Tessa’s POV“Oh, my God! Ruby, wake up,” I said, shaking her until Ruby’s eyes finally opened.My heart was racing rapidly against my chest and my entire body trembled violently. I still clutched my phone in my hand. It’s been about an hour since I sent that text message to Joseph and my entire world felt like it was crumbling down around me.I couldn’t believe I sent that text message to him.“What happened?” She asked
Tessa’s POV“You’ve gotten so much bigger since last year!!”“Penny,” I said, plastering a smile as the blonde bimbo ran from the front porch and across the dirt road to tackle me in a hug.I stood frozen as she reached me and wrapped her arms around me. If possible, it looked like she had gotten even younger. Her curly blond hair bounced around her narrow and bright features. She wore way too much makeup, and her clothing was way too tight.
Tessa’s POV“Wait… Ivy is a horse?!” Ruby gawked as she stared up at the large blonde stallion, while desperately trying to wipe the saliva off her face.I couldn’t help but laugh at her expression as I ran my hands down her long and lean body. I had Ivy since I was 16 years old. She was a birthday gift and the best one I had ever gotten.Of course, we had a bunch of other horses. But Ivy was mine and I was hers. I slept in this stable beside Ivy more than I slept in my own bed.
Tessa’s POVMy heart slammed into my stomach at the mention of Joseph’s name.“Oh, uh… just a friend,” I said quickly as I grabbed my phone from my father.I was glad he didn’t tie the connection of Joseph being Joseph Evergreen.He narrowed his eyes at me, but he didn’t say anything as I scurried up the stairs with Ruby following closely behind me.
Tessa’s POVI stared at my father with a deep frown, not sure what to think about what he just said. My mind was still wrapping around it.Did this mean he wasn’t going to Mom’s grave?That was the whole point of me being here.I couldn’t help but be disappointed.My father sighed and placed his hands on my shoulders, giving me his most sincere look.“I’m sorry, Kiddo,” he breathed, shaking his head in defeat. “If I finish early then we can go. But I guess the flood is really bad.”“Why can’t she call an actual plumber?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.I hadn’t meant to sound mean, but since when did my father fix plumping? He already did everything else around this town. It just didn’t seem fair that Mrs. Davis was making him fix the plumbing in her store.“She did,” he answered. “They are scheduled to come out in a couple of hours.”I sighed.I guess my father had to go and I wasn’t going with him to see my mother’s grave. My heart ached, but it was just another disappointment to
Joseph’s POV“Hi, this is Tessa. State the reason you’re calling and maybe I will call back. Maybe I won’t.”“Record your message after the beep—”Click.I shoved my phone back into my pocket and ran my fingers through my hair. What did Tessa’s text even mean? Was she drunk or something?Carter said that Tessa went with Ruby back to her father’s farm, so the fact that she wasn’t close by and seemingly drunk really left an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. I stared at the clock; it was later in the evening.Since seeing Tessa’s text this morning, I wasn’t able to sleep. I tried to refrain from calling her today, but eventually, I caved. I couldn’t help myself. I just wanted to make sure she was okay and it’s not like I was going to bombard her at her father’s farm.She made it perfectly clear that she didn’t want anything to do with me anymore.I guess I only had myself to blame for that.I haven’t been treating her well; I deserved everything I got.Carter was right though;
Tessa’s POVI allowed myself a moment of weakness. I couldn’t help myself.Seeing Joseph standing in the middle of the cemetery drenched in rainwater made my heart squeeze in my chest.He was here; he had come. My entire body responded to his presence, and I couldn’t help but go to him. I wanted to be angry and tell him how hurt I was. I wanted to yell at him and tell him to leave. But I didn’t have it in me.I didn’t have the strength or energy to argue.I found myself stepping into his open embrace and burying my face in his very soaked chest. His arms closed around me and cocooned me in his warmth, and for a moment, I forgot it was downpouring all around us. I forgot my horse had taken off without me.I forgot how hurt I was because of this man.All that mattered to me in this moment was that Joseph was here and I was in his arms again.“I tried to talk myself out of coming here…” he finally murmured after what felt like an eternity of silence and holding onto one another like our
Tessa’s POVBy the time we returned to my father’s house, my heart was so full.Joseph wrapped me in his arms and used his teleportation ability to get to the house, so we didn’t have to stay in the rain for much longer. We were both soaked, and I knew my clothes were probably completely ruined.Joseph was adorable with beads of water dripping off his nose and his hair a complete mess. But he didn’t seem to care, which made my heart swell even more.As we stood on the front porch of my father’s house, I ran my fingers through his hair, scruffing it a little and chuckling. His face grew a little red as he stared down at me. I knew it took a lot for him to come here and share his feelings with me.I loved this man so much and I was ready to show him for the rest of my life just how much I cared for him.He bent down and kissed me sweetly. His kiss sent electric chills throughout my entire body and made me crave so much more of him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled myself clo