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On impulse, I hit the call button.
“Hi,” Tess said, picking up immediately.
Did my ears deceive me, or did she actually sound pleased to hear from me?
“I thought you’d be asleep by now.” I scooted back on the bed so I could lean against the headboard.
“I’m working, actually.”
“This time of night? That boss of yours must be a real hard-ass.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Any particular reason?” Like that mind-blowing kiss we’d shared, perhaps? It had certainly left me tossing and turning the last two nights.
“Chronic insomnia,” she said, dashing my hopes. “I’ve had it for years.”
Right. I should have known better than to expect Tess to lose any sleep over me. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Eh. I’m used to it,” she said, brushing off my concern. “What’s your excuse for being up this late on a school night?”
“I’m a workaholic, remember? Got caught up answering emails and lost track of time.”
“Of course.” She paused, and when she spoke again her voice was softer. “It really went all right with your kids tonight?”
Had she actually been worried about me? Or only worried how the kids’ reactions would affect Erin? Probably the latter. Hadn’t I learned by now not to get my hopes up where Tess was concerned?
Fuck no, I hadn’t. And I probably never would.
Slouching down in the pillows, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. “They were pretty shocked—and a little scandalized, I think. Jack had a million questions, which I tried to field as best I could. But Maddy barely said a word the whole night.” I sighed and scrubbed a tired hand over my face, remembering her tight-lipped expression. “I honestly have no idea what she’s thinking. I only hope she doesn’t take her problems with me out on Erin.”
“She’ll come around.”
“Will she?”
“I don’t know,” Tess admitted. “I was trying to be comforting. But I hope she does, for your sake.”
I swallowed, my chest feeling tight. Even though I knew it was foolish, I wanted Tess here with me right now. I wanted to see her so badly I had to clench my jaw to keep from straight-out asking her to come over. My arms itched to hold her, and my heart…my heart was a useless piece of shit that was aching for a woman who’d only break it all over again.
“Donal?”
“Yes.” I cleared my throat. “I’m here.”
“Are you okay?”
No. Definitely not.
“I’m fine,” was what I said. “I should let you get back to work.”
Before I say something really stupid…
“I’m sorry about the way I left Saturday night.”
Her words surprised me into silence. I wasn’t expecting to hear Tess apologize, and after she’d spent the last few minutes acting like Saturday night never happened, the sudden subject change gave me whiplash.
“I got scared,” she admitted, surprising me still further. “And I had to get out of there. I know you wanted to talk about it, but I couldn’t. I was afraid if I stayed…”
I sat up, desperate to hear her finish that sentence.
