Chapter 227 (1/2)

See, I can lighten up on the caveman shit. Unless, of course, there’s a real threat. Never mind that “unless”; this is Tessa we’re talking about, and there’s always someone trying to keep her from me.

The back door screeches open, and my mum’s voice calls our names through the house just as I reach the halfway point of the staircase. I groan, and Tessa wiggles, begging me to put her down. I do as she wants, only because I’ve missed her all day and my mum will be extra obnoxious if I show Tessa too much affection in front of her and the neighbor.

“We’re coming!” Tessa responds when I put her back on her feet.

“Actually, we aren’t.” I kiss the corner of her mouth, and she smiles.

“You aren’t.” She waggles her new eyebrows, and I smack her ass as she rushes down the stairs.

Most of the weight on my chest has been lifted. I behaved like a fucking idiot last night for no reason. My mum wouldn’t have purposely taken Tessa around Natalie; why was I so worried?

“What do you two want to do for dinner? I was thinking we could go to Zara, the four of us.” My mum turns to her soon-to-be husband as soon as we enter the living room. Tessa nods even though she has no idea what Zara is.

“I hate Zara. It’s too crowded, and Tessa isn’t going to like anything there,” I grumble. Tessa would eat anything to keep the peace, but I know she wouldn’t want to eat liver or pureed lamb for the first time in a situation where she’d feel obligated to smile and pretend that it’s the best thing she’s ever eaten.

“Blues Kitchen, then?” Mike suggests. Honestly, I don’t want to go any fucking where.

“Too loud.” I rest my elbows on the counter and pick at the edges where the Formica is chipping.

“Well, you decide and let us know,” my mum says in exasperation. I know she’s growing impatient with me, but I’m here, aren’t I?

Glancing at the clock, I nod. It’s only five; we won’t need to leave for another hour. “I’m going upstairs,” I tell them.

“We need to leave in ten minutes—you know how parking is around here,” my mum says.

Great. I hurry out of the living room. I hear Tessa following behind me.

“Hey.” She grabs the sleeve of my shirt as I reach the hallway.

I turn to face her.

“What?” I ask, trying to keep my tone as soft as possible despite my irritation.

“What’s going on with you? If something’s bothering you, just tell me and we can fix it,” she offers with a nervous smile.

“How was your lunch today?” She hasn’t brought it up, but I can’t help but ask.

She catches on. “Oh . . .” Her eyes look down to the floor, and I press my thumb under her chin to make her look at me. “It was nice.”