “I don’t like not being there to see you kick ass.”
“I wish I could watch you do the same,” I say, putting a plate in the cupboard.
She glances at me out of the corner of her beautiful blue eyes. “I’ll give you a prize when you get home, if you win.”
“But it’s not Friday.”
“It’s been Friday for two days.”
I nod. “Okay, if you win, I’ll let you.”
She smacks me. “Gee, thanks.”
Laughing, I tell her, “You win, you’ll get two. I owe you one.”
“That look doesn’t freak me out anymore. It kind of excites me,” she whispers.
I step behind her, push her braid aside, kiss her neck, and then I grab her ass firmly. “You haven’t seen excited yet.” I reach around and flatten a hand on her flat belly then begin to lower it.
“Shower’s free,” Alex yells as he heads upstairs.
Tessa stops my hand from traveling any further. Then she grabs it and pulls me behind her through the dining room, living room, and into the bathroom. She shuts and locks the door behind us.
“Tessa, what are you doing, baby?”
She steps in front of me and hooks her thumbs under the waistband of my sweats.
“Damn, baby,” I say as I lean in to kiss her.
She leans back and starts to go down to her knees.
“Tessa, where’s my uniform?” Alex calls, and I quickly grab my sweats before my dick slips out of its cage.
“I’ll bring it up in a second,” she yells then tries to smack my hand away.
“Can’t wait for what’s to come, baby, but tonight’s cool.”
She scowls at me, stands, and then turns away.
“What’s wrong, baby? Are you mad?”
“Yes, at myself. This is crazy. I don’t think I’ll stop next time we are alone. It’s all or nothing, Lucas.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way. I can calm down. Sorry, Tessa.”
“Don’t be sorry. I want you more than anything I have ever wanted. I need you. I can’t even kiss you anymore without wanting more. I feel like I’m losing it.” She grips the counter. “Seriously, what is wrong with me?”
“I know exactly what’s wrong with you.” I turn her around, lift her up, sit her on the counter, then lift her shirt and unclasp her bra. I love the fact it’s a front clasp. In less than a second, one of her girls is in my mouth.
“Oh God, Lucas,” she whispers as I suck her pebbled nipple into my mouth, swirl my tongue around it, then bite down, all while inhaling her sweet scent. She grabs my hair and arches her back, pushing against my mouth as I cup her other tit, set on making her come.
And she does, more beautifully than I imagined.
Helping her sort herself, she looks at me and shakes her head. “I’m not sure—”
“Then don’t.” I adjust my cock.
“Tessa!” Alex yells from upstairs.
“She’s coming.” I wink at her, and she laughs as we leave the bathroom.
Filling her water bottle at the sink, we watch as Maggie pulls in, and she whispers, “Thank you.”
“The pleasure was mine.”
“How does that work?” Tessa asks, confused.
“You’ll see tonight. We’re winning this game.”
I walk her out to Maggie’s car and hug her. “Good luck, baby.”
“You, too. I love you,” Tessa says sweetly. She’s a hell of a lot more relaxed, as I knew she would be after that evil sexual tension was relieved.
“You better.” I laugh.
Tessa wasn’t the only one relaxed after my mouth’s intro to the girls. Apparently, I’d been holding back some tension, as well, because my arm was loose and on fire for the whole game. Alex, Ryan, Tommy, and I couldn’t do a damn thing wrong in the field if we tried.
Needless to say, we won.
Last year, after each game, when I looked in the stands and there was no one there for me, it took a bit of my love for the game away. Today, even though my blood isn’t sitting there, cheering me on, the Ross family is, and so is the head coach from SU, Coach Brown.
Direct eye contact was made, and he tipped his hat to me. No words needed to be spoken; I knew what this meant. I did, however, discreetly nod to Tommy, because there was no one else I’d want to take the field at SU with than him. Coach Brown lifted his chin, and it gave me a touch of hope.
Tommy deserved it just as much as I did. No one defends me like he does, on or off the field. Without him over the past three years, I wouldn’t be who I am. Without Tessa, I wouldn’t be who I am becoming.
I
’ve never been the kind to pray to someone who never seemed to know I existed, but right now, I look up and whisper, “Thank you.”
Tommy nudges me and nods to the far end of the field, where a bunch of men in many assortments of collegiate gear stand with clipboards.
“Wherever we play, we do it together,” I assure him, and I mean it, too.
He holds up his fist. “You and me, man.”
I tap it. “Always.”
Tommy groans, “Don’t look now, but the wicked witch of the—”
“Lucas, we need to talk,” comes from behind me.
I don’t bother looking back as I simply tell her, “No, we don’t.”
“I’m three months late!” she yells.
I freeze and quickly do the math in my head.
No, no, no, I think as my reality comes crashing down on me, this can’t be right.
I glance to my side and see Tommy doing the same as I just did. Even though I’m better at math and normally take pride in that, I pray I’m wrong.
When he closes his eyes, bile begins to burn my throat.
I look behind me and see Alex hang his head.
“Did you hear me, Lucas?” Sadi asks, now standing in front of me.
When I say nothing, she reaches into her bag and pulls out a pregnancy test and what appears to be a bill from a doctor’s visit. I look them over as she holds them, not wanting to touch them because, for some reason, that would make what I already know is real even more so.
My stomach sours, threatening to push the vomit up my throat. My eyes burn, threatening tears. I shake my head. “We’ll talk later.”
“When?” she demands.
“I’m not sure.”
“Are you really living with her?” Sadi yells as I head to the tree line.
I stop then turn, pointing my finger at her, and sternly say, “Yes, Sadi. And you better leave her the fuck alone. Got it?”
“Yes,” she says quietly then walks toward the parking lot.
I walk past the guys and into the woods behind the field. My legs give out, and I fall to my knees, taking in deep breaths and releasing them slowly, hoping like hell that I don’t cry.
When my chest tightens, I hold my hand over it, trying to calm myself down, but it’s not working. I’m having a hard time breathing or even expelling air. I feel dizzy and even more sick to my stomach now. Too many feelings that remind me of when I was younger.
I was six years old when the school nurse called and asked why I was not at school. I told her that mommy had fallen. Within minutes, the ambulance was at our home, along with a white car that had an official-looking seal on the door. They took my mom, and then the woman in the white car helped me pack a bag and took me.
This feels the same— this pain is the same inability to breathe.
I look up and see Tommy and Alex standing just beyond the tree line, giving me space. I know that they already know what’s going on, but I don’t think that I could possibly face them right now. Hell, I’m not sure if I ever would be able to face them again.
When I see John walking up to Tommy, and then stops to talk to him, I close my eyes and try to call on God, who I never speak to and never will again, to prove to me that He is there, to make this pain stop. I’d sell my soul if, when I open my eyes, it was all just a bad dream.
When I open my eyes and John is squatting beside me, I know that not even the devil wants my cursed soul.
Something breaks inside of me, and I scream out into the air. That’s something I’ve never done. I’ve always managed to keep it all inside. I could now, I could manage my pain, but deep down, I know the worst is yet to come, the worst will be when I have to tell Tessa.
John wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into a hug. “Son, you’ll get through this. We’ll help you.”
I shake my head, and he helps me stand.
“The girls just pulled in. Give me your keys and let’s get you out of here.”
Wiping my face, we walk out of the woods and toward my SUV. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tessa exiting the bus as Tommy opens the back door. I slide in, and he closes it behind me. Then he walks around the vehicle and slides in next to me.
“We’ve been through worse; we will get through this.” Tommy wraps an arm around me and the first tear falls.
Chapter Thirty One
I run off the bus as I watch Dad and Tommy swarm around Lucas, worry that he’s been hurt. Then I spy Alex quickly and ask, “Is everything okay?”
Alex won’t even look at me as he simply says, “Where is Jade? We need to go.”
“Alex, you’re scaring me.” My eyes burn with tears as I yell, “Jade!”
Jade turns and runs toward me. “Tessa, what is it?”
“I don’t know. He won’t tell me.” I look at Alex, whose eyes show deep concern.
The butterflies begin to swarm, and not the good kind.
“Phoebe.” Alex looks at her then whispers, “Can you ride with Becca? I’ll call you later.”
“Of course,” Phoebe answers.
I watch as Alex kisses her forehead then slides in the truck. Jade and I hop in.
The ride home is quiet. Alex, who always has to have the radio on, doesn’t even bother with it.
When we pull onto the farm’s driveway, Tommy rushes outside.
Jade and I slide out of the truck, and Jade asks, “What’s going on, Tommy?”
And that’s when we hear yelling from the house.
I stand frozen, listening to my father say his name. “Lucas, you aren’t going anywhere. Put your bag down, son.” He’s trying to move out? “I gave my word to the sheriff, and you certainly don’t need to be going anywhere right now.”
“No disrespect, sir, but I can’t stay here. I can’t bear to see the disappointment in her eyes. Not again.” His voice cracks.
“You have no clue how strong that girl is. Right now, you need people, and you have us. Now go get your ass in the shower and let me talk to her. I’ll help you get through this,” Dad orders.
We all head into the house, and I hear what I know to be Lucas running down the stairs. As much as I want to go to him, something is stopping me. I’ve never felt so afraid in my life, yet I also know that he needs me, that he needs us … and that I love him.
The bathroom door shuts a moment later, and then everyone looks at me.
Dad walks into the kitchen, takes my hand, and leads me back outside. Standing on the deck, he looks at me sternly, the kind of look that proceeds a serious conversation.
“Daddy, what happened? Is it his mom? His dad? His sisters?”
“No, baby girl, they are all just the same.” Dad’s eyes soften, and I swear I see pity them. “After the game, the blonde, Sadi, I believe, asked to speak to him. She said that she was three months late.”
“She’s lying, Dad,” I say with conviction.
“She handed him proof stating otherwise—a pregnancy test. Honey, Lucas looked at it and walked into the woods behind the school and broke down.”
The bad kind of butterflies still their movements, and as if my body is protecting itself, I begin to feel numb. “Are you sure?”
Dad nods firmly. “Yes, and he’s in a very bad place right now. Can you try to keep it together for him?”
“Of course, Dad. I love him.” At the use of the word love, my voice breaks. “I love him so much.”
He pulls me into his arms. “I know this is rough, but he has over two months left here. Can you do that? Because, if not, you need to tell me, and I’ll find a suitable—”
“He has to stay.”
“Okay then.” He nods. “Let’s get inside.”
When I walk into the living room, I see Lucas sitting on the couch, arms crossed over his chest, his white hat pulled down low, covering his eyes as he sits next to Tommy.
Tommy stands, gives me a hug, and whispers in my ear, “You going to be okay?”
“Of course I am, and so is Lucas.”
I walk
over and sit on the couch next to Lucas. “How was your game?”
“Seriously? That’s what you are going to say to me right now?”
“Yep.” I take his hat and turn it around backward. He looks up at me through those beautiful, long, black lashes—he’s heartbroken—and then looks down. “So, how was the game, Lucas?”
He laughs uncomfortably. “It was great. Lots of recruiters, and we won. How was yours?”
“Good. We won, too.” I swallow hard then ask the burning question, “What happened after, Lucas?”
He turns his hat around and pulls it down, hiding his hurt. I watch as he takes in several short breaths, and then a tear falls, and now my heart, my heart that belongs to him, breaks, too.
I brush his tears away, take his hands, and kiss the back of each one of them. “You’re going to be fine.”
“How are you going to be, Tessa? Huh?”
I feel the first of many tears fall and answer, “I’m going to be fine.”
He looks up at me and takes me in his arms. Neither one of us even tries to hide the tears.
Nose buried in my hair, he whispers, “I am so sorry, Tessa.”
“I’m pretty sure this wasn’t planned.”
He shakes his head.
“Okay, then we need to come up with a plan for you.”
He lets out a breath and takes my face in his hands, eyebrows furrowed, and says, “God, I love you.”
“I love you, Lucas. I’ll help you figure this out, okay? We’ll figure it out together.” I wrap my arms around his neck, take a really deep breath, then slowly exhale. “We’ve got this, Lucas Links.”
Less than a second later, Lucas’s phone rings, and he holds it up.
“Are you going to answer it?”
“I don’t want to.”
“It could be your mom,” I whisper.
He flips open his phone and holds it to his ear. “This is Lucas.”
As soon as I hear her voice, I want to take the phone and smash it. When I hear her taunting tone, in which she uses with him, I want to smash her.