After 2

Chapter 117.

( For everyone commenting about "Don't let me go" OMG yess!! It is so the "After" theme song!! I love it!! xo)

When I finally wake up it is two in the afternoon. I can't remember the last time I slept past eleven, let alone two o'clock but I also have to take into account that I stayed up until four reading and browsing through the wonderful gift from Hardin. It is so thoughtful, too thoughtful, but the best gift I have ever received. I grab my phone off the nightstand and check my missed calls. Two from my mother and one from Landon. A few "Happy Birthday messages clog my inbox, including one from Noah. I am not that into birthdays and never have been but I don't exactly love the idea of being alone on my birthday either. Well, I won't be alone. Catherine Earnshaw and Elizabeth Bennet are much better company than my mother.

I order too much Chinese food and stay in my pajamas the entire day. My mother is irate that I am "sick". I can tell that she doesn't believe me but honestly I don't care. It's my birthday and I can do whatever I choose to do and if what I chose to do is lay in bed with takeout and my new nook then that's what I will do.

My fingers try to dial Hardin's number a few times, but I stop them. No matter how wonderful his present was, he still slept with Molly. Whenever I think he couldn't possibly hurt me worse, he does. I begin to think about my dinner with Trevor on Saturday. He is so nice, and so charming. He says what he means and he compliments me. He doesn't yell at me, or annoy me. He has never lied to me. I never have to guess what he is thinking or how he is feeling. He is smart, educated, successful, and he volunteers on holidays. He is so perfect, compared to Hardin. The problem is that I shouldn't be comparing him to Hardin. Trevor is a little boring yes, and we don't share the same passion for novels as Hardin and I do, but we also don't have the damaged past that Hardin and I share.

The most infuriating thing about Hardin is that I actually love his personality, rudeness and all. He is funny, witty, and can be so sweet when he wants to be. This gift is messing with my head, I need to remember what he has done to me. All the lies, secrets, and most recently sleeping with Molly.

I text Landon back to thank him and within seconds he responds telling me to text him the address of my hotel. I want to tell him not to drive all the way here, but I also don't want to spend the remainder of my day completely alone. I don't get dressed, I just put a bra on and wait for Landon to arrive.

An hour later, he knocks at the door and I open it with a smile. It is so nice to see him, it has been too long. His familiar, warm smile makes me smile in return and he pulls me into his arms.

"Happy Birthday Tessa." He says into my hair.

"Thank you." I say and hug him tighter.

"Do you feel any older?" He asks and sits on the chair.

"No, well yes. I feel like I have aged ten years in the last week." I tell him.

He gives me a small smile but doesn't say anything.

"I ordered takeout, there is plenty left if you want some." I offer and he grabs the white styrofoam container and a plastic fork from the desk.

"Thanks. So is this what you're doing all day?" He teases.

"Yep. Sure is." I laugh and sit cross legged on the bed and pick up the nook.

"You got an e-reader? I thought you hated them?" Landon raises his brow at me.

"Well.. I did but now I love them, thousands of books right at my fingertips! What could be better." I smile and tilt my head to the side.

"Well nothing says happy birthday like  buying yourself a nook." He says with his mouth full of rice.