Page 19 of My Heart Still Beats
I make a point to stay in the hallway. “It was great meeting you.”
“You too.” She looks at the floor as Rita runs into the small apartment.
Resignation exudes from her. She’s depleted. So depleted, and I yearn to help her. To at least do something within my power.
“Tell you what,” I say. “I’ll make the arrangements for your bachelorette party if you’d like. I’ve got all the details about the resort, and Braden gave me carte blanche. He’s planning on paying for everything.”
“I know,” Tessa says. “Skye told me. He’s very generous.”
“He is, especially where Skye is concerned. He’d buy her the moon if he could.”
“I believe he would.” She looks over at Rita, who has settled herself on a chair. “Skye fell in love with a puppy when I rescued Rita. Her place didn’t allow pets, but I…” A small smile curves her lips.
She’s so beautiful.
“I called Braden,” she continues. “I told him about the pup, about how much Skye loved it, and Braden adopted the pup for Skye.”
I nod. “I’m familiar with the tale.”
“It’s so…”
“So…what?” I ask.
She sighs. “It seems like years have gone by since then, but in reality it’s only been a few months. I remember telling her to go for it when Braden asked her out. To let her hair down. Skye was never like that. She thought everything out.Overthought everything. Tried to control every minor facet of her life.”
“And now?”
“She’s still like that, but not to the same extent. Braden has been good for her.”
“She’s been good for him too,” I say. “I’ve never seen them happier.”
That gets another small smile out of Tessa.
“Goodnight,” I say.
“Goodnight. Thank you for the drink.”
“Anytime. I’ll be in touch about the arrangements. That way you can…”
She meets my gaze. “I can what?”
“Nothing. I’ll be in touch. I’ll take care of all of it.”
“Thank you.” She nods and closes the door. I wait until I hear the deadbolt click into place, and then I leave.
I hope I haven’t done Tessa a disservice by offering to take care of the arrangements for both parties. It’s clear she’s not in the mood, not in the headspace, but this is her best friend. I know how much she loves Skye. I can see it in the way she talks about her and how happy she is for her and Braden. I don’t doubt Tessa wants the bachelorette party to be perfect and she’s just struggling to focus.
The signs are loud and clear to me. I’ve been where Tessa is. Not for the same reasons, of course, but I’ve been to that dark place where you’re not sure you’ll ever be able to climb back out of the hole. The best thing you can do is to have something to focus on, and I just took that away from Tessa.
I wanted to help her, yearned to help her, but I may have only made things worse.
Sherlock is waiting for me, and I scramble into the back seat as he holds the door.
“Where to this time, Mr. B?” he asks.
It’s early yet on Friday evening. I could go to a club, but I’m not really in the mood for crowds and dancing and loud music.
Watching Braden and Skye find each other and follow their love has made me wonder if maybe it’s time for me to look for the same thing. Indiscriminate sex no longer has the thrill it once did. I’m looking for more. An emotional connection that matches the physical.
