Page 111 of Every Broken Piece
“So come back to me. You could be my west coast PA.”
I shake my head. “I can’t. The non-compete won’t let me.”
“What if there was no noncompete?”
“You can’t just magically make it disappear like that.” I snap my fingers. “But if I’m being honest, I don’t want to work just for you. I had other clients that I was with for years. I like working for different people and I miss them.”
“Can you tell me who they are?”
“I’m not supposed to.” But I trust Gabe and I know my former clients wouldn’t be upset so I name a few.
Gabe settles against the inside wall of the SUV, one leg hiked up on the tailgate, those blue eyes that mirror the sky behind him settling on me. “That’s an impressive client list, but I’m not surprised. You’re really good at what you do.”
His praise makes my cheeks heat. “I’m proud of what I do." More so, I'm proud that I fought my way out of a life of drugs and poverty. Something my mother and sister didn't do.
“I looked forward to your morning emails and when they stopped coming, I missed them. Don’t stop doing what you love, Tess. The world needs your smiley faces and good morning emails.”
“I wish it were that easy, but TaskGenius is a stickler about the non-compete. I don’t know how I’d get around that. I can’t work as a VA for two years.” I nervously rub my hands down my leggings, the brace snagging on the fabric. Just thinking about trying to find a job that doesn’t break my non-compete and pays a living wage makes me anxious.
I slide off the edge of the SUV and hold my good hand out to him. “Show me more trails, Cargo Pant Man.”
Chapter fifty
Gabe
Ipick a different trail than we took this morning. Tess walks next to me, her head tilted up to the sun. There’s something sad about her today and I hate it. I want her to laugh, be free of worries, to live in a way she’s never been able to live before.
Then I remind myself that not so long ago she was in the hospital after being severely beaten. Maybe she’s tired. Maybe I’ve pushed her too far—mentally and physically. But when I suggested we head home she said absolutely not so we keep walking.
I’m acutely aware of every brush of our arms. Every sigh she makes when she stops to look at the view. I’m in tune with everything about her. Every emotion. Every change in her expression. Every longing look at the mountains. Every sad or happy thought that crosses her mind. I’ve never been so attuned with another person before. I could never read Cara. But Tess is like an open book to me.
“Have you ever thought about getting married again?” she asks.
I’m startled by the question even though I know it stems from the couple we saw earlier. She’s been wistful ever since witnessing their simple ceremony.
“I didn’t for a long time, but lately the thought’s crossed my mind. What about you? Do you want to get married someday?” Two months ago, hell, two weeks ago, I would have said hell no to another marriage. Until this Spitfire crashed into my life and now I’m not sure how I can live without her.
“I used to,” she says. “But that life isn’t for me.”
“Why not?”
“Too much baggage.”
“Maybe you just need someone to help carry that baggage.”
“No one wants this heavy load.”
I do. I’d carry it for her.
“It’s more than Sandra,” she says, staring down at her feet as she kicks up red dust while we walk. “I’m...broken.”
“We’re all broken in our own ways. The beauty is in finding a person who’s willing to put those broken pieces back together.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
Our pinkies brush and I snag hers, threading the rest of our fingers together. She doesn’t pull away and I consider that a win. Another brick crumbling from her walls. “It can be easy. With the right person.”
“I don’t know if there’s anyone out there willing to take me on. And even if I did find someone to love I wouldn’t want to burden him with the reality of my life. Love is about beauty and my life isn’t beautiful.”
