Page 20

She gives me a small laugh shaking her head as she comes further into the room. “Sure, you don’t. Tessa has worked here going on four years now. I’ve been close to her going on the same amount of time. I know who you are, Hawk. I know a lot. Tessa, she’s been through a world of hurt.”

She looks out the window, I can tell her mind starts to drift. I want to ask her what she’s thinking about but I know she won’t tell me, especially if her thoughts have to do with Tessa. This lady gives off the same vibe Bianca does, protective, and there’s no way she’s going to tell me anything I want to know.

She grunts and turns to look at me. “People tend to have skeletons in their closets. Things they’re ashamed of. Things they have a hard time letting go of.”

“No disrespect, ma’am, but I’ve known Tessa my entire life. I think I know what she keeps in her closet.”

“Boy, just because you know what’s between her legs doesn’t mean you know what she keeps hidden, and let me tell you, it ain’t pretty.”

I have no idea what to make of that statement, but it doesn’t help the urge to leave this room and charge the halls looking for Tessa so she can give me those answers.

She walks around to the opposite side of the bed, smoothing out Rose’s hair and flipping the covers back to check on her catheter bag. “It took courage for her to make that phone call. To get word that she knows where your mama is. She ain’t hiding anymore because of that.”

“There wasn’t any reason for her to hide in the first place.”

“Oh, sweet boy, that’s where you’re wrong.”

My patience is getting weak. She’s talking in circles, and that’s something I’m not used to dealing with. “Then tell me,” I whisper harshly.

“That’s not going to happen. Not my story to tell.”

“Then why even hint that there’s something there if you aren’t going to tell me?”

She laughs again. “Because, Hawking, from what I know of you, you need the hints. From what I’ve heard, something can be right there under your nose, and you wouldn’t see it. I’m telling you, boy, so you can open your eyes and see.”

She picks up my mother’s chart, scribbles down a few things and walks out of the room. Without another thought, I bolt from my chair and follow her.

“Where can I find her?”

When she turns around, she’s smiling. “Now that, my boy, I can tell you.”

Tessa

Thursdays are always busy for a weeknight. It might be the two for one that we offer or the fact that people want to celebrate that it’s Friday eve. Either way, tips are always great, and the extra money that I make during this shift helps out with the things that we need that go above our household bills.

“A guy is asking about you,” Pam, one of the waitresses, tells me when she comes up to grab her drink order.

“Oh yeah?” I ask as I shake one of the mix drinks that are on her ticket. It’s not new to have guys ask about me. At first, it was hard, knowing that I was being looked at. When I first started, I was serving tables, but after the second time I had a customer grab me, and I completely shut down, Croy and Shae knew that they needed to change it up. Since then I’ve been behind the bar where it’s safe.

My mind flicks to Hawk from earlier today. The way he looked at me when I pulled from his grasp. How broken up he sounded when I teased up in his arms.

“Tessa? You okay?”

My eyes meet Pam’s. “Yeah, why?” She points to the drink that I’m still shaking. I give her a smile. “Oops, sorry.” I open the shaker, pouring the blue liquid into the sugar-rimmed glass.

“Anyway, what do you want me to do about that guy over there?” She twists her body towards where the guy must be. My gaze follows where I think she’s looking and my stomach drops.

Phil Jansen.

He’s staring at me. He brings his beer into the air as he gives me a wink, and an uneasy feeling crawls across my skin. Anxiety rolls through my body. I need to leave. My throat goes dry as I feel my heart pulsing in my neck. My eyes dart around the bar, looking for Croy. He’s not on the floor. He must be in the office.

“Tessa?”

I pull my gaze from Phil and back to Pam. Her voice sounds miles away. My mind is foggy, I can’t think clear thoughts.

I’m stronger than this.

Blinking my eyes, I take a few deep breaths, slowing my heart rate. One, two, three, I count to myself. Another breath, one, two three. I feel my mind start to clear. The panicky feeling weakens. I lick my lips, clearing my throat.