Page 24 of Must Love Fallen Angels

“Have fun!”Tessa called with a laugh.

“See you Monday!”

Tessa headed out the door to her car, her cheeks hurting from her smile.She loved working at the bookstore, and her first week had made her feel like she’d been in town for ages.She met lots of townspeople, spent time with Lyra and Sierra, and Zay’s mate, Kinsley the witch, who gave Tessa a pair of blessed candlesticks to light in the bedroom when she and Venice were ready to make things official.She promised they’d ensure a sweet mating and a good life together.

Which was exactly what she was sure she’d have with Venice.

She’d been wanting to take things slow with him, but once she’d shared her past and let go of the hurt that had been like an albatross around her neck, she felt free to move on.With Venice.

She sent him a text to let him know she was heading home and would see him soon for the movie, and he sent back a heart emoji and a kissy face one.

“Freaking adorable angel,” she said with a smile.

Setting her phone in the cup holder, she headed home to the cottage.

When she parked next to the house, she got out and shut her door.

“Tessa, hi.”

She dropped her phone.It wasn’t possible.

She picked up her phone and turned slowly to find herself face to face with Evan.

Taking a step back, she blinked several times, wondering if she was losing her mind.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.I made a mistake, Tessie.”

She wrinkled her nose.She’d never liked that nickname.

Folding her arms across her chest, she planted her feet and squared her shoulders.Then she looked him over quietly and gathered her thoughts.

“How did you know where I was?”

He looked sheepish.“You’re still sharing your location with me.”

With a huff, she opened the app on her phone, stopped sharing her location, then deleted him so he wouldn’t have access to her whereabouts anymore.Not that it mattered at the moment.Here he freaking was.

“I miss you,” he said.He looked bad.

Good.

“You cheated on me with Lila.”

“I’m sorry, Tessie.”

She put up her hand.“Don’t call me that.And you can stuff your apology up your tailpipe and hit the road.You cheated.You’re a liar.And we’re done.”

Feeling all the badass vibes she could muster, she walked toward the front door.

“Wait!Tessie—I mean, Tessa.I’m sorry.Please forgive me.I made a huge mistake.”

She stopped at the door and faced him.“You did make a huge mistake.We were about to move in together.You and Lila had been cheating on me for ages.”

“I love you.”

“It’s just words.I don’t love you.You need to leave and never come back.”