Tessa Keene was a sweetheart through and through- pure-hearted, kind, and incapable of cruelty. She didn't have much, but she had Robby, and that was all she needed. He was her rock, her safe place, the one person she could always count on. But when...
Carmen shot him a tired look, arms crossed as she shook her head. "I don't think she's as cool about it as you think she is."
Johnny looked up, eyebrows knitting together. "What are you talking about?"
Carmen gestured around the quiet room, where four plates and dinner sat untouched. "She's not here, Johnny. Didn't you text her and tell her that we're all having dinner here?" There wasn't anger in her tone—just frustration.
Now, Johnny was looking at Carmen like she'd lost her mind. "Maybe she didn't see it." he defended. "You know what? I'll go ask her right now." He stood from the table with a huff.
"Johnny, wait—" Carmen started, quickly standing.
But he shook his head, brushing her off gently. "No," he said with too much certainty, already halfway out the door. "I know she's not weird about this."
Johnny came into the apartment a few minutes later, his eyes landing on Tessa immediately—curled up on the couch, blanket around her shoulders, scrolling through her phone. "What the hell, Tess?" he asked. "I texted you about dinner at Carmen's and you don't show?"
Tessa didn't look up from the screen. "I didn't get anything." she shrugged. "Maybe it just didn't deliver yet."
"Right." Johnny nodded, completely believing that. "Carmen sent us home with leftovers," he added, kicking the apartment door shut with his foot as he held two containers in his hands. "What do you think—just you and me? Dinner and a movie?"
Tessa didn't respond right away. She was still curled into the far corner of the couch, knees to her chest, half-glancing at the TV like she was trying not to commit. Johnny looked back at her, lifting one of the containers like an offering. "It's got rice," he added. "The good kind."
She finally gave a reluctant shrug. "Sure."
They ate in silence for a while, the hum of the microwave earlier now replaced by the sound of muffled explosions from an old action movie. The kind Johnny liked—loud, nostalgic, and a little ridiculous. Tessa picked at her food but took small bites here and there.
During a commercial break, Johnny held up his fork with a grin. "Good stuff."
"Yeah," Tessa said quietly, still focused on her rice. "tell Carmen I said thanks."
Johnny glanced sideways at her. "Why don't you tell her?"
"You'll see her again before I do." Tessa shrugged, not meeting his eyes as she pushed her food around some more.
Johnny sat there in silence for a moment, fork halfway to his mouth, staring at Tessa like a puzzle just clicked together. "Holy shit," he muttered. "She was right."
Tessa blinked. "What?"
He sat back, rubbing his hand over his face, then pointed loosely toward the door—toward wherever Carmen was. "Carmen. She said you weren't okay with all this. I didn't believe her— just thought you were just being quiet...but you're upset?"
Tessa opened her mouth, hesitated, then closed it again. She stared down at her rice like it could give her an excuse.
"Why don't you like Carmen?" Johnny asked again, softer this time. Less like an accusation, more like he genuinely wanted to understand.
"I do like her," Tessa said quickly—too quickly. "She's nice."
Johnny tilted his head, not pushing, just watching her carefully. "Then what is it?"
She hesitated, her mouth opening like she might answer—but nothing came out. Instead, she set her food down slowly, avoiding his eyes. "It's nothing." she shook her head, then stood up and walked off toward her room without looking back.
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