#jack 006

Teddy had spent most of the drive gripping the steering wheel hard enough to make his knuckles ache, his eyes still raw from all of the crying. Every red light gave him another chance to think, and every thought somehow circled back to the same thing, the photograph and the disappointment he had heard in Jack's voice. By the time he finally pulled into Jack's driveway, exhaustion had settled over him like a heavy blanket, leaving him emotionally wrung out and running on little more than desperation and hope.

For a moment, Teddy remained seated behind the wheel, staring at the house through blurred vision before forcing himself to get out. The cool air hit his face, carrying away none of the ache sitting in his chest. He looked terrible, eyes swollen, cheeks flushed, not the usual pristine Teddy that everyone gets to see. As he made his way toward the door, his heart hammered so hard it made him feel sick. He managed to shake the foundation of their relationship and it gnawed at him. He paused briefly at the door, swallowing the lump in his throat before ringing the doorbell hoping that Hattie was sent away.