Tessa nodded with reassurance. “You have a lot of drive and determination.”
“I’m hopeful, Tessa. Just embarrassed.” She covered her face with her hands, the humiliation washing over her once more. “And Lucas, of all people, had to find me. Now he’s really going to think I’m nothing but trouble.”
Tessa tilted her head and her dark hair fell into her eyes. “Why would you think that about Lucas? He’d never judge anyone.”
It was an automatic assumption. Sindy was used to people like him, with money, talent, education and opportunity, looking down on someone like her who grew up in the projects. Maybe she was being unfair to him. There were many sides to Lucas Blade. At first, she thought him arrogant and conceited. But, recently, he proved to be genuine and humble.
“It’s late, Sindy. Pack a bag and come to my house and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow we’ll figure out what to do.”
“There’s nothing to figure out. I have a plan.”
“No. I’m not leaving you here. I’m not going to abandon a friend in need. What kind of person do you think I am?”
Genuine. Honest. Admirable. Kind. Generous. That was the kind of person Tessa was. Her benevolence made tears fill Sindy’s eyes again. She nodded, fearing her voice would quiver if she spoke. She’d take her friend up on the offer of a place to sleep tonight. Tomorrow, she’d figure something out.
Sindy stepped quietly as she walked through the mansion and up to Tessa’s suite, silently praying she didn’t run into anyone. Seeing Lucas again would be bad enough, but if she ran into any of Tessa’s parents, and they knew her situation, she’d be mortified. Plus, she was still wearing the lounge pants she slept in, although a hoodie covered her tank top. She dropped her bag at her feet and sat on the couch in Tessa’s suite, self-conscious about staying there. With her hands between her knees, she couldn’t believe Tessa talked her into it.
“The couch opens,” Tessa said.
“It’s OK. I can sleep on it like this.”
Tessa slipped into the bedroom and returned with a stack of sheets, a blanket and a pillow.
“Don’t make a fuss, Tessa. I don’t need all that.”
“Sure you do. Lucas and Mason sit on that couch. You don’t want to put your face where their asses have been.”
A smile broke through Sindy’s lips, and she immediately relaxed. “Thank you. You’ve been a really good friend to me. You’re my best friend.”
“Oh, Sindy.” Tessa put the linens down and squeezed Sindy’s hand. “You’re my best friend, too. We have so many things in common. We’re passionate about the same things. We share something special.”
That damn lump of emotion returned to Sindy’s throat and almost choked her. This girl, who had everything she ever wanted, everything in the world, thought they had many things in common. She reached out and hugged Tessa, squeezing her eyes shut as she tried to hold in the tears.
Tessa patted her back softly. “Get some sleep. You look exhausted.”
Zapped of energy, Sindy let out a long breath. “This whole thing beat me up.” She dropped her head into her chest. “I still can’t believe Lucas found me there.”
“Stop saying that. There’s no judgment from us. Just because we grew up with all this fancy stuff doesn’t mean we think we’re better than anybody else. My dad taught us the value of a dollar. He’s not frivolous. My papi is the one who’s extravagant. My dad and my mom struggled when they first got married. They lived paycheck to paycheck. Believe me, I heard all the stories about how my mom dropped out of college to support them while my dad pursued his musical career. Then she had to go back and get her degree. It was another reason why me and my brother had to finish college before pursuing a career in music.”
Sindy knew that Tessa and Lucas weren’t spoiled rich kids right away, never flaunting their wealth or their famous family. But the vast difference in their economic status was still intimidating. And embarrassing.
Tessa slapped her hands on her thighs and stood. “I’m going to bed. Help yourself to anything in the kitchenette and don’t worry about passing through my bedroom to get to the bathroom. I’m going to keep my TV on for a while, but I’ll keep it low in case you want to watch TV out here.”
“Thank you. You’re such a thoughtful person. But don’t worry about me. I’m fine. And, Tessa, I can’t tell you how grateful I am. For everything.”
“That’s what friends are for. Good night.”
Sindy zipped off her sweatshirt, spread the sheet on the couch and pulled the blanket over her. She rubbed the chenille between her fingers and admired its softness. And the pillow . . . it smelled fresh, like lavender. She stared at the ceiling with the comfy blanket up to her chin, not thinking about anything. All she wanted to do was revel in the peace she felt at this moment. For once, she didn’t want to worry about money or the future. The content and cozy surroundings enveloped her with security. Tears filled her eyes, not from sadness or self-pity – from the relief of well-being that she hadn’t felt in a long, long time. Tessa had taken care of her tonight. Actually, it was Lucas who was behind the hospitality, she realized, and the tears trickled down her cheeks at how unfair she’d treated him.
Tessa’s TV clicked off and the glow coming through the partly-opened doorway disappeared. Now that it was quiet, she heard music coming from down the hall – Lucas’ room. Although she was humiliated that he had barged into her private space, she was glad that it was out in the open and she didn’t have to constantly worry about them finding out.
Lucas could have left her at the self-storage place. She threw him out. She yelled at him, pushed him into the hallway and slammed the door in his face. He could have gone home and said nothing. He didn’t have to tell Tessa. But he did. He told his sister because he knew she was the one person Sindy would listen to. Ultimately, she had Lucas to thank for this warm bed she slept in tonight. She had a bathroom and running water. She wasn’t cold. She felt safe. And she felt loved.
