Page 121 of Crash

“Tessa.” I leaned forward, memorizing how the candlelight cast highlights in her hair. “You’ve been staying with me. I see what this is doing to you. By dinner, you’re so exhausted that you can barely lift your head from the couch.”

“I’m running a business; of course I’m exhausted.” Her chin lifted in that stubborn tilt I’d come to both love and dread.

“That’s not what this is, and we both know it.”

“You knew fatigue was one of the major symptoms,” she countered.

“There’s something fundamentally different about seeing the wordfatigueon a patient’s medical chart and watching that person struggle to make it through each day.” I had to pause, swallowing past the tightness in my throat. “Seeing you on that couch each night …”Breaks my heart.

“You’re not letting Blake give up on this,” Ryker suddenly announced, his tone pure courtroom authority. My best friend might be Tessa’s older brother, but right now, he was in full lawyer mode, treating the dinner table like his latest case.

Although Axel was right; Ryker was, in fact, sporting a slight black eye. One Tessa aggressively ignored. And one that Scarlett, sensing something between me and Ryker, smirked at.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot we’re back in the seventeenth century, when my older brother was allowed to dictate my life choices,” Tessa snapped, fire dancing in her eyes.

Even through my worry, I couldn’t help but smirk. This was my Tessa—five feet three inches of pure determination. She might be dealing with a mysterious illness, but she compensated for every moment of vulnerability with twice as much spirit. Anyhint that someone saw her as fragile, and she’d launch what Scarlett called her “verbal flare gun,” reminding everyone that beneath the nausea, muscle weakness, and constellation of other symptoms was a force of nature who wouldn’t be controlled. Or pitied.

The moment I showed any sympathy, she’d redirect the conversation to cancer patients or terminally ill children. This, she’d insist, was just an inconvenience. It would not define her.

“Now, seeing as how I planned this dinner party, with Maria’s help, of course, I would greatly appreciate it if we changed the subject.” Her tone left no room for argument.

Scarlett smirked and winked at me, as if to say,See? Terrifying Chihuahua.

“How’s work?” Tessa asked her best friend.

“Work’s great,” Scarlett offered, though something flickered behind her usual confidence. “I’m putting my hat in the ring for a promotion.”

“Good.” Tessa brightened, attempting another bite of pasta. “You deserve it. You’ve worked your ass off for that company. When do you apply?”

“Soon.” Scarlett’s usual swagger dimmed. “There are some … complications going on at work right now though.”

“What kind of complications?”

Scarlett’s trademark smirk vanished. She suddenly became focused on straightening her already-perfect silverware. “You know how corporate America can be.”

Scarlett didn’t meet Tessa’s worried eyes. Eyes that glided to me with a silent question. Like I’d know why her best friend was suddenly acting elusive and upset?

I shrugged.

Tessa evaluated her friend, and evidently, she decided not to push Scarlett to explain why this confident woman was suddenly avoiding eye contact.

The conversation drifted to safer waters after that, but I barely registered the words. I was too busy watching the way Tessa pushed her favorite dish around her plate, taking microscopic bites. The wineglass she kept lifting to her lips without the level ever changing. The slight hunch of her shoulders that told me she was hiding another stomachache.

When her gaze met mine across the table, I mouthed,You okay?

She nodded with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, and something inside me cracked. The love of my life was drowning right in front of me, and I was just standing on deck, watching her slip beneath the waves.

Later, while I was gathering after-dinner drinks, Tessa found me in the kitchen, my palms pressed against the counter as I tried to steady myself.

“Hey …” Her hand was warm against my back.

I forced a smile, hating that she was wasting energy worrying about me when she should be resting.

“Are you having fun?” I managed.

Look at her beautiful smile.

“I love this. Having friends over for dinner … I’ve never gotten to do stuff like this before. It’s …” She ran a hand through her hair, and that’s when I saw it. “Nice.”