After (The After Series)

So we are back to Theresa?
“Really, Hardin? It seems like it is to me. I don’t really give a crap anyway. I

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knew it wouldn’t last,” I finally admit to him and myself. The reason I didn’t
want to leave his father’s house is that I knew once it was just Hardin and me, it
would go back to this. It always does.
“What wouldn’t last?”
“This . . . us. You being decent to me.” I don’t dare to look at him; that’s how
he gets me to turn to putty every time.
“So what then? You’re going to avoid me for another week? We both know
that by this weekend you’ll be back in my bed,” he snaps.
He surely did not just say that.
“Ex-cuse me?!” I shout. I am at a loss for words. No one has ever talked to me
the way he has—no one has ever been so disrespectful. Tears brim over my eyes
as the car slows to park.
Before he can respond, I open the door, grab my things, and bolt toward my
room. I cut across the soaking grass and curse at myself for not taking the
sidewalk, but I just need to get as far away from Hardin as possible. When he
said he wants me, he meant sexually. I knew this but it hurts to let it soak in.
“Tessa!” I hear him call. One of Steph’s heels drops and falls to the ground but
I keep running. I will get her a new pair.
“Damn it, Tessa! Stop!” he yells again. I hadn’t expected him to follow me. I
push myself to run faster, and finally I reach my building and run down the hall.
By the time I reach my dorm room, I am full-on sobbing. I yank the door open,
then slam it shut behind me. My tears mix with the rain and I turn to look for my
bath towel to clean off with—
And am frozen in place when I see Noah sitting on my bed.
Oh God, not now. Hardin will be crashing through the door any second.
Noah gets up and rushes toward me. “Tessa, what is wrong? Where have you
been?” His hand tries to cup my cheek, but I turn my head. Pain flashes in his
eyes as I turn away from his touch.
“It’s . . . I am so sorry, Noah,” I cry as Hardin yanks the door open, the hinges
squeaking and cracking from his might.
Noah’s eyes widen and narrow as his gaze meets Hardin’s. He backs away
from me with a horrified expression. Hardin tosses the high heel that I left
behind and walks farther into the room without acknowledging Noah’s presence
at all.
“I didn’t mean that, what I just said,” he says.
Noah looks at me, hatred laced through his voice as he exclaims, “That’s
where you were? You were with him all night? Are those his clothes? I tried to
call you and text you all night and all morning—I left you countless voicemails
and you were with him?”

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“What? I—” I start, but then turn to Hardin. “You went through my phone,
didn’t you? You deleted the messages!” I shout at him. My head tells me to
answer Noah, but my heart is focused only on Hardin.
“Yeah . . . I did,” he admits.
“Why the hell would you do that? You can answer Molly’s calls, but you
delete my messages from my boyfriend?!”
He winces as I call Noah my boyfriend.
“How dare you play these games with me, Hardin!” I scream, sobbing again.
Noah grabs my wrist and turns me to face him, which only prompts Hardin to
shove Noah back by his shoulders.
“Do not touch her,” he growls.
This is not happening. I watch as the daytime soap opera that has become my
life unfolds in front of me.
“You don’t tell me what to do with my girlfriend, you prick,” Noah says
angrily, and shoves Hardin.
Hardin advances toward Noah once more, but I grab his shirt and pull him
back. Maybe I should let them fight each other. Hardin deserves a good punch in
the jaw.
“Stop it! Hardin, just go!” I wipe my tears.
Hardin glares at Noah again and moves to stand in front of me. I reach over
and gently place my palm against Hardin’s back, hoping it may help calm him.
“No, I’m not leaving this time, Tessa. I have already done that too many
times.” He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair.
“Tessa, make him leave!” Noah begs, but I ignore him. I have to know what
Hardin will say.
“I didn’t mean what I said in the car, and I don’t know why I took Molly’s
phone call. It’s a habit, I guess—please just give me another chance. I know you
have already given me too many chances, but I just need one more. Please,
Tess.” He lets out a big breath. He sounds exhausted.
“Why should I, Hardin? I have continued to give you chances to be my friend
over and over,” I tell him. “I don’t think I have it in me to try again.” I am faintly
aware of Noah gaping at us, but at the moment I don’t care. I know this is wrong
—I’m wrong—but I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life.
“I don’t just want to be friends . . . I want more.” His words knock the wind
right out of me.
“No, you don’t.” Hardin doesn’t date, my subconscious warns.
“Yes, I do. I do.”
“You said you don’t date and that I wasn’t your type,” I remind him. My mind
still can’t wrap itself around the fact that I am having this conversation with

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Hardin, in front of Noah, at that.
“You aren’t my type, just the way that I am not yours. But that’s why we are
good for each other—we are so different, yet we’re the same. You told me once
that I bring out the worst in you. Well, you bring out the best in me. I know you
feel it, too, Tessa. And yes, I didn’t date, until you. You make me want to date,
you make me want to be better. I want you to think I am worthy of you; I want
you to want me the way I do you. I want to fight with you, even scream at each
other until one of us admits we are wrong. I want to make you laugh, and listen
to you ramble about classic novels. I just . . . I need you. I know I am cruel at
times . . . well, all the time, but that’s only because I don’t know how else to be.”
His voice becomes a half whisper, his eyes wild. “This has been me for so long, I
have never wanted to be any other way. Until now, until you.”
I am dumbfounded. He’s said everything I wanted him to say but never
imagined that he actually would. This is not the Hardin I know, but the way his
words came out in a rushed string, and the heavy breathing that accompanied
them, somehow make it all the more true and natural.
I am not sure how I am still standing after his declaration.
“What the hell? Tessa?” Noah says frantically.
“You should go,” I whisper, not breaking eye contact with Hardin.
Noah steps forward and crows with victory. “Thank you! I thought that was
never going to end.”
Hardin looks heartbroken, absolutely crushed.
“Noah, I said you should go,” I repeat.
Both men suck in a sharp breath. Relief washes over Hardin and I reach for
his hands, threading my small fingers through his trembling ones.
“What?” Noah shouts. “You can’t be serious, Tessa! We have known each
other so long—this guy is just using you. He will toss you aside as soon as he is
done with you, and I love you! Don’t make this mistake, Tessa,” he begs.
I feel for him, and it hurts me to do this to him, but I know I can’t be with
Noah. I want Hardin. More than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.
And Hardin wants me. More with me.
My heart flutters again and I look at Noah, who opens his mouth to say
something.
“I would stop talking. Now,” Hardin warns him.
“I am so sorry that it happened this way, I really am,” I say.
He doesn’t say anything else. He looks broken as he picks up the backpack he
brought and leaves my room.
“Tessa . . . I . . . You really do feel the same way?” Hardin gasps and I nod.