Chapter 44. Red Light

Tessa’s POV

Maybe I am.

I don’t say it. I don’t have to. He can hear my heart. He can probably smell the answer on my skin.

“You’re jealous,” I say instead.

“Yes.”

He says it so fast it knocks the breath out of me. No smirk. No joke. Just yes, like it costs him something.

“You’re jealous,” I repeat, “and you’re the one who was out with someone else.”

“I was out with someone telling her no.” His hands are still flat on the wall on either side of my head. I can feel the heat coming off his arms. “I told her no for forty minutes. I told her about my mother. I told her I’m sorry her father thinks she’s a chess piece. And I sat facing the door the entire time, because some part of me was hoping you’d see that stupid photo and walk in here and yell at me.”

“That’s insane.”

“I know.”

“You could have just told me.”

“I know.” His forehead drops until it’s almost touching mine. “I’m bad at this. I’ve never done th