Fake Marriage Box Set

“How did she find out?”

I shook my head, getting more pissed by the second. “One of the sniveling little brats in my Monday class turned us in. I don’t know how she could have known. Tessa and I never left the house!”

Jake let out a long sigh. “I don’t know. Sounds like your little brat has a major crush on you and got jealous. Or she really hates Tessa. Girls are pretty vindictive.”

“No, it’s me she hates. She’s pissed I wouldn’t let her out of an assignment she claimed not to understand. She’s lazy, wants the ‘A’ but doesn’t want to do the work, so she ran to the dean with some bullshit story.”

I took a moment to process it all. “Tessa is going to be crushed,” I said in a soft voice.

“I’m sorry. Really, I am. Maybe I can help. I am a lawyer after all.”

“I wish, but I don’t think a lawyer can do anything in this situation. I fucked up, and Tessa is going to pay the price. Are you at work?” I suddenly had an idea.

“Yep, had to come in early,” he said, crushing my excitement.

“Damn, I was hoping Maria was with you. Okay, I better go and see if I can track down Tessa. She may not want anything to do with me. I’m sure she is going to blame me.”

“Relax. Maybe she’s in the shower or driving to school. Don’t freak out yet. If she hasn’t called you or texted you by the end of the day, then I think it’s safe to say she is pissed. Go home, chill, and I’ll check in with you later,” he ordered.

“Thanks.”

I sat in the car, hitting the call button on Tessa’s number and waited. It went straight to voicemail.

Shit! She had to know and was mad as hell at me. I started the car and drove home. Once inside, I looked at the dishes in the sink and the past two days came rushing back. It had been absolutely amazing being holed up here with Tessa. I never wanted it to end. I should have known the real world was out there, waiting to crush the happiness we had managed to create for ourselves. Fate hated us. That was evident by the loss we had each endured in our lives.

I picked up my phone and sent her another text.

I’m sorry. Please, call me.

I vowed to leave it at that. If she didn’t want to talk to me or see me ever again, I wasn’t going to bother her. She had every right to be angry and hurt. I shouldn’t have pursued the relationship. I was the older one. I should have known better.

I plopped down on the couch. Dexter came to sit beside me. I had no energy. I felt as if my world had been tipped over. Where do I go from here?

Chapter Thirty-Six

Tessa

My morning went from fabulous to completely fucked in a matter of seconds. I had left Ian’s house early to go home, shower, and change before heading to school. I had hoped the storm would turn around and force the school to close another day, but luck was not on my side.

When I got out of the shower, I had missed a call from Ian and the administrator’s office. I checked my voicemail, heart racing, and fearing the worst, only to have it confirmed. I had to meet Dean Scribbs in thirty minutes.

Shit!

I scrambled to find something that looked professional and was not in the least bit promiscuous. I was sure she was going to ask me if there was anything going on between Ian and me, which I would promptly deny. Problem solved.

When I strolled into the admin office about thirty seconds before nine, I knew something was up. The secretary and her student assistant were staring at me with strange but knowing looks. I hadn’t had time to call Ian back. I had barely managed to get here on time. I would call him as soon as I was done and apologize for missing his class this morning.

“Hi,” I said, walking up to the tall desk. “I’m here to see Dean Scribbs. I have an appointment at nine.”

>

The woman made a big show of looking at the clock before smirking. “She’s expecting you. Go right in.”

I considered saying something rude but held my tongue. I didn’t need to make my situation any worse than it was.

I knocked on the door. “Dean Scribbs, its Tessa McShane,” I said pushing it open.

“Good morning,” she said, standing, but not smiling. “Take a seat, please.”