Chapter 181

Tessa’s POV

By the time we returned to my father’s house, my heart was so full.

Joseph wrapped me in his arms and used his teleportation ability to get to the house, so we didn’t have to stay in the rain for much longer. We were both soaked, and I knew my clothes were probably completely ruined.

Joseph was adorable with beads of water dripping off his nose and his hair a complete mess. But he didn’t seem to care, which made my heart swell even more.

As we stood on the front porch of my father’s house, I ran my fingers through his hair, scruffing it a little and chuckling. His face grew a little red as he stared down at me. I knew it took a lot for him to come here and share his feelings with me.

I loved this man so much and I was ready to show him for the rest of my life just how much I cared for him.

He bent down and kissed me sweetly. His kiss sent electric chills throughout my entire body and made me crave so much more of him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled myself closer to him, never wanting to let him go.

However, we were stopped when a pair of headlights shined on us like a spotlight, making me jump away from him breathlessly.

He looked startled by my sudden departure, but I knew who those headlights belonged to, and this wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have.

“Tessa?” I heard my name coming from the car, making me look over to see my father standing in the rain with narrowed eyes.

“Hi, Dad,” I said, running my fingers through my wet hair. “I went to Mom’s grave, and it started raining on me.”

My father was no longer looking at me; I wasn’t even sure if he heard me. He was staring directly at Joseph, and he didn’t look happy.

“Uh, Dad. This is Joseph…” I said, clearing my throat to get my father’s attention.

Joseph looked tense as he stared back at my father and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, which bothered me greatly.

After a long pause where nobody spoke, I decided to try again.

“Maybe we should go inside and get out of the rain,” I offered, taking a hold of Joseph’s hand.

He remained frozen though and my father searched his face like they were having some kind of secret conversation. I pressed my lips together, wanting to say something more, but it was obvious neither of them realized I was standing there.

It wasn’t until Penny had the front door open and her voice snapped them back to reality.

“Why is everyone standing outside? It’s raining,” she said, staring around at all our disgruntled faces.

Her eyes landed on Joseph’s face, and she cocked her head to the side, but then her eyes shifted to my hand which was still holding his and realization flashed through her gaze.

“Please, come inside,” she said again, motioning for everyone to enter the house.

My father finally broke his gaze from Joseph’s and stepped onto the porch. He didn’t even bother looking in my direction as he walked past Penny and entered his home. Joseph looked a little whimsical when I met his eyes, but he said nothing.

I wanted to ask him what that was about, but I knew now was probably not the best time; especially because Penny was still watching us with a confused expression on her face.

I offered her a small smile as I pulled Joseph with me into the house.

Ruby was curled up on the couch, sipping on something in a mug, and when she peered up at me, her eyes widened. Then she saw Joseph and she gasped loudly.

“Prof….” she began to say, but with one look at me and my slight head shake, she cleared her throat and started again. “Joseph… What are you doing here?”

“Hello, Ruby,” Joseph said, giving her a head nod. “I came to speak to Tessa, and it couldn’t wait until Monday.”

Ruby’s brows were raised so high they practically disappeared in her hairline.

“I’ll grab you some dry clothes,” Penny said, giving him a fond smile. “Tessa, you should dry off a well.”

“Yeah, I’m going to change,” I said, turning to Joseph. I still had so many unanswered questions and he knew it too with how he was looking at me. “I’ll be back,” I told him, keeping my eyes locked on his.

He gave me a head nod and I stood on my toes to kiss his cheek before turning away and running up the stairs.

I heard Ruby putting down her mug and moving from the couch. I knew it wouldn’t be long before she joined me in my room. Once I was in the closed compacity of my room, I grabbed a fresh pair of clothes and quickly changed, disposing of the wet clothes.

I grabbed my brush off my vanity and brushed through the wet clumps of hair that fell messily around my shoulders. I was putting my hair up in a messy bun when I heard a knock on my door.

“You can come in,” I announced and within seconds, Ruby was standing in my room.

“Did you know he was going to come here?” She asked with wide eyes.

I shook my head.

“He showed up at the cemetery,” I told her shrugging. I then turned to face her. “He told me he loved me.”

She gasped as she plopped down on my bed.

“What? Did you say it back?”

I nodded, feeling the warmth spreading across my cheeks.

“I do love him,” I said to her, biting my bottom lip to keep from smiling.

“So, what does this mean for you now? You are dating the professor?”

“I guess so,” I said, sighing. “I’m not really sure how it’s going to work. We didn’t have a chance to talk about it. My father caught us kissing outside and he’s acting strange.”

“I’m sure it was probably weird for him to see his daughter making out with some guy he’s never met,” Ruby shrugged. “I’m guessing you aren’t going to tell him that Joseph is Joseph Evergreen. Aka the author and professor.”

“You guessed correctly,” I said, shaking my head. “He can’t know. He’d be furious, even if I am an adult. He won’t care.”

“Understandable,” Ruby said, nodding. Then she smiled. “I can’t believe he came here.”

This time, I let out the giddy chuckle I’d been holding in.

“Me neither. It was so romantic too,” I told her.

Before either of us could say another word, I heard my father’s deep voice coming from his bedroom down the hall and Penny’s calm voice trying to soothe him. My entire body froze, and my heart started to race in my chest.

Ruby looked nervous as well as she stood to her feet and went over to the door to open it slightly.

“I don’t care, Penny. I don’t want him wearing my clothes,” my father seethed. “Get rid of him before I say something I’m going to regret.”

“He’s your daughter’s boyfriend, Rick,” Penny said, trying to sound as calm as possible.

“Why hadn’t she mentioned him before?!” My father seethed.

“Maybe because she knew you’d react like this,” Penny said simply. “Just give him a chance. If Tessa can find it in her heart to like him, then he must be worth a chance.”

For once, since knowing Penny, I actually appreciated her for what she was saying. Their voices got smaller, and Ruby turned to face me.

“We should probably get downstairs before your father does,” she said, biting the inside of her cheek worriedly.

I nodded in agreement and the two of us left my bedroom and made our way downstairs and into the living room. Joseph still stood at the doorway wearing his wet clothes and he kept his head down. I knew he could hear the conversations going on upstairs. I wondered if he was listening to my conversation with Ruby too.

Before I could ask him, I heard Penny walking down the stairs.

She was by herself, and she carried a pair of pants and a shirt.

“This should fit you,” she said, smiling up at Joseph. “You can change in the bathroom down the hall.”

He nodded.

“Thank you for your kindness,” he said, bowing his head slightly at her.

She blushed and watched as she disappeared down the hall. As soon as the door shut to the bathroom, she turned to face me.

“Where have you been hiding him?” She asked in a harsh whisper. “He’s good-looking.”

I felt warmth spreading across my features. I really didn’t want to have this conversation with my father’s wife about my boyfriend.

“How did you two meet?” Penny asked as she sat down on the couch.

“At school,” I said, biting my bottom lip. I couldn’t tell her that Joseph was my writing professor. “We share the writing course together.”

Her eyes widened.

“He’s a writer too?”

“It’s a hobby,” I said quickly, trying to ignore the heat rising in my features.

“He’s really good,” Ruby chimed, giving a nervous chuckle.

I shot her a look that told her to stop talking and she pinched her lips together.

Before another word was exchanged, Joseph returned in my father’s clothes and his wet clothes were in a plastic bag.

“I hope you don’t mind I grabbed a bag from the cabinet,” Joseph said, holding it up for Penny to see.

“Not at all,” she said, a little too breathlessly.

I had to stifle a groan as I walked over to Joseph and took his hand. He smiled down at me and it sent my heart into turmoil. All I wanted at that moment was to kiss him. But before I could, I heard my father’s loud footsteps marching down the steps.

He sounded angry and I felt my entire body freezing as I looked up at the staircase.

My father came downstairs, and I could practically see the steam pouring out of his ears as he glared at Joseph.

“I don’t want him in my house,” he said through his teeth. “His kind isn’t welcome here.”