Two Risks I'd Never Take Again, page 8
When it was time to go up to the roof, I filled mugs with hot chocolate and followed Garrett to the patio sofa. He only grabbed one blanket which meant we’d have to share again. I didn’t mind that.
Cuddled beside him and staring at the sky, I sipped my hot chocolate. I probably wouldn’t get a better time than right now to explain why I wasn’t open to the idea of a relationship. “Garrett, last night when you said that about what I wouldn’t do, you were right.”
He nodded. “I know. It wasn’t just an educated guess. Weeks ago, when I asked you out, you told me you didn’t date.” After a sip of his hot chocolate, he looked at me. “And I’m guessing that the reason for that is related to the reason you were so upset about waking up next to me Saturday morning.”
“Being a mind reader must’ve really helped with the investigator gig.” I pulled my knees up to my chest. “I started dating a guy my senior year of high school. He was two years ahead of me.”
“I bet your parents hated that.”
“Oh, yeah. Even though it was exactly like them, or maybe because it was exactly like them. But Skeeter—that was his nickname—and I dated for a year before he asked me to marry him. I’d only been out of high school a short time, so we scheduled the wedding for the following year. I worked at the doughnut shop. Mrs. Sweet owned it then. I’m not making that up. And I loved it. She taught me how to make doughnuts. We made up new flavors together. That was a wonderful year. Then about two months before the wedding, she didn’t show up one morning. I made the doughnuts and covered the morning rush, then closed the shop to go check on her.” I used the blanket to wipe my face. “She had a heart attack. A neighbor found her, but she didn’t make it.” Warm cocoa soothed me as I regained my composure.
Garrett wrapped his arm around me. “She sounds like a cookies-after-school kind of person.”
“She was wonderful. And she left me the shop. That’s how I ended up with my own business at twenty. And I promised her I’d make it a success.”
A shooting star streaked across the dark sky, and I wished that my heart had never been broken beyond repair.
“I think you’ve kept that promise.”
“I left out a part. After Skeeter and I were engaged, he got more persistent about wanting to . . . sleep together. And I don’t mean in the same bed. He wanted me to—”
“I get it, Tessa.”
“Sorry. Of course you do. Anyway, I didn’t want to, and eventually he backed off. Just stopped bringing it up.”
Garrett groaned.
“Yeah. Well, about three weeks before the wedding, he was over one night and brought it up again. He kept pushing and talking about how we were so close to the wedding date.” I pulled in a deep breath. “So, I slept with him. He was my fiancé, and I felt like I owed him that.”
Garrett pulled me closer. “That’s not the way that works.”
I struggled to maintain my composure. “No one knows I did that, so please don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t.”
“When I woke up the next morning, Skeeter was already gone. He’d slipped out during the night.” This blanket was going to be soaked by the time I finished my story. “He came into the shop as the morning rush subsided and pulled me aside. There weren’t many people in the shop, thankfully. And we were tucked in a corner. Anyway, Skeeter started the conversation by asking for the ring back. I made the mistake of asking why. He admitted that he’d been seeing other women, and he said that . . .” I couldn’t make the words leave my mouth.
Garrett closed his eyes, his thumb rubbing circles on my shoulder.
We sat in silence for a few seconds.
“He compared me to the other women, and said I wasn’t very good. I was inexperienced and couldn’t compete with the ladies who’d practiced a lot. I’m paraphrasing. I’ll spare you the way he said it.”
Garrett tensed. “I hope I never meet him.”
“After he left, I closed the shop, took all the doughnuts with me to my apartment, and ate myself sick. I didn’t open the shop again for a week. But I’d sneak back and make doughnuts during the night so that I’d have enough for the following day.”
“That’s why you knew Eli and Delaney would be concerned.”
“I knew Eli would be. Delaney doesn’t know the whole story. She might now. Eli doesn’t know about the night before. He only knows Skeeter broke up with me.” I blinked, hoping the tears would stop burning my eyes.
“Probably best to keep Eli in the dark about that part.”
“When I finally did open, people kept coming in to tell me about how they were sorry and how they knew Skeeter had been seeing this person and that person. Because of the town gossip, I learned how much I’d been cheated on. I ate as many doughnuts as I sold for the next two months. Which was horrible for business and for my health. I put on a lot of weight then. I was almost unrecognizable.”
“That’s why you don’t eat doughnuts.”
Avoiding eye contact, I nodded. “I woke up one morning and decided to move on. I stopped eating doughnuts and gave up the idea of dating. That was seven years ago. Most people that know I don’t date think it’s because I’m afraid of falling in love. That’s not it. I’m afraid of what comes after. And by avoiding romantic relationships, I never have to make myself vulnerable in that way again. I can’t risk ever feeling that way again. So, I just stick to what I’m good at. Does that even make sense?” I braved a look at him.
He stared out at the sky. “It makes sense.”
His words added to my ache. If one man thought I wasn’t good, most men would probably agree. My admission might even change the nature of our friendship, but he deserved to know, no matter the outcome.
“Maybe I should just let you—”
Garrett pulled me close. “I knew when I asked you to stay here that you didn’t date. It’s part of the reason I didn’t kiss you. And if you’d told me this story weeks ago, I still would’ve asked you to sit with me on this roof and watch the stars.” The wind blew, and he pulled the blanket around us tighter. “Where does it say that only people who are dating can spend time together? I’m not asking you to kiss me. I’m not asking you to—”
“Don’t say it.”
He chuckled but it didn’t have its usual ring. “You are the most giving person I know. And I don’t say that lightly. Given what I know now, I think you edged out Ava when you helped me get my jeans off.”
I covered my face with my hands, forgetting I had a half-full mug of lukewarm chocolate in one of them. Chocolate splashed all over me and the blanket just as the mug whapped me in the face. Laughing, I wiped my face with the blanket, which wasn’t much help. “Oh, ouch. Now we’ll have matching bruises.”
“Need me to lick that chocolate off you?”
“Garrett! Friends don’t do that.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist. “We decide what we do as friends. Outside rules do not apply.”
“I never thought of it that way.”
He kissed my forehead. “You let me know what’s okay. And I won’t push beyond that. Ever. But if at some point in the future, you change your mind about what you want our friendship to look like, please tell me.”
I hugged him, then pulled back when he tensed. “Sorry. I forgot about your ribs.”
“Let’s get you inside before you turn into a fudgsicle.” He helped me up, then gathered the blanket into his arms.
With a mug in each hand, I started toward the stairs. “I’m going to take a quick shower and wash the chocolate off. Alone.” I added the last part, hoping to get a laugh.
“So, you’re saying that showering together isn’t okay for us as friends?” He winked. “Glad that’s been cleared up.”
Now I was excited about the rest of the week and even about the days beyond that. He’d listened to me unload my secret, and our friendship remained unchanged.
This week wasn’t so bad.
Chapter 10
Garrett glanced up from his magazine when I tapped his arm. “Yes?”
“Don’t forget to ask the doctor if it’s okay for you to take your brace off to shower.”
“Hopefully it is considering I’ve already done that, but I’ll ask.” He turned the page.
“And about how many times a day you should ice your hand to help the swelling. I’m not sure we’ve been doing that enough.” I’d written out a list of questions, then left the house without them, so I was trying to remind Garrett of all the questions that needed to be asked.
“I have a better idea. You ask the doctor. Come back there with me.”
I glanced at the receptionist, hoping she wasn’t eavesdropping on our conversation. “I’m not sure if they’ll even let me, Garrett. I’m not your . . . anything.”
“I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to ask about our relationship status, Tessa.”
A nurse stepped into a doorway. “Garrett Wright.”
Garret closed his magazine and laid it on the table. “That’s us.”
I walked toward the door, trying to figure out what explanation I’d give if the nurse asked why I was back there. Saying that I was Garrett’s caregiver for the week wasn’t a lie. Or I could go with a simpler explanation and tell her I was Garrett’s friend. Perhaps, I was overthinking this a bit.
We made it all the way back to the room without her asking us anything.
“The doctor will be with you in a moment.” She closed the door on her way out.
I didn’t even have time to remind Garrett about another question before the doctor walked in.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Palmer.” His eyebrows shot up when he saw Garrett’s face. “Looks like you ran into a bit of trouble.”
“I did.”
The doctor opened the folder in his hand and flipped through the pages inside. “Is this your wife?” He didn’t look up as he asked the question.
“No. Tessa’s here as a favor. I know I won’t remember everything.”
“All right then. Let’s have a look.” The doctor focused on Garrett’s scraped up hand. “Tell me what happened.”
“Someone slammed it against a brick wall. Then dragged it across the brick.” Garrett seemed so calm.
As he explained more of what happened to the doctor, I learned details that hadn’t previously been mentioned.
Dr. Palmer poked around, moving Garrett’s hand while trying to avoid touching the wounds. “We’ll need to x-ray that one. What about the other hand?” He pulled off Garrett’s brace and repeated the poking and prodding.
Garrett shot me a side glance. “Used it to stop my fall when I was tossed out of a truck.”
“Ouch.” The doctor scribbled in the chart, then stood. “X-rays will let us see what’s broken. The nurse will take you over there.” He closed the folder. “Any questions for me?”
“Can she go with me for the x-rays?” Garrett laid his hand on mine.
“Absolutely. We have a fabulous machine that lets us see inside your hand as you move. It shows up on a monitor. I’ll have the nurse pull up a chair for her, and she can be next to you.” The doctor nodded before walking out of the room.
“Was it moving when they tossed you out?” I stared at his battered hand.
“Yep, but not at full speed. I wasn’t thinking about what I’d have to tell the doctor when I asked you to come back here with me. I’m sorry.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Don’t apologize. I can handle it.”
Forty-five minutes later, Garrett had a brace on his left hand, but his right hand, thankfully, had no broken bones. And his road rash was healed enough that the bandages were no longer necessary.
For a Monday, the day wasn’t turning out to be bad.
Garrett lifted a couch cushion. “Have you seen my phone?”
“It’s on your nightstand, but it probably needs to be charged.” I finished chopping vegetables before glancing up. “Why?”
“I want to call the deputy.” He walked down the hall, then returned, carrying his phone and a charger. “I put his number in my phone the day you picked up my truck. I don’t think I’ve touched this thing since.”
I pushed my phone across the counter. “Use mine. His card is in my purse.”
“No. I’ll use my phone.” He plugged it in. “It’s charging.”
Garrett had a stubborn side, and this afternoon it was on full display.
After washing my hands, I pulled the card out of my purse. “Why does it matter what phone you use?”
He leaned on the counter, his jaw tight. “Because even though I was on pain medication, I saw the way that guy looked at you, and I don’t want your number in his phone. That’s why it matters.”
“Seriously? He was probably looking at me like that because I was sitting next to the bed of someone I told him I didn’t know. Because I talked to him before I knew that I knew you.” I tossed the veggies onto a baking sheet. “I doubt I could’ve made that sound any more confusing.”
“Made perfect sense to me, but I’m not taking any chances.” He opened his laptop. “Want to play another game of cards later?”
“Sure. But I’m not going to let you beat me this time.”
He walked up behind me and brushed his stubble on my neck. “Let me beat you? Really? That’s funny, Tessa.”
“Are you saying I’m lying?”
“I don’t have to. It’s written all over your face.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks and every other part of me. “Even if you always win, I still want to play cards with you.”
He cupped my cheek. “I know I’ve said it a lot, and by the end of the week, I will have said it a lot more, but thank you for everything—amazing food, incredible care, and friendship. Even sore, I’m enjoying this getaway.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him gently. “I’m sorry you got hurt, but this has been fun. Getting to know you has been the best part. You’re hurting today, aren’t you?”
Nodding, he rubbed my back, then tightened his embrace. “I’m really glad we’re friends.”
I was beginning to think the zone for our friendship was approximately the same size as Texas. Big. Maybe even as big as Alaska.
Waking up at one in the morning was happening all too frequently. I lay in bed, wondering why there was a light on in the living room. Garrett typically turned them all off before he went to bed.
Was he still up? Had he woken up because of a nightmare?
I pulled on my fuzzy socks before walking down the hall. “You’re still up.”
“Yeah.” He snapped his laptop closed and set it on the coffee table. “I was trying to be quiet. Sorry.”
I shook my head as I sat down beside him. “You didn’t wake me. I just woke up. Are you working my case?”
“No, a side project.” He laid a throw pillow in his lap. “Stretch out. I’ll turn on a movie.”
“How are you even awake?” I lay down on my side and pulled a throw over me.
He patted my hip. “Just am.”
While he searched for something to watch, I closed my eyes. The next thing I knew, Garrett nudged my shoulder.
“I’d carry you to bed, but my abs aren’t up to it yet.” His lips brushed my temple. “I’m going to turn in.”
I wasn’t sure being kissed like that fit in most people’s friend zone, but it felt nice. I reminded myself not to say that out loud. “Did you enjoy the movie?”
“I fell asleep. When I almost tipped over on top of you, I decided it was time to go to bed.” He rubbed my back as I sat up.
I shuffled down the hall. “Wake me if you need anything.”
He stayed in my doorway until I was tucked in bed. “Same. Good night.”
When it came to sleep schedules, we were as different as night and day.
Chapter 11
Holding my bathrobe closed, I opened the front door. “Officer Gomez, you’re early. Come on in. Garrett should be out in a minute or two.”
The guy filled up the doorway, and his gaze fixed on me. It dropped ever so slightly, but only for half a second. “You?” He closed his eyes and rubbed two fingers up and down on his forehead. “I’m confused. At the hospital, you said you didn’t know this guy and that he was a stranger who you’d picked up off the side of the road. And—”
“Oh, I haven’t talked to you since—”
He put up a hand. “Let me finish.”
I sighed and forced a smile. “Go ahead.”
“You did say that y’all had a bond.” He added air quotes, which just irritated me. “I wasn’t too surprised to find you in his hospital room, but here? That’s some bond.”
“Are you coming in or not? As my dad would say, we don’t want to heat the entire town.”
He stepped inside.
I slammed the door. “Are you finished now?”
Nodding, he scanned the house. “Nice place.”
“Because of how beat up he was, I didn’t recognize Garrett. And for reasons I will not explain to you, I’m staying here and helping him as he recovers.”
His lips curled into a smile. “The reasons seem pretty obvious.”
Fire raged inside, and I let go of the robe and popped my hands onto my hips. “You don’t know squat.”
He stared at my swimsuit a second before his gaze snapped to something over my shoulder.
“I see you’ve met Tessa.” Garrett walked up and pointed at the kitchen counter. “Why don’t we have a seat over there?”
Officer Gomez nodded in my direction. “Miss Best.” Then he strolled to the counter.
Garrett lifted his eyebrows. “You okay?”
I shrugged, then blew out a breath, half expecting to see flames. “He’s pompous and aggravating. Did you hear the implication dripping from his words?” I kept my voice at a whisper because I wasn’t going to give Deputy Dense the satisfaction of hearing me gripe. “I’m going to run back and change.”
