Take My Hand Again

Chapter Two

Tessa's red dress above ❤️
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Tessa is unaware of how long she stands there like a statue just staring at her partner. At least she thinks he's her partner. He looks like Scott, but manlier. His voice sounds huskier (although it could be because of the choking fit he just had at her appearance). His hair longer. She stares at the new waves as he runs his hands through them, obviously waiting impatiently for her to let him in. She reaches to pull the door open for him when she realizes she's supposed to be opening the door for Ryan in exactly five minutes. Suddenly overwhelmed, Tessa notices his shoulders seem broader too, she can tell by the way his shirt stretches across his chest as he reaches towards her to keep her steady.

But his hands. They're definitely Scott's. She probably knows them better than her own hands. But then again Scott would say the same in reverse.

Tessa notices with a start that she's pulled him inside and is gripping his hand and staring to the point where her head is almost in his palm. Another comfort tactic appearing at the worst moment. She quickly lets go and resents the pang in her stomach and her quick frown letting her know that the very last thing her body wanted to do was to let go of him.

Scott snorts in that infuriating way that lets her know he knows exactly what she's feeling and thinking at any given moment. This makes her so angry she almost thinks she could get in his face and yell at him about how dare he show up here acting like she is still his, but realizes getting in his face will probably only end up one way. Proving exactly why he thought he could get away with showing up here unexpectedly in her life and in her flat. So Tessa just turns her back to Scott and pretends she knows what she's doing with the turkey instead.

However, nineteen years of spending every day with the same person should have taught her that she can't lie to Scott. He chuckles again as he sniffs the air.

"Still no Rachael Ray apparently, aye? Some things never change." He says.

"Well some things should never stay the same." Tessa thinks bitterly while stabbing the once golden bird with the meat thermometer. Maybe this will be a voodoo turkey and Scott will get the hint and leave.

She is so wrapped up in her bitterness (partially at herself for reacting immediately to Scott's hands), she doesn't even notice Scott come up behind her and slide a finger down her arm and take the thermometer.

"Let me give you a hand with that Virtch. You and cooking utensils were never really a good pairing."

"No." Tessa says, an almost squeak in her throat coming out quieter than she wanted, and tries to quickly step away and move around the white marble and wood island she forced her brothers to help her get up to her apartment.

But Scott was always faster than her.
Hell. It's his job to be two steps ahead of her and be ready for every move she makes. Well, at least it used to be his job. It used to be both of their jobs to be this close to each other. Once upon a time this would've felt normal, routine almost. But now everywhere he touches sets her on fire in more ways than one and she desperately needs to gain control.

"No." She says again. More definitely. Again trying to pull away.
"I don't need a hand from you."

Scott pulls her to him leaning right next to her ear and whispers,
"No? You don't need a hand. Okay. How about two hands?"

And then he surprises her by brushing one along her neck to move her hair out of the way. She leans her head back slightly and shudders, against her will she might add.

Scott chuckles again.
Damn him.

"T. You might want to turn your oven off next time or else it won't just be the turkey you set on fire."

He removes his hands after briefly making sure she's steady, (and far enough away from the still hot oven). Then he invites himself to sit down on a stool at the island and stares expectantly at her. Waiting for some kind of reaction. When he doesn't get one as quickly as he hoped, he raises his eyebrows in that way he knows Tessa understands no matter how long it's been.

He's challenging her.
He knows she can't resist a competition.

"Tess. I know many other ways to get you to talk but I don't think your little boy toy would enjoy walking into your little Thanksgiving honeymoon to find you in my arms moaning for me. Do you?"

Scott braces one arm on the countertop ready to push off and strike his prey if need be when Tessa finally lifts her eyes to him and says,

"Scott. Why are you here now? What do you want?"

He stares right back. Seems to think for a minute before nodding his head slightly in a response to a question he seems to have asked himself internally. Then gets up. He takes two strides to reach her and stand in her personal bubble in that way he knows drives her crazy.

"Isn't it obvious? I want my partner back. We're gonna be late for the Olympics if we don't start training now."

Tessa's breath hitches in her throat.

"Scott...we agreed...things between us. They're not the same. We can't act like brother and sister anymore...I don't know how to be around you like this...I can't...I don't remember how to do this with you."

Then there's a knock on the door.

Scott gives her one last eyebrow raise. And just before she opens the door to let Ryan in, she feels him float a hand down the curve of her spine, lean into her neck and say,

"Then I'll just have to remind you of what you're missing."

And the door opens to reveal a very emotionally conflicted Ryan.