“No,” Ben harrumphed. “Look, the guy is a player. When he gets bored, he’ll toss you like a takeout container.”
“Because I’m not a keeper, huh?” Tessa pushed.
“I didn’t say that.”
“No, you didn’t,” Tessa agreed. “You also didn’t give me a kosher reason to turn Kyle down. It’s been weeks since we first locked ourselves up in this house and you never seem interested in anything I want to do. I think I’m going to take my chances with Kyle. At least he’s fun and cares that I’m here.”
“Hey! I can be fun,” Ben looked insulted as Tessa disappeared into the house. He lowered his tone, “I’m going to be so much fun...I’ll make you love me...the way I love you.”
From the attic window, Ben watched as Kyle spoon-fed bites of cheesecake to Tessa and she tossed her head back, laughing at all his stupid jokes. Jealousy ate away at his nerves. He knew if he didn’t step up soon, he’d lose her, and he wasn’t about to let that happen without a fight. He’d probably lose his best friend in the process, but hopefully, Kyle would understand and gracefully step aside.
For the next three months, Kyle and Ben battled it out, each vying for Tessa’s attention, each attempting to out-do the other. There were many more picnics, numerous bottles of wine shared in the hot tub and movie nights, as well as card games, board games, and even a few guitar wars battles on an old Wii machine Tessa discovered in a box in the wine cellar. It had all been fun and games, but coming up with new, fresh ideas was getting exhausting. Tonight, the boys prepared something a tad unorthodox.
An invitation had been tucked under Tessa’s door, she was to wait until eight pm and then come out back. Sounded like bossy Ben at work, but then Kyle’s romantic spirit spoke volumes in the handwritten invitation. It was becoming abundantly clear that the boys were heavy into this competition and deep-down Tessa was loving every minute of it. There was only one problem looming in the air tonight as she slipped on her flip-flops and slowly walked towards the back door, and that was her heart.
“Oh my, what do we have here?” Tessa asked as she walked out back.
A table had been draped with a white linen cloth and was beautifully set for three, using fine china and elegant silverware along with crystal stemware and red linen napkins folded like swans. Music was quietly playing in the distance and the firepit was lit for ambiance.
“Dinner will be served shortly,” Kyle announced, handing her a wine-filled glass.
“I’m feeling a smidge underdressed,” Tessa looked down at her torn jeans and stained sweatshirt and laughed. “What’s this all about?”
“You look amazing as always,” Ben complimented, as he approached dressed in a tuxedo and pulled out a chair. “Have a seat and all will be explained shortly.”
They were both outfitted in sharp looking tuxedos and Tessa laughed when she noticed they were both barefoot; there was something oddly sexy about the way they looked.
Dinner consisted of beef tenderloin, braised in red wine with sautéed asparagus and tiny rosemary potatoes. Halfway through the berry-compote and Devon cream, Tessa set down her spoon, wiped her mouth with her napkin, and sat back in her seat eyeing them both as she sipped her wine.
“I need to tell you both something,” Tessa spoke softly, a sadness reflecting in her voice. “I’ve decided to go home.”
“Wait!” Ben exclaimed. “You’re leaving?”
“You can’t go now,” Kyle reacted as well as Ben had. Tessa was shocked. “We’re still under quarantine.”
“I can self-quarantine there as easily as I can here,” Tessa reasoned. “It’s been fun, I’ve had a blast, in fact, I’ve never felt happier. But, we’re under each other's feet, the project’s all done and I’m sure you two would like your space.”
“My space is fine the way it is,” Kyle barked with conviction. “I like you in my space, hell, I even like Ben and that crazy cat of yours in my space.”
“Yeah, we have plenty of room,” Ben griped. “What’s the real reason you don’t want to be here? Are we getting on your nerves? How about we promise to back off, will that make you stay? At least have the decency to tell us the truth.”
He was right and Tessa felt bad for not being completely forthright.
“Okay,” she set down her glass and took hold of the neck of the wine bottle, tipping it back and chugging, then clumsily wiped her mouth on her sleeve. “I owe you that much.”
“Did I come on too strong?” Kyle asked, leaning in closer.
“No, you guys have been great,” she confessed. “There’s not a woman alive that wouldn’t feel like a spoiled princess the way you’ve been taking care of me.”
“Then what?” Ben’s brow creased a glint of sadness in his eyes.
Her eyes moved from Kyle to Ben and back. She downed the remainder of the bottle before speaking.
“I can’t stay here,” she whispered before continuing. “Because...”
“Because?” Ben pushed.
“Let her speak!” Kyle barked. “Go on, Tess, because?”
She bit into her lower lip and looked up at the stars for inspiration, counted to three, and taking a deep breath.
“I love you.”
Awkward silence charged the air, even the crickets took a recess to decipher her words. Ben looked to Kyle and Kyle looked at him bewildered.
“Who do you love?” Ben ventured.
She looked at them both and burst into tears, burying her face in her hands and sobbing her heart out while she spoke.
“There lies the problem,” she sniffled, holding back tears long enough to wipe her nose with the tail-end of her top. “I think I love you both, that’s so wrong. Every moral fiber of my being is telling me that I’m acting like a little ho. You two did this to me. With all the attention, the romantic dinners, the compliments, making me feel special—”
“You are special,” Kyle interrupted. “Not a ho.”
“Me too,” Ben assured. “Tessa, I’ve been a dunderhead for far too long. I didn’t want to create a problem between us by telling you how I felt. I thought it would make working together difficult. I have loved you from the moment you spilled your coffee down my shirt in the copy room. I knew then that I wanted you, had to have you... there was never the right time to tell you though.”
“Hang on there, dude,” Kyle broke in. “I love Tessa, and I’ve never held back showing her how much. You made my heart literally skip a beat the first night our eyes met. I was sure you felt the same. You did, didn’t you?”
“Back off, Kyle,” Ben snapped.
“No, you back off!”
“Stop fighting!” Tessa yelled over the two as they quarrelled. “This is why I need to leave. I won’t allow myself to come between friends. Me and Alley are leaving in the morning; I’ve arranged for a ride. Please respect my decision.”
And so, they did.
A week had passed without so much as a text message or phone call. Tessa spent most of her days holed up inside with Alley for company and the remote for the tv as her only friend. A mound of takeaway containers littered the kitchen counters and she hadn’t had a shower in days. When the doorbell rang, she jumped from her seat, turned off the tv, and ran to the door expecting a pizza delivery.