Page 22 of Beautifully Broken Pieces
I gazed at Tessa. Her brow was creased with worry, but her eyes held understanding. “How did you know what was happening?”
Tessa sat down on the step next to me. “I heard the glass shatter and wanted to make sure you were all right. When I came out, you didn’t answer me, and you were hyperventilating. I put two and two together.” My cheeks flamed with embarrassment. Tessa let out a soft huff of air. “I get them sometimes. Panic attacks. So, I know the signs.”
I glanced over at her. I wondered what her story was, but I knew I couldn’t ask without inviting questions about my own. We sat there quietly for a minute, forming a silent pact not to ask each other the questions neither of us wanted to answer.
I gripped Tessa’s hand and squeezed. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You did. You kept me from passing out in a pile of glass shards.” I winced. “I’ll pay for that by the way.”
Tessa waved a hand. “Jensen doesn’t care about stuff like that. Says it’s the price of doing business.”
My stomach churned at the thought of Jensen hearing about my incident. “Please don’t tell her what happened.”
Tessa’s head jerked. “I won’t if you don’t want me to, but don’t you want to go home and have a lie-down?”
A small smile tugged at my lips. “Would you?”
Tessa let out a little laugh. “Probably not.”
I drew in a steadying breath and rose. “Want to show me where the broom is? I need to clean up this mess.”
“Come on, I’ll help.”
We swept up the pieces of glass strewn across the pavement, and my hands only shook a little bit. My heart, though… My heart trembled in my chest for the rest of the day.
11
Walker
My phone buzzed on my desk for what felt like the twentieth time today.
Caitlin:Are you sure you don’t want to come over tonight?
It was like she could sense that I was thinking about ending things. She could feel it and was pulling out all the stops. I’d been the recipient of two-dozen homemade cookies and at least three different picture messages that made my eyes bug out of my head.
I typed out a reply.
Me:I told you, I have plans with my family tonight.
Not so much premeditated plans, more just me mooching a home-cooked meal off my mom. I was making excuses, I knew it. Normally, I would’ve told Caitlin that I’d meet up with her after dinner, but I needed some space. Space and a good night’s sleep if I was going to have the energy for the epic meltdown that was sure to happen when I ended things tomorrow.
Because I was ending things tomorrow. I couldn’t drag this out.
Caitlin:I could come over to your parents’ for dinner.
I cringed. This breakup was going to be bad. Caitlin was a lot of wonderful things: funny, caring, great in bed. But she didn’t always take not getting her way well.
Me:Sorry, just family tonight. But why don’t I come by after work tomorrow.
Caitlin:That would be great! I’ll wear that red number you like.
I dropped my head into my palm.
A knock sounded on my door. “Come in.”
Clark pushed open the door, stepped in, then closed it behind him.
