Pushing open the door, I’m wrapped up in my thoughts, so it takes a moment for me to focus on my surroundings. The caf? is practically empty, and the familiar sight of Daisy behind the counter is missing.
Stepping inside, I let the door fall shut behind me, my eyes instinctively taking in everything, relics of my old life.
I sweep my gaze over the couple who are sitting at the back of the caf?, no doubt wanting some privacy. The man is leaning close to the female, whispering something to her before laughing, the movement of his head allowing me to see his companion clearly, and my mood sours even further.
It’s Tessa, my Tessa sitting with some college asshole! What the hell is she doing here and who the f*ck is this guy with her?
She spots me over the shoulder of her date, and I watch as the colour drains from her face.
Any thoughts I had about grabbing our lunches and leaving, fly out of my head as I stride toward them, Tessa’s lips parting in shock as she realises I’m coming over.
Reaching the table, I purposefully place myself at the dickwad’s elbow, invading his space until he looks up at me in surprise.
‘Uhh, hey, we already ordered’ he states apprehensively, and I internally roll my eyes, great a muscle head and an idiot, do I look like I work in a f*cking caf??
‘Tessa’ I growl, holding the woman’s gaze, ‘what a surprise, aren’t you meant to be in college? I swear that’s where I dropped you off.’
Dumb F*ck looks as though he’s watching a tennis match, the way his head bounces between me and his date.
‘Uhh, you know this guy, Tessa?’ he finally asks.
Tessa nods, ‘yeah, he’s my . . ‘ I can see she’s struggling to figure out how to explain me, so I take the decision away from her.
Sticking my hand out, I wait until the ass wipe reluctantly takes it, squeezing hard until he winces as I smile darkly.
‘Caleb’ I introduce myself, ‘Tessa lives with me.’
I can see the wheels turning in his head as he slowly retracts his hand from mine, ‘Noah’ he replies reluctantly.
‘My mother is married to his father’ Tessa growls out, glaring at me as I shrug.
‘Like I said, she lives with me’ I repeat firmly.
‘What are you doing here?’ the young woman hisses, it seems she’s decided that fighting me on my description of our relationship isn’t worth the breath.
I glance over at the counter again which is still empty, ‘I came to get some lunch’ I reply and then reach down and pull out one of the empty chairs before taking a seat. ‘You don’t mind if I join you, do you bud?’ I add, giving the meathead a look that tells him he better not have.
‘Nuh . . . no, of course not’ he stammers, ‘any friend of Tessa’s is a friend of mine.’
I force a smile, the feeling alien to my face, ‘oh good’ I reply, plucking the menu from the centre of the table and starting to peruse it. ‘Hmm, what looks good?’ I murmur to myself, pretending that I don’t order the same damn sandwich every time I come here.
‘Soooo Noah, how did you meet Tessa here? I mean, she’s only been at the college for three hours or so, it’s a little weird that you ask her out for lunch off campus, are you a predator?’ I ask casually.
‘Caleb!’ Tessa yells, horror etched on her face, ‘you can’t just . . ‘
I look up at her, my eyes holding hers, ‘like you said, your mother married my father, that makes you my responsibility. I’m just making sure that Noah here isn’t thinking of doing anything untoward, letting him know that if anything,’ I move my glare to the kid who shifts uncomfortably. ‘And I do mean anything’ I repeat, my voice dropping an octave, ‘happens to you, I will hunt him down and hurt him in ways that he cannot imagine.’
‘Oh umm, I just didn’t want Tessa to eat alone, and Laurence makes the best subs in town’ Noah mutters.
I nod as Daisy walks up to the table, placing two milkshakes down in front of the pair before raising an eyebrow at me, ‘well, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company Caleb?’ she asks, leaning on the table, blocking my view of Tessa.
‘The receptionist is on a half day, so dumbbell one and dumbbell two hustled me into having to come and get lunch’ I reply, forcing a smile as I look up at her.
Daisy laughs, shaking her head as she holds out her hand for my list, ‘I already know what you want, but what do the two troublemakers want today?’
I fish out the list and hand it to her, giving her another tight smile as she reaches out and squeezes my shoulder affectionately, ‘I’ll get these made up for you, you want a coffee while you wait? On the house of course’ she adds with a wink.
I nod, ‘black with . .’ I start
‘One sugar’ the woman replies with a roll of her eyes, ‘I know hot shot, your tastes never change.’ Telling Tessa and Noah that their sandwiches will be right out as she heads back to the kitchen again.
Tessa’s POV
My gaze narrows in on the waitress’s hand on Caleb’s shoulder, my teeth clenching as he smiles up at her, the first time I think I have ever seen him smile. I don’t know why it bothers me, it’s not like we are friends or anything, we are barely even acquaintances! I’m retty sure that the sullen asshole wouldn’t spit on me if I was on fire, more likely to go and buy marshmallows and use my burning body to make smores.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.