New Love (25 page)

She looked up at him and raised her eyebrow and smiled and shook her head slowly yes.

“Perfect, I’m going to help your dad and Alex. I kind of feel bad leaving him hanging.”

She stood up and walked towards him and sat on his lap and hugged him.

“I love you,” she kissed him.

“Tessa you need to get up, so
I can go help please,” his eyes starting to heat up.

She grinned, “Sorry
Lucas.”

“Are you?”

“No,” she said smiling and doing a little happy dance with her feet.

He stood up and kissed her head and rolled h
is eyes, “Goodbye Tessa.”

Tessa cleaned a
nd then jumped on the computer. Ben had messaged her on Facebook. She decided to call him, she clicked on the message. He had instructed her to click on a link; there was a ton of pictures of them on stage at the club in Syracuse. Damn he was a doll. She looked at herself, she looked so happy. She took a deep breath and dialed the phone.

“Hey girl, how are you doing?” Ben asked with a smile in his voice.

”I’m good Ben, look I have to tell you something.”

“You and
Lucas back together?”

“Ben, I…” she started.

“Don’t Tessa, we’re fine,” he said. “As long as he doesn’t hurt you he and I’ll be fine, this was bound to happen.”

“You
’re not mad at me?”

“No Tessa, not ever,” Ben said and her heart sank.

“Thank you Ben,” she said quietly.

“Tess, be good
 to yourself,” Ben said quietly.

“Of c
ourse Ben, thank you.”

She hung up the phone.

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. She jumped.

“You done with that?”

“Of course, it’s just not fun to hurt someone,” she said quietly.

“Is he hurt?
” Lucas asked.

“No, he’
s being Ben,” she said, “nice.”

“Cool.”

Chapter 11

They left for New Jersey early in the morning. Tessa and Jade sat in the back. Phoebe and Ryan sat in the middle, and Alex sat shotgun with
Lucas.

They drove
for two hours before pulling over for lunch.

“Tessa could you come with me for a minute?”
Lucas asked.

She smiled, and he took her hand.

“Or ten” he whispered and winked.

They went ou
tside and went to the bathroom and he kissed her and locked the door. He grinned, and she smiled back,
no way
she thought.

“Quick one baby?
” she shook her head yes. He reached under her skirt and smiled when he rubbed her damp bare flesh, “And she listens.”

They walked in just in time to order. Jade looked at her and shook her head from side to side. No one else even noticed, except maybe Ryan.

They arrived at Lucas’s Dad’s just before three in the afternoon.  Audrianna and the girls met them at the door; the girls ran out and hugged him. He picked them up, swung them around and kissed them. Tessa got out and watched him and smiled. Audrianna saw Tessa and she walked towards her and hugged her.

“Tessa, how are you?
” she was excited to see her.

“I’
m great,” she said watching Lucas with the girls, “How are you?”

“Never better Tes
sa, thank you.”

They went inside, and Audrianna showed them to their rooms.  Alex and Ryan were in one of the guest rooms and the girls in another.
Lucas frowned and raised his eyebrow and shook his head no as he looked at her, she smiled.

They followed
Lucas out to the tree fort with the girls, and within twenty minutes the three boys had on tiaras and pink pearl beaded necklaces. Tessa took pictures and laughed. Audrianna and Jade brought out tea and tea cups. They danced and sang, and Lucas laughed like a little boy. Tessa loved seeing him like that. Hell right about now Tessa loved seeing him period.  Lucas took the girls and Audrianna inside.

“Tessa he’
s amazing with them, I don’t think I have ever seen him like that,” Jade smiled.

“God he is amazing,” Tessa bit her lip.

“What about when you two disappear to the bathroom for fifteen minutes?” Phoebe smiled.

“H
e is pretty amazing then too,” Tessa blushed. “But don’t tell Alex.”

“Alex is the one who pointed it out to me
,” Phoebe laughed.

“No way!” Tessa said as her jaw dropped.

“Yes way,” Phoebe said still laughing.

“Is he mad at me?”

“No Tessa, he loves you and Lucas” she said, “he isn’t happy about it, but he knows there isn’t much he can do about it either.”

The girls came out with Princess Tiaras and dresses on.
Lucas followed with a homemade king’s crown.

“Princess Tessa
, will you please come forward?” Ally said grinning.

“Prince
Lucas has a question for you,” Alexandra smiled.

“Princess Tessa, will you please accompa
ny me to Prom?” he winked.

She smiled, “I’m not sure kind
Prince. I would prefer to discuss this with the princesses before I can answer you. Princess Ally, Princess Alexandra, do you think that I should tell him yes or no?”

“Yes!” they both yelled and jumped up and down.

“Even if I already have a date in mind? Are you quite sure?”

Again
they jumped up and down and squealed yes.

“Well then, I guess Prince
Lucas-- I must accept,” she smiled.

He picked her up and kissed her, “Thank you Tessa.”

Landon returned at five that night. He walked in, and Lucas was chasing the girls around the table.  He laughed, “Nice crown, Lucas.”

“Prett
y cool huh?” Lucas snickered.

“So how lo
ng can you stay?”

“I think we have to be b
ack Thursday night.”

They all walked in from outside. Landon watched as the kids walked through the door and
his daughters jumped on Tessa.

“Wow
Lucas, you didn’t tell me Tessa was coming,” Landon smiled.

“Eve
rything’s good Dad,” he smiled at Tessa.

“Ok then,” Landon
patted him on the back.

It was an unusually warm night for mid April, and they sat on the deck and ate dinner. Tessa and Phoebe helped Audrianna clean up. It was getting late, and Audrianna put the girls to bed.

“Have you filled out any college paperwork Lucas?” Landon asked.

“Uh… no I haven’t," Lucas said realizing that the deadlines were less than a month away.

“I think you should try to squeeze that in while you’re here.”

Tessa walked out with Jade and Phoebe, and he smiled as he saw her laughing.

“Lucas,” Landon snapped is fingers in front of Lucas’s face, “Lucas this is important.”

"I know Dad… she’
s beautiful," Lucas said softly.

“Tessa dear could you come h
ere for a moment?” Landon asked. She walked over and smiled. “Could you have a seat for a minute?”

Lucas
pulled a chair next to his. He smiled; her eyes widened and wondered what this was about.

“My son needs to be able to focus on getting some college applications submitted, do you think you could push him to do that?” Landon asked.

“Sure, I really have little experience in that, but I’ll do what I can.”

Lucas
laughed.

“What?” she asked.

He shook his head and looked down and smiled.

“Are you two alright? I mean what’s the status? I get very confused,” Landon said dryly.

“We’re good Dad,” Lucas said looking at Tessa, “Very good.”

Tessa blushed and gave him a serious loo
k.

“Tessa what are your plans a
fter graduation?” Landon asked.

“I am plann
ing to go to school, close to home.”
Damn this was uncomfortable
she thought as she looked down.

“And what will you do when
Lucas goes away to college?” Landon asked.

“To be honest
, I never really thought about it. But I’ll be in school.”

“Dad, I haven’t disc
ussed my ideas with Tessa yet. You think this is necessary right now?” Lucas glared at him.

“Well I just think it’s something you may want to think about,” Landon responded.

“Okay well her cousin Jade will be having Tommy’s child in November. I’m sure Tessa will be very involved in that, I plan to be as much as I can. I was actually thinking of asking Tessa, Jade, and the baby to live me,” Lucas was very serious.

“Oh I think we are getting ahead
of ourselves here,” Tessa smiled.

“Why?”
Lucas asked her.

“I think that my parents might have a pr
oblem with that,” Tessa she looked down.

“You're graduating; it’s your choice after that.”

“Lucas, I don’t think this is the time to discuss this,” Tessa whispered and scowled. She was aware that all eyes were on her.

“I think it’s a perfect time,” he said again very seriously.

“Lucas, I think this is a bit premature,” Landon began.

“You asked. I’
m just telling you what I want,” Lucas said raising his eyebrow and sitting back in his chair.

“Well it’s really not just about you, will yo
u please excuse me?” She stood up and walked through the glass doors and into the house. She walked up the stairs and went into the room she would be sharing with Jade and Phoebe.

“Was that necessary?”
Lucas asked his Dad and stood up and went to find her.

He walked into the room and Tessa was sitting
on the bed listening to her music. He walked over and kissed her. She looked at him.

“Why are you upset?
I just told my father I wanted you to live with me baby, that doesn’t make you happy?”

“It kind of freaks me out
Lucas,” she pulled away from him.

“Why, it’s not what you want?”
Lucas asked confused.

“Well I guess…” Tessa started.

“What do you mean you guess?” Lucas asked defensively.

“
Lucas you didn’t let me finish,” her face saddened, “we just got back together, and we’re fighting already.”

“No
, we aren’t, we’re talking about our future,” Lucas said adamantly.

“Ok, well, we’re going to college.
Jade is having a baby. It’s a lot to think about in the two days we’ve been back together,” Tessa said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lucas snapped.

“God
Lucas, please don’t fight with me, can’t we just enjoy the next few days?” she pleaded.

“Well I was thinking more long term than the next few days, but if that’s what y
ou want then fine,” he quickly got up and walked away.

She heard his door slam, and she got up and went into his room. He was sitting on his bed. She sat next to him.

“Lucas don’t be mad at me,” Tessa said softly.

“I’m not mad. I’
m confused and maybe a bit frustrated. Ok and yes that was not the reaction I expected from you when I told my father I wanted THIS to be more,” Lucas confessed.

She smiled at him, “
Lucas, I’m sorry. Do you love me?”

“Of course I do, do you love me?” he asked sarcastically.

“Yes, madly,” she laughed. “We need to talk about things and think through things,” she kissed him.

“Do you want to talk now?” 
Lucas asked as he looked at her.

“No
, not really,” she grinned.

“Good,” he
kissed her.

~

They walked onto the deck holding hands and smiling.

Landon looked at them and shook his head. Audrianna sat next to him and grabbed his hand.

“He loves her Landon.”

“He’
s loved a lot of girls.”

“No
, he has not, sex is not love,” she laughed.

He smiled at her and winked. He stood up and dragged her behind him and whispered, “No but it is lots of fun.”

They all sat around the outdoor fire pit talking and laughing. Tessa was falling asleep, and Jade already was asleep.

“I’
m going to bed, goodnight Lucas,” she said and kissed him.