Every Single Thing About You: A “Tuck Yes” Love Story - Book 3 by Hopkins, Faleena (best fiction novels of all time .TXT) 📕

Smacking my arm, she stops walking. “What’s another lie? That’s what happened!”

Turning on my heel I face her in the middle of Tribeca Park, one of the few stretches of dirt and plants that pets make the most of during their daily walks in the concrete jungle we call home, and remind Tempest Tuck, “I took your heels off when I put you to bed. I set them neatly beside it so that when you woke up you could find them. Yet, there they were on your pretty feet that you always paint a different color, under the covers when I so-called woke you up.” She follows me as I start walking, steps slower and sheepish. I glance back to add, “Oh, and that was my gum you were chewing.”

“Maybe I got it from my bag!”

“Did you?”

“No.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“But you weren’t sure.”

“You blew a bubble. I checked the pack. You took two. I know how much gum I have. Although I’ve gotta hand it to you, I’ve never been able to blow a bubble with that brand before. Guess I needed two sticks.”

“This is me.”

I freeze and look at a building I pass every day, but the cafe/gift shop just past Tribeca Tavern is closed this late on a Sunday. Pointing at the sign, I raise my eyebrows.

Tempest grabs my finger and directs it to the apartment building next door. “This is where I live.”

I stare at her as she lets go of my finger, brain scrambled by the close proximity of this building to my own. Stepping back I look up at a design dating back to the late 1800’s, renovated into one of the reasons I love this neighborhood best. “But you live in Brooklyn.”

Tempest’s light brown eyes become softer. Vulnerable. “I moved in with my grandparents to start my business without asking for money. I can pay one rent, not two.”

“When was this?”

“Does it matter?”

“Were you living here a couple of months ago, when you were at my place?”

“It was after that, and I’m not lying. I only lied about what I did because, as you may have guessed, I had no memory of the night before and I was embarrassed. When I heard your voice, and Will’s, I ran back into your room. I didn’t know what else to do!” Tilting her head, she smiles, “Were you wondering why I needed your coat if it was to walk just a couple of blocks?”

Stunned, I shake my head. “No, wasn’t thinking of that. Have a good night then.”

“Did you want your coat back?”

Turning on my heel I mutter, “No,” and for the short rest of the walk home I look around me in wonder, finding it hard to believe I’ve been living my lonely life every day and had no idea she was right there this whole time.

Chapter 14

Nax walks into my place, shoving my extra key back into his jeans pocket. “You rang?”

“I need you to do something for me.”

He flops onto my couch, throwing toned arms behind his grinning head, and big feet onto my coffee table. “Anything.”

“Your movie completes filming when again?”

“One week from today. Unless we go over.”

“Cool.” I pull my flyer from a kitchen drawer and toss it to Nax frisbee-style.

He mutters, “Good throw,” and reads in silence until his blue eyes darken with suspicion. “This is Tempest’s retreat in Sorrento.”

“So you knew about it already.”

“Of course I did.” He tosses it onto my coffee table, moves it with his boot heel to see it better, arms flying back behind his head, long body stretched out. “Don’t worry. I would’ve given you more notice.”

“What?”

Jogging his chin to the flyer Nax shrugs, “You thought I was going to ask you to watch Joe while I went off to Italy. But don’t worry. We’re not going. Liz is coming to town, and I want to spend as much time with him as I can so I’m staying here. Plus, Zia has to work. Especially if we’re going to take off for our honeymoon. This isn’t our trip. I would’ve told you way in advance.”

“No no no.” Sitting in my armchair I lean on my elbows. “I want you to watch Will because I’m going to that retreat.”

Nax’s arms release as he sits up straight, dropping his boots to the rug with a thud. “Come again?”

“I’m going to Sorrento.”

Nax makes a meal of his lower lip, staring at me from under confused eyebrows. “Tempest will be there.”

“That’s why I’m going.”

We’re silent until Nax jumps to his feet. “Holy Tuck, this is incredible!” He grabs my shoulders, “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“I’m just going to see.”

“See if you two have something worth flying to Italy for?!”

I shrug, “You could say that.”

“See if you two have something you can leave Will for a week for, and not be terrified he’s going to hurt himself?!”

“Now that’s not nice.”

Nax clamps my arms like he wants to tear them off. “Nice? Who cares about nice when something this real is going down? It’s all I can do to not throw you across the room and caterwaul Hallelujah!”

“Not sure why I’d need to be tossed for that.”

“I’d almost given up on you guys!” He paces, dragging a hand through hair that needs a barber, movie shoot days long and impossible to schedule anything else around. “I thought for sure she’d have broken through when I left her here that night, but nothing came of that.” Stopping in front of my T.V. Nax demands, “How did this happen?”

I stand up. “Wait, you brought Tempest here to set us up?”

“Well yeah! You’d never been alone with her so I thought, she’s passed out. Can’t fight me. Here’s my chance!” Nax laughs, “Tempest could’ve slept on the couch. Zia’s place is huge.”

“Are you shitting me?!!”

The door swings open and in walks Will with Elliot and the dogs. Seeing Nax