New Love (46 page)

“I don’t think so Tessa” he laughed.

“Please” she begged, “I know you can move” she smiled, “I know it very well.”

He followed her to the center of the dance floor
.

They drove home and laughed as he talked about his new team mates.

“I think you’re going to like it there,” Tessa smiled.

“I thin
k I’m going to be too exhausted to like it.”

“What do you mean?”

"School and as much of you as I can get," he kissed her hand. “I feel like I should be ecstatic that I’m playing here, but all I can think of is December.”

“We’re going to be busy, and we’
re going to be fine. God I hope we are fine.” She whispered.

He pulled over at a rest stop.

"Tessa if you don't want this, you need to tell me now," he said frustrated.

“Hey where is this coming from?” she asked.

"I just need you to promise me Tessa," he grabbed her face.

"I promise
Lucas," she said.

~

They pulled into her driveway, “Can you come in?”

“Yes, who’s home?” he asked.

“Doesn’t look like anyone is” she said and jumped out and ran inside. “Come on Lucas.”

He smiled and followed her in. She dragged him upstairs.

“I have something for you” he smiled and raised his eyebrow.

She grinned and pushed him down.

"You are amazing," he said after Tessa finished with him.

“Can you go downstairs?
I’ll be there in a minute” she smiled.

She came downstairs with a bag.

“I have a few things for you” she smiled and sat next to him and handed him the bag. “Open it.”

He opened the bag, inside was a quilt. She had gone through his
closet and taken all the Tee shirts that he had from sports that he had participated in. She had bought a few SU ones and some from the Adirondacks so that it made up enough for a queen size blanket. She had made an album from Christmas until their trip last weekend. He took his time looking through it.

"I love t
hem Tessa," he kissed her.

"There's one more," she said.

He looked in the bag; he pulled out a black leather book. He opened it, his eyes widened, and he closed them for a few seconds. He looked through each picture swallowing hard and taking deep breaths.

“When did you do this?” he asked.

"Jade and I worked on it a couple weeks ago.”

“You look incredible.”

“They are in order from first to last one worn.” She smiled.

“Oh I remember” he smiled, looking through it again. “No pictures of your face, hardly anyone with even the back of your head.”

“If anyone saw this, I would die Lucas,” she laughed.
And I can remind you what the back of my head looks like anytime you want she thought
, she yawned.

"You tired?"

“Please stay, we can sleep on the couch, I don’t want you to leave” she said sounding panicked.

“Okay Tessa” he hugged
her.

"Thank you," she said. They
lie face to face and fell asleep.

~

The next day they got up and drove to Lucas’, his Dad met them there, and they drove up together. Tessa sat quietly in the back as Landon and Lucas talked. He went in and registered, and Tessa sat back watching all the girls check him out, several said hello and he just nodded.

He finished and grabbed her hand
. “Let’s go check out my new place.”

They drove to south campus and walked into his building, she was relieved that it was not co-ed and that most if not all of the residents were from the football team. He had a private roo
m. It was not as small as she’d thought it would be. She helped him make his bed, and he pulled out the quilt and threw it over the bed.

“That’s very interesting,” Landon said.

“Tessa did it for me,” he smiled.

A book fell out of the
bag; Landon picked it up and opened it. It was the black leather book with photos of Tessa modeling each naughty outfit she had worn for Lucas. Tessa noticed he had it and shot Lucas a look. Lucas took it from him and smiled.

“Oh, Tessa make that t
oo?” Landon laughed.

She blushed, and
Lucas smiled.

When they finished they walked around campus and found his classes. They went to lunch and then hit the bookstore. Tessa was shocked to see how expensive books were
, how could people afford this?
How were my parents going to do this for two of us?
she thought.

~

Landon and Tessa left after a quiet goodbye.

“Tessa how often do you plan to visit
Lucas?”

“I’m not sure.
I think he is going to be very busy,” she said quietly.

"I think he’
s going to want to see you whenever he can.”

“I feel the same way.”

“Good, this is important for him. I hope that you understand he’s going to need you.”

Tessa smiled.

His phone chimed

-I’
m home. I hope you’re having fun…LT

-Actually I am a bit overwhelmed, and I want to see you. Can you come back
, baby?…LL

-How about tomorrow after practice?...LT

- I have a thing…LL

-Oh
, okay. Well why don’t we wait until like Thursday or Friday?...LT

-WHY?...LL

-I have practice every day and have to help around here I have slacked a bit this summer…LT

-Whatever…LL

-Please don’t be like that; this is hard for me to Lucas…LT

-Well
… bend a bit…LL

-Day one and this has already started, not cool
Lucas, I miss you and actually don’t enjoy this either…LT

-Okay so why on Friday
?…LL

-situation would be rectified by then…LT

-oh, well alright then…LL

-all better now?...LT

-not really…LL

-I love you
Lucas…LT

-see you Friday…LL

-call me before you go to bed…LT

-nope
, see you Friday…LL

Tessa did not respond. She
needed to blow off some steam. She grabbed her shoes and went for a run. When she got back she made dinner and helped Kendall go through her supply list. She put dinner in the oven and showered.

She went upstairs and saw her phone on her bed. There were three text messages and two missed calls from
Lucas.
Shit,
she thought and called him.

"Hello," he said quietly.

“Hi--- sorry! I left the phone on my bed when I went running with Kendall. Are we okay?” she asked softly.

“Did you read the texts?”

“No, not yet I was just excited you called,” she said.

“Ok, don’t and then delete the messages t
oo. I was being an ass sorry. I’m just not used to sitting on my ass, and I miss you,” he said.

“Things will be different when you’re overwhelmed with
class work, Lucas, I’m sorry you feel that way” she said, “I love you.”

“I love you baby,”
Lucas said quietly, “please delete the messages.”

“Hey do you have any free time in the afternoon before practice?” Tessa asked.

“I think I have from like two to four free why?” he said.

“I was just wondering,” she
giggled. “I love you, call me before bed?”

"I am in bed.”

“Lucky bed,” she whispered.

He laughed, “I love you
, baby.”

They got off the phone, and she checked his messages.

-if this is how you’re going to be then maybe we should rethink this…Lucas

-No reply? Silence speaks volumes Tessa…
Lucas

-Are you fucking kidding me right now Tessa, grow up
!…Lucas

Wow
, she thought,
that easy huh
? She was pissed.

Her phone chimed it was him

-Did you delete the messages baby?…LL

- Nope…LT

-Are we okay?...LL

-I am, I wish I knew where your head was when you texted…LT

-Sorry, forgive me?...LL

-Of course, goodnight
Lucas…LT

She decided she wouldn’t go up tomorrow. It was impossible to think that he could get so angry on day one. She hoped things were going to be alright,
only three months
she thought.

Over the next few weeks, Tessa went to see
Lucas on Wednesdays. She went to all his home games and watched him miserably sit the bench most of the time. When he had away games she stayed home and attended Alex’s games at Cornell. Sundays he came home about twice a month. The hunting crew still shot on Sundays and Tessa, and Lucas had lots of time to be alone, him being gone made each time that more intense.

Her phone chimed

-Hey Tessa can we do Doe Camp for your birthday tonight?...Phoebe

-Sounds great!...Tessa

-Cool-- how about six tonight?...Phoebe

-Sure I’
ll pick you up…Tessa

Her phone chimed again

-Hey baby we won our game. I got to play for more than five minutes…LL

-Awesome job
Lucas! Will I see you tomorrow?...LT

-
We will see, not sure when we’ll be in…LL

She wondered if he remembered her birthday. She remembered his, pretty unforgettable. She thought about the 2 B’s in his bed and shook her head.
Maybe birthdays aren’t that big of a deal
she thought.

She picked
up Phoebe. And they headed up. They pulled in, and there were several cars. She looked at Phoebe and frowned.

“You only turn ninete
en once Tessa,” Phoebe smiled.

Tessa got out, and everyone was there, her hockey team, her family, Cassidy, and Ben.
Oh boy…
she thought wondering if Lucas knew about this. When she got out she saw a basket of flowers, yellow roses and white daisies, she read the card.

Wish I could be there baby
. Have fun.

Love,

Lucas

She talked with everyone and avoided a lot of interaction with Ben.

Molly and Cory were even there.

“Tessa can we steal you for a minute?” Molly asked.

They walked away from the crowd.

“So Cory thinks I shou
ld wait, but it’s your birthday. I wanted to tell someone, well you and what a perfect day to share …on your birthday. You just have to promise not to tell anyone for awhile,” she said grinning.

“Are you?” Tessa asked.

“Yes,” Molly said and hugged her. “Honeymoon baby, I guess.”

"Oh Molly I am so happy for you
,” she hugged her and then Cory.

He smiled, “Thanks Tessa, but we truly just found out yesterday, she still needs to have blood work so please keep this to yourself okay?”

“Kill joy,” Molly laughed.

The party was a blast, she danced with Kendall and her friends, and they ate and danced some more. The older family members started leaving, and Alex made a bonfire. The music was still going, and Tessa was still dancing.

She heard Ben on a microphone, "Birthday girl.”

She shook her head no.

He dropped to his knees, “Please Tess”.

"Jus
t go sing Tessa," Jade pushed her.

She sang with Ben, and they laughed.

“You still have a band?” she asked.

"A
new one.”

“That’s cool
-- do you guys play anywhere?”

“Right now we’
re just getting a play list together and trying to figure it out. Want me to sing one I am working on?” he asked and jumped up.

"Of course.”

Ben got up and sang Blurry a new song she hadn’t heard. It was a break up the song, and she wondered what he was thinking. He finished and stared at her for a few seconds and then played another.
Jane Says
, by Jane’s Addiction. He smiled and looked at the thirty kids standing around; he walked out and got everyone dancing. Everyone including Alex was dancing. He made Tessa sing
It’s All Been Done
by Barenaked Ladies with him alternating verses and singing the chorus together. A car pulled in, and a bunch of people got out. They were having too much fun singing and laughing to notice. He played the guitar solo on air guitar, she danced and laughed. They sang
One Week
next. He sang and took his shirt off at the part that called for it, and threw it, and it landed on Kendall. During the rap parts, she danced with Kendall and her girls. She sang with him for the chorus. Everyone cheered, and she bowed and laughed.