Chapter 251.

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Songs for this chapter are:

You and me - Lifehouse

How to save a life- The Fray

Tessa's POV.

"If we aren't going to talk about the wedding, I'm going to go shower. Kimberly wants to leave at eight and it's already seven." I tell Hardin. He's sitting on the edge of my bed with his elbows resting against his knees.

"You're still going?" He scoffs.

"Yes. I told you before remember? That was the whole reason you wanted to come here, so I didn't go alone." I pull open my dresser drawer and dig out clean panties and a matching bra.

"That's not the only reason I came," he defends. I raise a speculative brow at him and he rolls his eyes. "I didn't say it's not a reason, but it's not the only one."

"You still want to come right?" I ask.

"No, I never wanted to come but if you're going, so am I."  

I nod and leave the room with my clean clothes in hand. He doesn't follow me to the bathroom. It surprises me that I wish he would this time. I don't know where we stand at the moment. I know he's pissed about Zed and I'm upset that he's hiding things from me again but overall I'm thrilled that he's here and I don't want to waste our time fighting.

I wrap a towel around  my hair to keep it dry, I don't have the time to wash and dry it before we leave. The hot water relieves some of the tension in my shoulders and back but doesn't help clear my head. I need to be in a better mood within an hour. Hardin will be brooding all night, I'm sure. I want us to have a nice time out with Kimberly and Christian, I don't want any awkward silence or public fighting. I want us to get along and I want to be in a happy mood, both of us. I haven't had a Seattle nightlife experience since I moved here and I want my first to be as fun as possible, I don't know how possible that is after the time I spent with Zed and the way it made Hardin feel.

My guilt refuses to subside, but I'm relieved when my irritation and irrational thoughts slide down the drain, along with the scolding water and suds of soap.

 Hardin knocks at the door the moment I shut off the shower. I wrap a towel around myself and take a deep breath before answering.

"I'll be ready in ten minutes. I need to try to manage my hair," I look into the mirror at Hardin standing behind me.

"What's wrong with it now?" Hardin focuses on the frizzy mess.

"It's out of control," I laugh, "It won't take long."

"You're wearing that?" He eyes the uncomfortable black dress. The last time I wore this dress, it led to a disastrous night...well, week.

"Yes, Kimberly said there's a dress code."

"What kind of dress code?" Hardin looks down to his stained jeans and black t-shirt.

I shrug and smile to myself while imagining Kimberly telling Hardin to change his outfit.

"I'm not changing." He tells me and I shrug again.  

Hardin's eyes don't leave my reflection the entire time that I attempt to push my flat iron over my hair. The steam from the shower has made the roots curl in a terrible way, there is no hope for it. I end up pulling it back into a low bun. My makeup actually looks really good, an even exchange for such a bad hair day.

"Are you staying until Sunday?" I ask him.

I want to make sure the tension between us is controlled and we won't be arguing the entire night.

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