“Tell him that. Tell him exactly how you feel. If he can’t handle it, then he isn’t the man we think he is,” Randi said, stepping back and squeezing Tessa’s arm gently. “Do you want me to have Evan meet you there? I texted him while I was putting stuff together. He’s sending a car to pick you up and take you to Micah’s penthouse, but I know he’d be happy to be there for moral support.”
Tessa thought for a moment and then slowly shook her head. It was tempting to have Evan escort her, have him around as a distraction or intermediary. “This is something I need to do alone.”
“Then text me,” Randi insisted. “I want to know you’re there and safe.”
She nodded at Randi, then collected her purse and extended the handle on the suitcase so she could pull it behind her.
When she patted her thigh, Homer got up from his watchful spot in the corner and sat by her side.
“I want to take Homer with me,” Tessa decided.
“Take him. If I can take Lily to Asia, you can take Homer along to New York. Besides, he gets free entry anywhere. He’s a service dog.”
Luckily, Tessa had put Homer’s doggie jacket on before leaving home because she’d wanted to stop a few places on the way to Randi’s house. She had his special cover that marked him as a service dog.
Tessa hugged Randi one more time, grateful for all of the friends she had.
“I’ll text Liam after I leave. He won’t be happy. All he knows is that Micah went back to New York, but he doesn’t believe that I broke it off.”
Randi smirked. “I’ll cover for you.”
Tessa smiled back at her friend, remembering all the times they’d covered for each other when they were children. “I’ll owe you one,” she answered automatically, using the same expression they’d used as kids.
“I’ll be sure to collect.” It was the standard answer they both had used forever.
“I love you, Randi. So much. Thank you for always standing beside me.” Tessa was beginning to learn that she never wanted to let an opportunity pass to tell the people she cared about how she felt. Randi had always been there for her, whether she wanted her to be or not. She was the one friend who had stampeded over Tessa’s fears and hung on to her during her darkest times. How did you thank somebody for that?
“I love you like the sister I never had, Tessa. I always will.” Randi hugged her with tears in her eyes, then pulled back. “Now go straighten out your stubborn Sinclair. Don’t take no for an answer. Seduce him if you have to,” Randi joked.
“I might do that first,” Tessa answered, winking at her friend before she strode toward the door determinedly.
She had butterflies in her stomach as she left Randi’s house, but she wasn’t going to let anything stop her now. If there was a chance that she had hurt Micah, she was going to find out. Her feelings be damned.
Tessa could live with her pain, but the possibility of being the source of Micah’s was more than she could bear.
CHAPTER 21
If Tessa had been in her right mind, she probably would have been awed by the luxury of Jared’s private jet. It was definitely plush, with every convenience and every bit of comfort she could ever imagine.
Maybe if she’d been thinking properly, she also wouldn’t have let Homer sit on one of the velvet seats, because he left dog hair everywhere. The attendant had told her it would be fine and she’d take care of it, but Tessa was a cleaner, and she hated making extra work for other people.
Unfortunately, her socially appropriate meter wasn’t running, and she’d simply nodded and made her way to the car that Evan had sent to pick her up and take her to Micah’s residence.
Once there, she stood on the sidewalk with Homer sitting by her side, her knuckles turning white from her grip on the suitcase handle.
I have to text him.
She looked up, and up, and then up some more. It wasn’t even possible to see the floor where Micah made his home. The enormous, modern building had more stories than were even visible from the ground.
I can’t just stand here forever.
The sun was starting to set, and she was being jostled by crowds coming from every direction. Stepping into a corner of the building by the entrance to keep out of the stream of human traffic, she dug her cell phone from her purse.
She sent the text determinedly.
Tessa: I need to talk to you. Please answer me.
She pressed the “Send” button and waited. It took him several tense minutes to answer.
Micah: I’m in New York and we’ve already said our goodbyes. What more is there to say?
Tessa: I never said goodbye and I have a lot to say. Can I come up, please?
Micah: You’re here?
Tessa: Yes.
Micah: You came to New York City alone?
Tessa: No. I have Homer.
Micah: Alone! Wait right there. Don’t move.
Tessa smiled, feeling her courage beginning to return as she realized he was worried about her being alone in the city.
She felt a light touch on her arm and she looked up to see the immaculately dressed doorman beside her. “Ms. Sullivan?” he asked, his expression polite.
“Yes.”
“Mr. Sinclair asked me to see you inside.”
She followed him, Homer on her heels.
She was led to what she assumed was a private elevator and stepped inside. The doorman pressed one of the buttons and gave her a dignified wave as he said, “Have a good evening, ma’am.”
“You too,” she squeaked out before the doors closed.
Fidgeting nervously, she watched as the elevator climbed, the numbers lighting up as it hit each floor. It didn’t stop to pick up passengers, so she surmised that it was some kind of express elevator to the top. Her stomach dropped as it finally came to a stop.