Page 58 of All I Feel

Then I wondered if that would be a good idea. Because I didn’t have much experience—there were things I had no experience with—and I’d be absolutely mortified if Ace was disappointed.

“He’d never hurt you, Tessa.”

I looked to the side and found Lark wearing a serious expression.

“You’re my best friend. And if I didn’t believe Ace would treat you like a queen, I’d never urge you to go after this.”

Hearing her words offered me a sense of comfort. Because I knew it was the truth. Lark was fiercely loyal to me, and she’d never tell me to do something if she had any inkling I’d get hurt.

So, I smiled and said, “He already calls meprincessall the time.”

“Ah, I love this,” Mia bubbled.

Savanna and Harper added simultaneously, “Me, too.”

I let out a big breath and demanded, “Okay, it’s someone else’s turn to talk. Are any of the other single women in this room dating?”

All I got in response was a bunch of grumbles.

That answered that question.

“You know, I’m feeling like I might want to have somecake,” Chloe declared. “Maybe we should join those men in the kitchen.”

The rest of the girls agreed and bolted off the couch and chairs.

I narrowed my eyes on Chloe, who was sending a mischievous smile my way. She knew precisely what she’d done. But if I were honest, I hadn’t really been able to keep my attention off Ace for too long. I really couldn’t complain.

So, I got up and walked to the kitchen with my friends.

ACE

This was harder than I thought it was going to be.

When I told Tessa that I was content to wait until she was ready or that nothing would change between us if she decided she wasn’t interested in pursuing anything with me, I hadn’t anticipated moments like this. Moments when the two of us were with our friends, and I needed to pretend like I hadn’t spilled my guts to her yesterday.

We’d all come here to visit with Chloe and Hawk, and while I was thrilled to know Chloe was doing so much better, somehow, I couldn’t focus on much beyond that.

There’d been all the discussion about her therapy and recovery process while we’d been eating, and now that the guys and I had all come out to the kitchen to give the women time to talk among themselves, I still found it difficult to focus on much beyond surface-level conversation.

Because I’d been stealing glances at Tessa all day long. I couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of her lips against mine and how badly I wanted to kiss her again. Would it bepossible to pretend indefinitely that I didn’t feel the way I did about her?

In the brief parts of conversation that I did catch among the guys, I’d heard a lot that Hawk had said about Chloe or that Taj said about Olivia. And it was the way they spoke about those women that had me convinced I was just as gone for Tessa.

I wanted what they had, and I wondered if it’d ever happen for me with her. I was terrified about what I’d do if Tessa convinced herself that we were better off as just friends.

The truth was that I’d take her any way I could to have her in my life, but I desperately wanted to have it all with her. I wanted to give that woman the world, everything she should’ve had all along. And I could’ve kicked myself for not recognizing how important she was to me sooner than I had.

There was a moment I considered bringing it up to the guys, but I’d ultimately decided against it. Phoenix might’ve known how I felt about her, but Archer didn’t. I couldn’t know for sure how he’d respond. Not only that, if I said something to them and Tessa decided she didn’t want anything more than friendship, I was worried about how it could impact the dynamic with the entire group.

Eventually, the women joined us in the kitchen. Evidently, Hawk had baked a cake with Chloe, since she wasn’t able to do it on her own just yet. The cake looked nothing like what we’d come to expect from Chloe, but I had to hand it to Hawk. He’d stepped up for Chloe in a very big way, and I was happy for them.

More than that, I was just glad there was a reason for the women to even come out into the kitchen. Because it meantthat Tessa was closer. And she didn’t hold back from sending some looks my way that told me she was still thinking about our kiss.

Those looks were the reason I felt a glimmer of hope for us.

SIXTEEN

ACE