07

The city lights were incandescent against the backdrop of the star-specked night sky and blurred on the glossy, serene surface of the water. The iconic Zakim Bridge was fully lit in the distance, each of the cable spreading out from the two inverted Y-shaped towers glowing like neon sticks.

« It does, » she said in a soft voice free from her usual dry cynicism. It made her sound young and sweet and dreamy—something she hasn’t been much lately.

Her profile was starkly outlined by the distant lights as she looked out the window, only small glimpses of her features illuminated in the shadows—the faint curl of sooty lashes on one eye, the perfect slope of her small nose, the lush curve of her bottom lip, the graceful line of her neck.

I sucked in a breath when I felt my lungs suddenly void of air, knocking me out of my trance at the same time.

Good lord, Jake. She’s your best friend’s little sister. Stop waxing poetic about her lashes and her neck.

Quietly, I picked up our bag and distributed the ice cream tubs and spoons. For once, we ate quietly without a word said. Tessa was busy gazing out at the city lights while I was secretly gazing at her, trying to remember when exactly did she grow up to become so bewitching. Because she was—she must be—otherwise, I had no plausible explanation for why I couldn’t peel my eyes off her. Or why, out of all the people I knew, I decided to drag her out with me after such an unsettling evening. Tonight, I’d met a girl who floored me and I saw for myself the kind of tangle my best friend had no way (or intention) of extricating himself from. And to cope, I badgered Tessa, who was no one’s first suggestion for comforting the soul—especially mine—to come out with me until I could right myself again after some ice cream and some peace and quiet.

Yes, there’s a reason and it’s not the mystical kind. Get a grip, man.

Right. About that…

« About what you said earlier… » I started, trailing off when she tilted her head up to look at me with a gaze so direct, I started to feel nervous. « About me being the reason why you don’t believe—« 

« I referred to you as an example of those people in general who play fast and loose with other people’s hearts, » she interjected. « It wasn’t specifically you, Jake. »

« It wasn’t ? » I wasn’t sure why that clarification miffed me. Probably because what had sounded so personal now wasn’t so personal anymore. « I thought maybe… »

« You thought what ? » There was a challenge in her eyes, daring me to make assumptions and guaranteeing there would be hell to pay for them.

Hell it is, then.

« I thought that maybe I hurt you, » I finished. « Maybe I did something before and I just didn’t know about it. »

Her expression betrayed nothing and everything because it told me that whatever it was behind that outburst was something Tessa didn’t want to talk about.

« You overestimate your charm if you think you broke my heart or something like that, Jake, » she said quietly. « And you underestimate what I understand of the world in assuming that I don’t know the ugly side of adult relationships. We’ve capitalized on it with every song, TV show and movie that’s out there about it. »

Very valid point, yes, but it didn’t set me at ease.

Because I knew Tessa well enough. And despite being distracted earlier, I didn’t miss the note of hurt in her voice when she spoke. I decided against confronting her right then and there, knowing she’d sealed the emotion away for the meantime. But now, I needed her to come clean.

« If it’s not me, then maybe some other dude, » I pressed, watching for a change in her face. « I’m not underestimating your wisdom, Tess. You have an astounding amount of it for someone your age. But wisdom isn’t an impenetrable suit that will protect you from people’s actions. So if someone had the gall to hurt you or be careless with your affections, tell me his or her name and I’ll make them pay. »

Her lips moved for a fraction of a second, and I couldn’t be sure if she was about to smile or cry. She didn’t do either. She turned her head away and stared down at the tub of melting ice cream in her hand, absently digging the spoon into it.

« There’s no need to protect or avenge me, Jake, » she said with a sigh. « You’re not my older brother. »

I frowned. « I never said I was. »

She lifted her eyes back at me and they looked a little bit angry. « Then stop acting like Brandon’s stand-in. I’m not giving you any names because there’s none to give. Even if there were, I still wouldn’t tell you because if the experience gave me a more realistic perspective of the world, then I say I owe them for the education. »

This was not going well for me. If I kept prodding, I would most likely end up with half a tub of cookie dough ice cream on my head. But Tessa was clearly drawing the line and I had to respect it. I didn’t have to like it because I still wanted to hustle up whoever the moron was but it would have to wait for now.

She was here and I was wasting a perfectly good view of the city skyline and good old chocolate ice cream.

« Fine. We won’t talk about it anymore, » I told her, leaning back against my seat. « But if some guy’s giving you problems, tell me. I can sort them out for you faster than therapy. »

Her smile was reluctant but it was there and my chest loosened up a little. « Sure, Doctor Love. I have you on speed-dial. »

« I’m serious, » I muttered.

She shrugged a delicate shoulder. « You always are. »

It would never end if I gave another comeback because Tessa always liked to have the last word in. And she usually did—not out of my indulgence but because she could. So I let it go.

« Thanks for coming out tonight with me, » I said after a few minutes of silence and we were both scraping the bottom of the tub. We would pay for this tomorrow but life was short.

« Ice cream’s a good excuse for most things, » she said noncommittally. « Even soothing your wounded heart. »

« My heart’s not wounded, » I said. « Charlotte’s an amazing girl but I’ve got eyes, Tess. And I can see just how much she loves your brother. »

« Interesting insight you’ve got, » she muttered under her breath. She said the next words in a much lower voice that I could barely make them out. « Wonder if it only works occasionally. »

« What do you mean ? » I asked.

« Nothing important. » She beamed and shook her head and raised her empty tub of ice cream. « To my brother and Charlotte. May they find happiness. And to you and me and all the reluctant romantics out there. May we be proven one way or the other so we can make up our minds someday. »

Cute by cynical but I still raised my own empty tub and bumped it against hers.

For the first time in my life, I was starting to give love some credence.

It must exist.

I saw it tonight between and a man and a woman who were complete opposites of each other and couldn’t care less about it. And it didn’t look so bad. It definitely looked nothing like the civil but cold marriage my parents continued to share all these years when divorce was easier and less painful to all parties involved than their outright farce.

Tessa would find love someday—the real, happy and faithful kind.

There was no doubt about it.

I just wished she wouldn’t be hardened by the lack of it until that day came.