New Love by Mj Fields Read Free Book Online Page B

Toby,” he smiled and shook his hand. “This is my mother Kate.”
    “Very n ice to meet you,” Toby gave her a hug, “You’ve got quite an athlete here.”
    “He is . I’m very proud of him.”
    There was an awkward silence and Tessa finally spoke “Toby are we ready to go?”
    “No dessert?” Toby smiled.
    Tessa smirked, “No thank you.”
    “I wanted some, but I guess I could wait,” Toby winked at her.
    Tessa said goodbye to Kate and she hugged Tessa. Toby said goodbye to Lucas and they left.
    Tessa managed to say absolutely nothing to Lucas and that made her very happy. Toby smiled at her knowing what she was thinking and hugged her. Since the events of New Year’s Eve, the two had gotten very close. They emailed or texted back and forth daily. Tessa knew he was the kind of man that she could love without feeling the hurt that Lucas had caused her. She loved Toby, but it wasn’t the lust filled way she felt towards Lucas. They talked about their future dreams and hopes. She knew that he would wait for her forever, not just because he said it, but she could feel it. Toby was her Fred.
    “Hey angel , I have something for you,” Toby said when they pulled in the driveway at her house.
    He parked the car and opened the console that separated them. He took out a box and gave it to her. Tessa opened the box; it was a beautiful silver ring. It had hands that made up the shape of a heart and a crown sat on top of them.
    “Do you know what this is?”
    She smiled and shook her head no.
    “It’s called a Claddagh ring. The hands that are touching signify friendship, they make a heart which means love, and the crown’s meaning is loyalty.”
    “It is beautiful Toby. I don’t know what to say, all I got you was a stupid card.”
    “I didn’t even know I was coming home, I di dn’t plan to give you this now. I just knew someday I would. Tessa I know you are it for me. I just want you to know that. I expect that you wear this to remember that. Whenever you decide to accept or not accept is up to you,” He watched as her eyes widened, and he let out a deep laugh.
    “What ar e you thinking angel?”
    “I don’t know,” she blushed.
    “You know that’ s not an engagement ring don’t you? It’s a promise from me to you, nothing more. Do you feel better now?” Toby asked smiling at her.
    “Not really,” Tessa whispered.
    “Okay angel, spill it,” Toby took her hand.
    After a long pause she spoke, “Well I don’t know --- what does that mean for us right now?” he looked confused. “Does this mean you want to…”
    Toby laughed out loud , “I adore you, but I don’t want that now.”
    “So you don’t want to have sex with me?” Tessa asked curiously. She wished she hadn’t asked. Toby Green was a beautiful man, but those feelings, the desire and lust she felt for Lucas had yet to blossom within her for him.
    He closed his eyes and leaned back, “Of course I do, but you’re eighteen and I’m twenty one. I’m not home a lot. If I opened that door I wouldn’t be able to focus on what I need to, because I would want to be with you even more than I do now. And then… there’s you. I have a feeling you’re going to be a lot to handle. I want to be the only one handling you.  I’m going to wait for you, and ask you to do the same for me.”
    “Okay ," she smiled as she looked at the ring. She would feel those things and then she would no longer want Lucas Links.
    He laughed, “Tessa Ross, it’s going to be a long couple years.”
    She leaned over and kissed him, “Toby, I’ll want you as a graduation present.”
    He smiled, and passion filled his eyes, “I love you angel.”
    Toby went to church with her in the morning. She sang with her group and she felt whole again. She didn’t want him to leave that afternoon, but it was so much different than not wanting Lucas to leave.
    “Ok ay angel, I don’t know when I’ll see you again, but I can promise you as soon as I get more than