Page 35 of Worthy Now
“Fuck off,” I laugh, giving him a hard punch to the thigh.
“Honestly, though,” he continues once he recovers from the sting. “There’s nothing wrong with you or the way you show people how much you care. You’re the most loyal, protective, and considerate guy I know. In all honesty, I never understood how she could ever have doubted how you felt about her. Everyone with a set of eyes could see how completely gone you were for that girl.” He drags a hand through the water, flicking some at me before saying, “I know you’ve been hurt a lot. And I get that you’re scared to let her get close again, because she’s the only woman in the world who has the power to bring you to your knees. But the simple truth is, you’ve been in deep with Tessa from the moment you met, and no matter how much you might try to protect yourself, it’s going to hurt like a son of a bitch if she leaves again. So, here’s my advice,” he says, as his emerald eyes burn into mine. “Take it slow if you have to, but don’t hold back. Nothing you do from here on out willsave you from heartbreak if things don’t work out. If I were you, I’d pour all my efforts into giving her every reason to stay instead.”
“That’s solid feedback, oh wise one. Sometimes I forget you’re not as dumb as you look.”
“Dick,” Carter spits, shoving me off his unicorn without warning, and causing me to swallow a mouthful of water.
“All jokes aside,” I say once the coughing subsides. “Thanks. For always being there for me. I don’t think I tell you enough how much I appreciate you always nudging me in the right direction whenever I get lost in my own head. But as much as I’m enjoying our talk, I have to get out. I think my dick’s getting frostbite. I just started putting him to good use again. I’d hate to lose him now.”
Carter guffaws and slaps me on the shoulder before we get out of the river and rejoin the others. I feel lighter than I have in a long time, and when Tessa smiles up at me with a mischievous twinkle in her eye I promise myself that starting today, she'll never doubt me or my intentions again.
“So, Jude was kind enough to let us all in on the real reason you refused to continue your tutoring sessions with Mrs. Sweeney back in the day.” Her grin is so wide, the sunlight reflecting off her pearly whites almost blinds me. “How did it feel to catch the attention of someone old enough to be your mother?”
I pin my brother with a glare that promises retribution before I leap over a giggling Anna to get to him. Jude yelps, rolls, and jumps to his feet in the most impressive ninja move I’ve ever seen. Goddammit, it pisses me off that he’s so much faster and more agile than me. A fact he seems to take full advantage of every chance he gets.
“Yeah, you better run!” I shout as I hurl myself over a massive boulder and pray I don’t break an ankle in the name of revenge.
“There’s no way you’ll catch me, old man. You might as well give up before you have a heart attack. Gotta start watching that ticker at your age.”
Jude’s animated cackle is abruptly cut off when his foot catches on a protruding root, causing him to face plant into the ground and reinstating my belief that there is such a thing as cosmic justice after all.
Twenty-Two
Tessa
“Lord have mercy,” my roommate Caleb mutters from the corner of his mouth as we stand side by side in the saloon’s parking lot and watch Jake unfold his lean body from his truck.
Caleb decided I was in dire need of some big city flair to shake up my small-town existence, after I’d broken down sobbing on the phone a couple of nights ago. My mom was having a particularly tough day, and after twelve straight hours of watching her suffer, I hadn’t been able to hold it together anymore. Despite my protests, Caleb hadn’t hesitated to book the next available flight to Texas, and I’d picked him up from the airport this afternoon.
Fast forward a few hours, and here I am, about to introduce the two most important men in my life and praying they’ll hit itoff. I tried my best to prepare my friends for my very exuberant and outspoken roomie’s arrival, but the warning only stoked their curiosity. Hence our little impromptu get-together at the local honkytonk.
I’ve missed Caleb something fierce since leaving LA. We’ve lived together for years and have grown as close as siblings. It’s important to me that my circle of friends accepts him, which is why I’m currently chewing my thumbnail down to the quick.
Jake is heading toward us, looking drool-worthy in his trademark outfit of well-worn jeans, cotton shirt, and flannel button-up. The various shades of blue making up the plaid pattern make his electric eyes pop even more than usual, and when he flashes us a smile that shows off his dimples, Caleb gives an audible gasp that earns him an elbow to the ribs.
“Jake, this is Caleb. Caleb, Jake,” I make the necessary introductions when he comes to a stop in front of us, waving a hand between them. Caleb rubs his ribs and gives me an are-you-freaking-kidding-me look before he catapults himself forward, holding out his hand in greeting.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you. Tessa has told me so much about you, and let me just say her description of you did not do justice.”
“Erm. Thanks, I guess,” Jake replies, looking visibly uncomfortable under my friend’s blatant perusal. But Caleb’s just getting started.
“I’m serious. Now I totally understand why Tessa was always moping around the place, binge-watching old sitcoms instead of going out to join the dating pool. I always thought she set the bar too high and would never find someone to live up to her ridiculous expectations. But now that I got a good look at you, I get it. Gosh, look at that jawline. The brawn. I’d fan myself, but Tessa asked me to keep the theatrics to a minimum—"
“Alright,” I interrupt, wrapping an arm around Jake’s waist for moral support. “Enough with the compliments. It’ll end up going to his head, and he already has a very healthy ego.”
Jake frowns down at me. “Are you saying I’m arrogant?”
“Not arrogant, baby. Self-assured, maybe?”
“That’s just a fancy way of saying I’m a conceited asshole.”
“Would I be drawn to you if you were an asshole?” I ask. “Your confidence is actually one of the things I find most attractive about you. But it’s the potent mix of self-assurance and that kind heart of yours that I can’t seem to resist.”
“Nice save, sweetheart,” he drawls in his Texas twang, almost making the other man swoon beside me.
“Nice to meet you, too, Caleb. I also heard my fair share of stories over the past few weeks and am looking forward to getting to know you better. I got a text on my way over,” he informs us. “Megan and Carter are already inside. They’re holding a booth for us. Why don’t you go find them while I get the first round?”
“Smoking hot and thoughtful. Maybe I’ll change my mind about small towns by the end of this trip. Find myself a southern gentleman of my own. Do you have any unattached gay brothers, by chance?”
