Hardin's POV.

"Tessa, if you don't call me back I will come looking for you, hammered or not." I threaten, pressing the end key on my cell phone too hard.

"She'll come back," her father assures me.

"I know that!" I shout at him and stalk into the bedroom.

Why the fuck is he here again?

Nothing good can come out of Molly and Tessa being in the same room.

Just as I begin to plot how to leave the apartment to find her when I have no keys, no car, and a blood alcohol level that is far beyond the legal limit, I hear the front door open.

"He's in the room," Richard says loudly, I suspect he's trying to give me some sort of warning of his daughter's arrival.

I pull the door open before she can and step to the side so she can walk in. She doesn't look the least bit intimidated or concerned by the deep scowl on my face.

"Why didn't you answer when I called you?" I question.

"Because I told you I was leaving soon and I did."

"You should have answered, I've been worried."

"Worried?" She's clearly surprised by my choice of words.

"Yes, worried. Why the hell were you with Molly?"

"I don't know, Steph invited me to lunch and brought her along,"

"Why the fuck would she do that?"

Fucking Steph.

"What did they say to you? Was she mean?" I lower my voice.

"No meaner than usual," she raises her brow at me.

"Steph's a bitch for bringing her, what were they saying?"

"I don't know but I think people are spreading rumors about me," she frowns and sits on the chair to remove her shoes.

"What? What sort of rumors?"

What I really mean to ask is, "Who do I have to kill?"

Fuck, I'm still drunk. How is this possible? It's been at least three hours.

I vaguely remember being told some time ago that each drink takes an hour to sober up from, I'm fucked for the next ten or so hours then. I don't think I'm remembering correctly.

"Did you hear me?" Tessa's voice is calm, worried even.

"No, sorry." I mumble.

"I think people are saying that Zed and I... you know?" Her cheeks flush.

"You what?"

"That we.. slept together," her eyes are weary and her voice is soft.

"Who's saying that?" I try to keep my voice  at the same level as Tessa's despite the slow burn of anger building inside of me.

"Supposedly there is a rumor about it, Steph and Molly were talking about it,"

I don't know whether to try to comfort her or let my anger take over. I'm too drunk for this shit.

"I don't want people to think of me in that way,"

"Don't listen to them, they are fucking idiots. If there is a rumor, I will be sure it's cleared up. Don't worry," I sit next to her on the bed.

"You're not mad at me?" she asks, blue-gray eyes meeting mine.

"Yes, I'm pissed at you because you weren't answering and then Steph didn't fucking answer but I'm not pissed over this rumor shit, not at you at least, they probably just made it up because they wanted to be assholes." The thought of the two of them saying shit to Tessa to purposely hurt her feelings really fucking irks me.

"I don't understand why she brought her, and then of course Molly had to remind me that she slept with you," she cringes. So do I.

"She's a fucking whore who doesn't have shit else to do but reminisce over the days I used to fuck her brains out,"

"Hardin," Tess whines at the descriptive reminder.

"Sorry, you know what I mean,"

"Are you still drunk?" She unhooks the clasp on her bracelet and places it on the desk.

"A little,"

"A little?"

"A little more than a little," I smile.

"You're being so weird," she rolls her eyes and pulls that damn planner out of the desk drawer.

"How so?" I walk over to stand behind her.

"You're drunk and being all nice about everything, like you were mad that I wasn't answering you but now you're being..." she looks up at my face, "understanding? I guess is the word, over this Molly thing."

"What did you expect me to do?"

"I don't know, yell at me? You don't have the best temper when you're drunk," she softly replies, I can tell she's trying not to upset me.

"I'm not going to yell at you, I just didn't want you around them. You know how they are, especially Molly, and I don't want anyone hurting you.. in any way." I try to emphasize each word.

"Well they didn't, but my feelings are a little hurt that Steph would bring her without warning me. I know it's stupid but for once I just wanted a normal lunch with a friend."

I want to tell her Steph isn't a good choice for a friend but I know she doesn't have any, aside from Landon and I.

And Zed.

Not anymore, the Zed shit is over and I'm fairly certain he won't be showing his face around here for a while.

Tessa's POV.

"Steph wants to have a going away party," I tell him and wait for his reaction.

"Where's she going? LSU?"

"For me," I explain, leaving out the small detail of telling them he's coming along to Seattle.

"You told them you're moving?" His voice deepens.

"Yes, why wouldn't I?"

"Because you haven't decided yet, right?"

"Hardin, I'm going to Seattle,"

"You still have some time to think about it,"

"Anyway," I change the subject, he's still intoxicated and he doesn't seem to be listening to me, "what do you think about this party? She said it could be a dinner party type get together at Nate and Tristan's place instead of a party at the frat house," I explain and look over my moving schedule for next week. I really hope Sandra calls me back soon about that apartment otherwise I won't have a place to live when I get there and I'll be stuck living out of a suitcase and small hotel room.

"No, we aren't going."

"Why not? If it's a dinner it won't be so bad, no truth or dare or suck and go, you know?"

He chuckles and looks up at me with amusement clear on his face, "suck and blow, Tess."

"You know what I mean! It will be the last time we.. well I see them and they have sort of been my friends, in a really strange way." I don't want to think about the beginning of my "friendship" with the group.

"We will talk about it later, this shit is giving me a headache," he groans.

I sigh in defeat, I can tell by his tone that he's not going to continue the discussion.

"Come here," he sits down on the mattress and opens his arms to me.

I close the planner and stand from the chair to join him on the bed, standing between his legs, his hands move to my hips.

"Aren't you supposed to be pissed at me or something?" he looks up at me with a crooked smile.

"I'm getting overwhelmed Hardin," I admit.

"Overwhelmed by what?"

"Everything, Seattle, transferring to another campus, Landon leaving, you're expulsion,"

"I lied,"

"What?" I thread my fingers through his hair and lift his head to look up at me.

"I lied about the expulsion,"

What?

"Why?" I take a step away from him, he tries to pull me back but I don't allow it.

"I don't know Tessa," he stands, "I was pissed off about you being outside with Zed and all this Seattle shit,"

"So you told me you were expelled because you were pissed at me?" I gape.

"Yeah, well that and another reason,"

"What other reason?"

"You're going to be pissed," he sighs, his eyes are still red but he seems to be sobering up quickly.

"Tell me,"

"I thought you'd feel bad for me and come to England,"

I don't know what to think about his confession. I should be upset, I am upset, but I'm glad he confessed before I had to find out from another source. I almost want to pat him on the back and congratulate him for being honest.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you came clean before someone else told me,"

"Me too," he closes the gap between us and brings his hand to my neck, the span of his fingers covers my jawline, "Please don't be mad at me, I'm an asshole."

"That's a terrible defense,"

"I'm not defending myself, I'm a dick. I know this, but I love you and I'm sick of all the shit. I know you'd find out sooner or later anyway, especially with this dreadful trip you're taking with my father."

"So you told me because you knew I'd find out?"

"Yeah,"

"You would have kept it from me and still tried to force me to go to England with you out of pity?"

"Basically,"

What the hell am I supposed to say to that?

I want to tell him he's insane, he's not my father and needs to stop controlling me, but instead I just stand there with my mouth open like a fool.

"I know it's fucked up, I don't know why I am the way I am. I just don't want to lose you and I'm desperate here." I can tell by his expression he really doesn't see how controlling he sounds.

"You can't try to force me into things by lying and manipulating me,"

"I know,"

"No, you don't know, otherwise you wouldn't have lied."

"I'm sorry, I really am. You have to admit we are both getting much better at this relationship shit."

He's right, in a messed up way we really are much better at communicating than we used to be. Far from a normal functioning relationship, but normal has never been our thing.

"So the marriage thing, that isn't going to make you come?"

"We will talk about it when you're not drunk," my heart beats uncontrollably in my chest and I'm sure he can hear it.

"I'm not that drunk,"

"Too drunk for that type of conversation,"

"When will you be back from Sandpoint?"

"You're not coming?"

"I don't know,"

"You said you would. We've never traveled together before,"

"Seattle," he says.

"You showed up there uninvited actually, and you left the next morning."

 "Technicalities," his other hand grips my side.

"I really want you to come, Landon is moving soon." The words pain me.

"So?"

"And your father would love if you came, I'm sure."

"He's upset with himself because they gave me a bullshit fine and put me on academic probation, the slightest fuck up and I'm done." 

"Then why not transfer to the Seattle campus with me?"

"I can't hear the word Seattle again tonight, I've had a long day and a headache from hell now,"

"You got drunk with my father and lied about being expelled, we are talking about Seattle," I snap.

"You wore those pants out after teasing me with them and didn't answer my calls," he smiles.

I can't keep up with either of our moods.

"I didn't tease you and you don't need to call me that many times. It's suffocating,"

"Suffocating?" he rolls his eyes, running his thumb along my bottom lip.

"Yes, Molly called you a stalker," I smile beneath his gentle touch.

"Did she now?" he continues tracing the outline of my lips, they part involuntarily.

"Yeah," I breath.

"Hmm.."

"I know what you're doing," I reach down and remove his hand from my hip where he has began to slip his fingers below the waistband of my pants.

"What's that?" he smiles.

"You're trying to distract me so I won't be mad at you,"

"How's that working for me?"

"Not well enough, besides my father is here and there's no way I'm having sex with you when he's in the other room,"

"Oh, you mean like when I fucked you right there," he points to the bed, "while my mum was sleeping on the couch? Or the time I fucked you in the bathroom at my father's, or the multiple times I fucked you while Karen, Landon, and my father were just down the hall? Oh wait, you must mean like when I bent you over your desk at work.."

"Okay! Okay! I get it, I get it," I flush and he laughs.

"Come on Tessie, lay down."

"You're sick," I laugh and step away from him.

"Where are you going?" he pouts.

"To see what my father's doing out there,"

"Why? So you can come back in here and.."

"No! Gosh, go to sleep or something," I'm glad he's still being playful but I'm still annoyed that he lied to me and is being so stubborn about Seattle.

I thought for sure that when I got home from lunch he would be furious at me for not answering, I never suspected that we would talk it out and he'd be so understanding and admit to lying about being expelled. Maybe Steph had reassured him that I was on my way so he had time to calm down, then again Steph's phone was on the table when I turned back around..

"Did you say Steph didn't answer when you called?" I ask him.

"No, why?"

"I'm just wondering," She probably just wanted to annoy him and get him even more worked up.

I'm not sure how I feel about that.

"Why though?" His tone is off.

"I told her to tell you I was on my way,"

"Oh," he looks away.

"I'm going out there, you can join us if you want."

"I will, I'm just going to change."

I nod and turn the door handle.

"What about your dad though? He just came back into your life and you're going to leave?" His words stop me in my tracks.

I take a moment to recover before leaving the room. When I get to the living room, my father is asleep again. Binge drinking at noon must be exhausting. I turn the television off and head to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Hardin's words about leaving so soon after seeing my father again keep replaying in my mind. I can't put my future on hold for my father who I haven't seen for nine years. If the circumstances were different I would consider rethinking this, but he's the one who left me.

When I reach the bedroom door, I hear Hardin's voice.

"What the fuck was that shit today?" He says, his voice muffled.

I press my ear to the door, I should just walk in but I get the feeling I'm not intended to hear the conversation.

"I don't give a fuck, it shouldn't have happened. Now she's all upset and shit and you're supposed to.." I can't make out the rest of the sentence.

"Don't fuck this up," he snaps.

Who is he talking to? And what are they supposed to be doing? Is it Steph?

Or worse, Molly?

I hear his footsteps approaching the door and I step across the hall into the bathroom and close the door.

"Tessa?" his knuckles tap against the wood.

I open the door, I know I have to appear flustered. My heart is pounding against my rib cage and my stomach is in a knot.

"Were you on the phone with someone?" I ask, my voice too small.

"Why?"

"Just asking, I thought I heard you talking." I shrug and he looks away.

"Where's your dad? Is he asleep?" He quickly changes the subject.

Paranoia begins to seep into my thoughts as I follow Hardin back into the bedroom.