Tears flooded my eyes.“That’s not true.”
Challenge laid over herface like a mask. “Oh, no? Well, maybe all you really care about is that man,then. Maybe you love that you can fix him, because you can’t fixme.”
Before the tears couldspill over, before I could say anything I’d regret, I threw my hands in the airand stormed out of the room. I stomped down the hallway and slammed my doorshut, because fuck her and listening for an emergency. Dressed and with my bagover my shoulder and Doc Martens on my feet, I barreled through the house. WhenGrandma demanded to know where I was going, I turned on my heel to shootdaggers from my eyes.
“Out. I’m going out,” Istated simply.
“And you’re going tojustleave me?” Her tone wasincredulous and harsh, and I didn’t give a fuck.
“Yep.” And I slammedthe door.
***
I had a key, but I didn’t use it. Not at atime when they didn’t expect me. Instead, I knocked and waited for it to beanswered.
“Yeah, I know,Shelly-belly. I’ll be right back, okay? Keep the party going without me. Anddon’t eat all the cookies!” I heard from inside the apartment, and the door wasthrown open. Jon stood before me, wearing his pajamas and a tiara. “Hey, what—”His head cocked at the sight of me. “Tess? You’re early. Why … why are youearly?”
“Um …” I hadn’t beenaware of the tears pooling in my eyes until I started tospeak,andchoked. “I, uh …”
“Here.” He gentlywrapped a hand around my bicep and led me inside. I shuffled my boots along themottled carpet and let him sit me down on that lumpy old chair with the springspoking into my ass. He released my arm as he crouched down in front of me, butthen, he took my hand. It was meant for comfort, meant to make me feel better,but I couldn’t help looking further into it. I wanted it to mean something, tomeanmore.
Iwanted to be wanted.
I shuddered at anothermemory of words I had written. They were fictional, or at least I thought so atthe time, but now, I wondered …
“You okay?” Jon asked,looking unreasonably sturdy and masculine while still wearing a tiara.
I shook my head.“Grandma and I got into a fight.”
His face crumpled withconcern. “You left her alone?”
Pulling my hand fromhis, I covered my eyes from his scrutinizing glare. “God, I’m the most horribleperson on the planet. I shouldn’t have left. I just needed to get away fromher. I—”
“No, that’s not what Imeant.” He laid his palm over my bare knee. “Hey, look, I have to call Devinstill, but after I get off the phone, how about I go back there with you, untilTim gets there? She might even like to see the kids.”
Grandma didn’t know himor his kids and the thought of her liking anything seemed impossible lately.But I dropped my hand from my eyes and found the comfort I needed in his. I hadno idea what was happening here, if it was fact or fiction, or something elseentirely, but I mustered the strength to smile and nod.
“That would be great,”I replied honestly, because the thought of spending more time with him reallywas …great. “But you have to promiseto wear the tiara.”
His gaze lifted, asthough only now recalling the bejeweled crown, and groaned. “Oh, God …”
“It brings out youreyes,” I teased.
With a begrudged sigh,he pulled it off and laid it unceremoniously over my hair. “I now dub thee,Princess Tessa. Go have tea with the other royals in their bedroom. I’m callingDevin.” With that, he stood up and turned away to head toward his room.
I watched him grab hisphone from the kitchen table, and then he turned to glance over his shoulder.He winced for a moment, like he was terrified of every good thing to happen inhis life, and I gave him two thumbs up. His lopsided smile cleared my mind ofGrandma and books, and as he closed his door, only one thought remained:
AndI dub thee, Prince Charming.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
JON
Iclosed the doorbehind me, leaving Tess toplay with the girls. My hand was still buzzing from holding hers, so I shook itout, ridding myself of feelings I didn’t need. I felt the glare of Beth fromthe dresser, felt her frozen eyes singeing the fabric of my t-shirt as I pacedthe short length of the room. I turned to face her again and felt the reminderof our wedding vows piercing my skull and drilling into my brain, and I lookedaway.
“I need to make thiscall,” I muttered to the air, to her ghost. Making excuses for why I wasrunning away from dealing with this increasing issue. Tess. Feelings.
“Okay.” I nodded,dialing Devin’s number, and pressing the phone to my ear. My arm trembled andmy fingers shook. My heart strummed wildly inside its cage like it was trying torattle itself free, and I waited. It felt like I waited so long, I might die.
