After (The After Series)

Who the heck is that? My reflection looks just like me, but a lot better. I was
afraid she would go overboard on my makeup, but she didn’t. My gray eyes look
lighter against the chestnut eye shadow, and the pink blush on my cheeks makes
my cheekbones more prominent. My hair looks shiny and is curled into big
waves, not the small, stringy curls I was expecting.
“I am impressed.” I smile and look closer. I poke my cheek to make sure what
I’m seeing is real.
“See, you are still you. Just a more sexy, well-kept you.” She giggles and calls
for Tristan to join us.
He opens the door and his lips part. “Where is Tessa?” he asks and looks
around the room playfully. He picks up a pillow and looks under it.
“What do you think?” I ask and tug the dress down again.
“You look great, really great.” He smiles and wraps his arm around Steph’s

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waist. She leans in and I look away.
“Oh, one more thing,” she says and reaches over to the dresser, pulling out a
tube of lip gloss and puckering her lips. I close my eyes and do the same while
she rubs the sticky gloss across my lips.
“Ready?” Tristan asks and she nods.
As we head out, I grab my purse and throw a pair of Toms inside, just in case.
DURING THE DRIVE
I sit in the back and stare out the window, letting my
mind wander. When we arrive at the restaurant, I cringe at the number of
motorcycles outside. I had assumed we would be going somewhere like T.G.I.
Friday’s or Applebee’s, not a biker bar and grill. When we walk inside I feel like
everyone is staring at me, even though they probably aren’t.
Steph grabs a hold of my hand and pulls me along as they walk to a booth in
the back. “Nate is coming. That’s okay, right?” she asks as we take our seats.
“Yeah, of course,” I tell her. As long as it’s not Hardin, I don’t mind. Besides,
some company would be nice, because right now I feel like the third wheel.
A woman with even more tattoos than Steph and Tristan strides over to the
table and takes our drink order. Steph and Tristan both order beers. This must be
why they like to come here, because they don’t card. The woman raises an
eyebrow when I order a Coke, but I don’t want to drink. I have studying to do
when I get back to my room. Minutes later she brings our drinks and I’m taking
a big swig when I hear a wolf whistle as Nate and Zed walk toward our table. As
they get closer, Molly’s pink hair comes into view . . . followed by Hardin.
I spit the Coke back into my cup.
Steph’s eyes widen as she lays eyes on Hardin and she looks at me. “I swear I
didn’t know he was coming. We can leave now if you want,” she whispers as
Zed slides into the booth next to me. I have to force myself not to look toward
Hardin.
“Whoa, Tessa, you look superhot!” Zed proclaims, and I blush. “Really, like
wow! I’ve never seen you like this.”
I thank him by way of a small smile. Nate, Molly, and Hardin sit in the booth
behind us. I want to ask Steph to trade seats with me so my back will be to
Hardin, but I can’t bring myself to. I will just avoid eye contact with him the
entire time. I can do it.
“You do look smokin’, Tessa,” Nate says over the divider, and I smile because
I’m not used to all this attention. Hardin hasn’t commented on my new look, but
I didn’t expect him to. I’m just glad he isn’t insulting me.
Hardin and Molly are sitting right in my line of sight. I can see Hardin’s entire

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face through the space between Steph and Tristan’s shoulders.
If I just look once, it couldn’t hurt . . . Stealing a peek before I can stop myself,
I instantly regret it. Hardin’s arm is hooked around Molly’s shoulders.
Jealousy tears through me—my punishment for looking at him when I
shouldn’t be. Of course they are probably messing around again. Or still. They
probably never stopped. I remember how comfortable she was straddling him at
the party, and I swallow down the bile rising in my throat. Hardin is free to do
whatever or whoever he pleases.
“She does look great, doesn’t she?” Steph encourages them and they all nod.
I can feel Hardin’s eyes on me but I can’t look over at him again. He is
wearing a white T-shirt that I’m sure lets his tattoos show through, and his hair is
perfectly messed up, but I don’t care. I don’t care how good he looks or how
skanky Molly is dressed.