“Huh?” I mutter. “Could you please explain how in the world you came to believe that logic makes any sense at all?”
“You’re getting better, finally moving forward! That’s great news,” she says. “And I know that in your heart you still love Paul, don’t you?”
“Yes, but –”
“You do! So shouldn’t you at least take a few days to get to know him again? He knows things have changed and that you’re different. That’s okay because he still loves you too.”
“I know that, but –”
“No buts! You love him, he loves you. And Verek is hot and all, sure. Could you actually see a future with him, though?”
“You married Roman,” I point out.
“Roman was ready to give up women and settle down when we got together. Verek’s been away for months, doing no telling what. Do you really think he’s the type to settle down? Have you talked to him about having more than partially naked fun time together?”
“Sort of,” I remark, dropping to the edge of the mattress when I remember the story Verek told me last night about his upbringing, how being with women has always been so casual to him, that once it’s over and done he moves on.
“And? What did he say?”
“That he’s not sure if he’s capable of loving anyone, or of…sex meaning more than just a physical act. I think he used the word ‘transaction.’”
“Exactly!” Charlotte exclaims. “I’m sorry, Tessa, but I think how you feel about Verek is different from the way he feels about you. It’s probably just a crush or lust, you know? And by the time your heart realizes that, you’ll get hurt and then be alone when you could have a life with Paul. That man is going to move on eventually.”
Could Charlotte be right? She’s always been there for me, knowing what I need before I know it myself, especially after I was kidnapped and in a state of shock. I am still recovering from what happened and probably will be for a long damn time.
Being with Verek, while fun and exciting may not turn into anything more. While Paul and I were planning to spend the rest of our lives together, through thick and thin, even if the sex wasn’t off-the-charts great…
“So?” Charlotte asks. “Will you just try and give Paul a chance? He’s been looking forward to seeing you for months, and I’ve been putting him off because I know you weren’t ready to see him. I think you are now. Just remember that his life came to a sudden halt too.”
“Fine,” I cave with a sigh. “I’ll try to…date him. I’m just not sure I feel comfortable being alone with him,” I admit.
“The prospects go wherever you go, no matter what,” she reminds me.
“I know.”
“You could stick with day dates and do things outside if that’s easier.”
“I guess.”
“Just try. That’s all I’m asking, Tessa. You don’t know what will happen unless you take a chance.”
“Okay. I already agreed. You don’t have to keep trying to convince me,” I remark.
“Okay. If you left Verek and Paul alone, then I should probably let you go before Verek kills him. Apparently, he’s a pro at that.”
“Charlotte! That’s not fair. You know he only hurts bad guys.”
“As far as you know…”
“Shouldn’t you be fucking your husband right now instead of talking to me?” I say to change the subject.
“Think happy thoughts,” she says. “Now that we’re officially married, well, we’ve decided to stop using, um, protection.”
“Oh my gosh! You’re trying to get pregnant?” I whisper in surprise.
“We’re not getting any younger,” Charlotte replies before catching herself. “Sorry. I just meant we want to go ahead and start a family so that we’re not ancient when they graduate high school. Ugh, you know what I mean. You still have plenty of time!”
“I know,” I mutter with a sad smile. I get it. I wanted to start a family with Paul soon too before my life went to hell. “Go get knocked up,” I tell her. “And I’ll go make plans with Paul.”
“I’m so glad,” Charlotte says happily. “Have fun. Bye?”
“Bye,” I reply before ending the call.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Verek
* * *
After Tessa goes into the bedroom to talk to whom I assume is Charlotte calling to check in, Lola whines at the closed door before she comes and sits next to me, close enough for me to give her head a pat.
“That dog doesn’t like me,” Paul says.
While I wish I could agree, I tell him the truth. “She’s Tessa’s support animal. I think she’s been taught her limits, what things make her uncomfortable. She’s just trying to protect her.”
Although, when I reached for Tessa’s hand last night, Lola was right there and didn’t make a sound. Maybe she does like me.
“Yeah, of course,” he replies sadly before letting out a nonhumorous chuckle. “The dog knows my fiancée better than I do.”
Fiancée? Seriously? How can he still call Tessa that when she’s made it perfectly clear that she doesn’t want to marry him? Poor delusional prick.
We both finish eating our pancakes in silence, then Paul becomes very interested in whatever is on his phone, until Tessa finally comes out of the bedroom. Lola goes to greet her like she was gone for hours when it was just minutes.
“Everything okay, sweetheart?” I ask, the term of endearment rolling off my tongue before I can stop it.
Tessa looks from me and then to Paul before responding. “Ah, yeah. Charlotte’s daily phone call as promised,” she says, retaking her seat.
“I’m surprised Roman let her come up for air long enough to make a call,” I say honestly, and Tessa actually smiles at that.
“He must have been in the shower,” she jokes.
“That’s right,” Paul says, jumping into the conversation. “Charlotte got married yesterday, didn’t she?”
“Yes, she did,” Tessa answers him. “They’re on their honeymoon in Aruba.”
“I bet it’s beautiful there,” Paul responds. “And you know, whenever you’re ready, we can still go to Hawaii like we planned for our honeymoon. I just postponed our flight and reservations. I know how much you were looking forward to seeing the beautiful beaches.”
“She lives at the beach,” I remark gruffly.
“Well, Hawaii is a tropical paradise,” he retorts.
“I’m sure it is,” I agree. “Hope you can book two rooms instead of one.”
“Whatever I need to do,” Paul says more sternly to me before he turns to Tessa. “So, what do you have planned today?” he asks her.
She opens her mouth as if to feed him some lie but then says, “Nothing I guess.”
The asshole in me would like to speak up right now to remind her I never got to lick her pussy last night. That’s the only thing that was on my agenda today. Instead, I grit my teeth to keep quiet.