Hardin's POV.

“Well that’s not enough of an explanation. I’m going and you know what? I don’t want you to come with me anymore,” she says to me.

“What?”

“I don’t want you to come,” she stands from the chair and my heart starts to race, “You have tried to ruin this for me, this has been my dream since I can remember and you tried to ruin it for me. You’ve turned something that I should be looking forward to into something that I can barely stand. I should be excited and ready to go, instead you have made sure I have nowhere to live and no support system at all. So no, I don’t want you to go.”

Who the fuck does she think she is? She thinks just because I don't want to go to Seattle with her that she can say shit like this to me? She doesn't want me to fucking go?

My temper rises and I try my best to swallow it down.

"I don't want you to go,"

I can't control it, there's no fucking way to stop it from erupting.

“You..” I can only see red as I pace across the deck, “you... you know what Tessa? No one gives a fuck about Seattle except, who the hell grows up planning on moving to Seattle fucking Washington, real ambitious,” I say through my clenched teeth, “and in case you forgot I’m the only reason you have that opportunity to begin with. You think anyone else is getting a paid fucking internship as a freshman in college? Fuck no! Most people struggle to get a paid internship even after they graduate so you should be kissing my god damned feet for getting you that fucking job, you ungrateful little,” I'm interrupted by her taking a step toward me and raising her hand.

I catch her by the wrist just before she can slap me. She fucking uninvited me to Seattle and she's the one trying to slap me? I don't fucking think so.

“Don’t,” I breath, only inches from her face. My breath is erratic, barely controlled, as I lower her hand.

Her eyes are wide, pupils blown, and I turn away from her and stalk into the bedroom, down the stairs, and as far from this bullshit as I can get.

It's too early for this shit. I find myself at the small coffee shop in town, the coffee tastes like tar and the muffin is even worse. I hate this bullshit small town and it's lack of every fucking thing.

Now I've fucking done it, she doesn't even want me to go with her. Not that I wanted to or was going to go but now she has rescinded her offer all together and I get the feeling she means it. I tear three sugar packets at once and dump them into the disgusting coffee, stirring it with a plastic spoon.

"Good morning," A familiar voice greets me. Not the voice I wanted to hear though.

"Why are you here?" I ask Lillian.

"Well you obviously aren't a morning person," she rolls her eyes and takes a seat in front of me.

"Go away," I huff and look around the small café. A line has formed nearly to the door and almost all of the tables are full. I should probably do everyone in line a favor and tell them to find a fucking Starbucks because this place blows.

"You didn't apologize did you?"

"God you are so damn nosey," I pinch the bridge of my nose and she smiles.

"Are you going to finish that?" She gestures to the rock hard muffin in front of me.

I slide it over to her and she tears a piece off, "I wouldn't eat that," I warn but she does anyway.

"It's not that bad," she lies, I can tell she wants to spit it out but instead she swallows it down. "So are you going to tell me why you didn't apologize to Tamara?"

"Her fucking name is Tessa, if you call her.."

"Whoa, calm down. I did that on purpose," she giggles, proud of her annoying joke.

"Ha-ha," I coldly remark before downing the rest of my coffee.

"Anyway, why didn't you?"

"I don't know,"

"Yes you do," she presses.

"Why do you care anyway?" I lean toward her and she sits back in the chair.

"I don't know..because you seem to love her and you're my friend,"

"Your friend? I don't even know you and you sure as hell don't know me," I hiss.

Her neutral expression falters for a moment and she blinks her eyes. If she cries I'm going to punch someone. I can't handle this much drama this early in the fucking morning.

"Look, you're cool and all but this," I gesture back and forth between her body and mine, "isn't a friendship. I don't have friendships."

"You don't have any friends? Not even one?"

"No, I have people I party with and Tessa,"

"You should have friends, at least one."

"What would be the point of you and I being friends? We're only here until tomorrow afternoon,"

"We could be friends until then," she shrugs.

"You obviously don't have any friends either,"

"Not many, Riley doesn't seem to like them."

"And? Why does that matter?"

"Because I don't want to start a fight with her so I just don't hang out with them much,"

"Sorry but Riley sounds like a bitch,"

"Don't say that about her," Lillian's cheeks flush and for the first time since I met her she is getting angry.

"Just saying, I wouldn't let someone tell me who I can and can't be friends with,"

"So you are telling me that Tessa has friends that she can hang out with beside you?" She raises her brow at me and I look away to think about her question.

She has friends.. she has Landon.

"Yes,"

"You don't count,"

"No, not me. Landon."

"Landon is your step-brother, he doesn't count."

Steph is sort of Tessa's friend but not really and Zed.. not a problem anymore.

"She has me,"

"That's exactly what I thought,"

"What does it matter? Once we get away from here and start over she can make new friends, we can make new friends,"

"The problem is you aren't going to the same place," she reminds me.

"She will come with me, I know it doesn't seem like it but you don't know her, I do and I know she can't live without me."

Lillian looks up at me with thoughtful eyes, "You know, there is a big difference between not being able to live without someone and loving them."  

"She loves me," I defend, ignoring the sudden ache in my chest.

"Okay," she looks down at her coffee mug.

"I don't want to talk about her anymore, if we are going to be friends I need to know about you and Regan,"

"Riley," she snaps and I chuckle lightly,

"Annoying isn't it?" I ask her and she glowers at me.

Lillian begins to tell me all about how she met Riley. They were partnered up together for Lillian's freshman orientation. Riley had been rude at first but later made a move on Lillian, surprising both of them. Apparently this Riley has a jealous streak and a testy temper. Sounds familiar.

"Most of our fights stem from her jealousy. She's always afraid that I will stray from her, I don't know why because she's the one always getting attention from everyone, male and female. She's dated both," she sighs.

"You haven't?"

"No, I've never dated a guy," she crinkles her nose, "well once in eighth grade because I felt like I had to, my friends were hassling me for never having a boyfriend."

"Why didn't you just tell them?" I ask her.

"It's not that simple,"

"It should be,"

She smiles, "yes, it should be but it's not. Anyway, I've never dated anyone except Riley and one other girl but Riley has dated a lot." Lillian frowns.

The rest of my morning and the entire afternoon is spent this way, listening to this girl's problems. I don't mind as much as I thought though. It's nice to know I'm not the only one with these types of issues. Lillian reminds me a lot of Tessa and Landon, if they were morphed into one person it would certainly be this girl. I hate to admit it but I don't mind her company too much, she's an outsider, like me and she doesn't judge me because she barely knows me. Strangers come and go in and out of the coffee shop and each time a blonde steps in I can't help but look up, hoping it will be my stranger.

"My dad is calling," she looks down at her phone vibrating on the table. "Shit, it's almost five," her voice is panicked. "We need to go, well I need to go. I still don't have anything to wear tonight,"

"For what?" I ask her when she stands up.

"Dinner, we're going to dinner with your parents,"

"Karen isn't my.." I begin but decide to let it go. She knows Karen isn't my mum anyway.

I follow her down the block to a small clothing store filled with colorful dresses and gaudy jewelry. It smells like moth balls and salt water.

"There is nothing to choose from," she groans, holding up a bright pink frilly dress.

"That's hideous," I tell her and she nods, hanging it back up.

I can't help but think of what Tessa is doing right now. Is she wondering where I am? I'm sure she assumes that I'm with Lillian which is true but she doesn't have anything to worry about. She knows this.

No she doesn't. I haven't told her about Lillian's girlfriend.

"Tessa doesn't know you're gay," I blurt as she shows me a black beaded dress. "I'm not giving you fashion advice here so stop trying," I groan and she rolls her eyes.

"Why didn't you tell her?"

"I don't know, I didn't think about it."

"You should tell her, no wonder she almost backhanded you," she smiles. I knew I shouldn't have told her about Tessa's attempt to slap me.

"Shut up, I'll tell her.." Although it may work in my favor not to tell her. "Maybe," I add and Lillian rolls her eyes, again. She rolls her eyes almost as much as Tessa does. "She's difficult and I know what I'm doing, okay?" I think I do at least. I know exactly how to push her buttons to get what I want.

"You need to dress up tonight, the place we're going is disgustingly fancy," she warns me.

"Hell no I'm not,"

"Why not? You want to make the missus a little less pissed off don't you?"

"The missus? Don't call her that." The sound of it throws me off for a moment.

"Just wear a nice shirt at least, otherwise my dad will give you shit about it all night." She says, slapping a white shirt against my chest.

She steps into the dressing room and steps out a few minutes later wearing the black dress. It looks good on her, she's hot and all but I immediately start fantasizing about how Tessa would look in the dress. It would be much tighter on top, Tessa's boobs are much bigger than Lillian's, Tessa's hips are a little wider so she would fill the dress much better. "It's not as ugly as the rest of the shit in here," I half compliment and she closes the curtain with yet another eye roll and a middle finger.

..

"Oh my god.." Lillian whispers loudly. I'm broken from my thoughts of my earlier fight with Tessa and when I look up I see what she's gaping at.

Tessa.

Dressed... in a dress.. that fucking dress that makes her already ample sized chest look...fuck. I blink rapidly, trying to collect myself before she reaches the table. For a moment I'm convinced that I'm hallucinating, I'm back in the clothing store imagining that very dress on her body. It looks even sexier than I imagined. Holy fuck. I watch as every male she passes turns to look at her, one man even knocks over a drink. I grip onto the edge of the table waiting for the asshole to speak to her. If he does I swear to fuc..

"That's Tessa? Oh my god." Lillian practically pants.

"Stop staring at her," I warn and she laughs.

The man leans away from his wife as his eyes follow my girl.

"Chill," Lillian says, gesturing to my hands. My scarred knuckles are now white from my harsh grip on the table. Landon pulls Tessa close to him and away from the married asshole, she smiles up at him and he pulls her even closer as they walk.

What the fuck was that?

Tessa stands behind Landon as everyone goes through the normal, 'I'm so fucking classy because I shake your hand even though I saw you last night' shit. Before I know it, her eyes find Lillian and they widen and lower. She's jealous. I was hoping she would be.

Tessa's POV.

I try to hide the panic coursing through me at the sight of Hardin sitting next to the girl. He doesn't even acknowledge my presence as I take the seat next to Landon, on the other side of the table from Hardin.

"Hello, and who might you be?" the man asks with a smile. I can tell by his tone that he's one of those men that think they are better than everyone else in the room.

"I'm Landon's friend, my name is Tessa," I smile curtly at my introduction. My eyes dart to Hardin and his lips are pressed into a thin line. I could have introduced myself as his girlfriend but what would be the point? He's clearly entertaining the man's daughter, why ruin their fun?

"It's nice to meet you. The two of you are an adorable couple," the woman to his right chimes in and Hardin coughs or chokes, I'm not sure and I don't want to look at him but I can't help it. When I do, his eyes are narrow, glaring at me.

"We aren't a couple," Landon laughs and looks at Hardin, expecting him to say something but he doesn't.

The girl looks slightly lost and a little uncomfortable. Good. Hardin leans into her and says something into her ear and she smiles at him before shaking her head. What the hell is happening?

"I'm Lillian, it's nice to meet you." She introduces herself with a friendly smile.

Bitch.

"You too," I manage to say in return. My heart is hammering in my chest and I can barely see straight. If we weren't at the table with Hardin's family and Ken's friends I would throw a drink in Hardin's face and he wouldn't have a chance to stop me from slapping him this time.

"Do you know what you want?" Landon asks me quietly. I know he's trying to distract me from Hardin and his new friend.

"I.. I don't know," I whisper and look over the laminated menu book. I can't imagine eating right now, my stomach won't stop turning and I can't seem to control my breathing.

"Do you want to go?" He says into my ear. I glance across the table at Hardin and his eyes meet mine before he turns back to Lillian.

Yes. I want to get the hell out of here and tell Hardin to never speak to me again.

"No, I'm not going anywhere," I say and sit up further, straightening my back against the chair.

"Good," Landon praises me as a handsome server joins our table.

"We'll have three bottles of your best white wine," Ken's friend tells him and he nods before pulling a small paper pad out of the front of his black apron. He wipes his hand on his white shirt before using the pen from behind his ear to jot down the wine and appetizer order. I have never heard of any of the food that has been ordered but I don't suspect I'll be eating much anyway.

I try desperately not to look across the table at Hardin but it's hard, so damn hard. Why would he come here with her? He's dressed up too, if he doesn't have jeans on under the table I think the remainder of what's left of my heart will shatter. It takes me an hour of begging to get Hardin dressed in anything other than black jeans and a t-shirt, yet here he is sitting across from me in a white button down shirt.

"Is everyone ready to order?" The server, Robert, is the name printed on the tag fastened to his shirt. His eyes meet mine and his mouth opens slightly before he looks away quickly, only to look back at me. It's this dress and the damn cleavage. I offer a small awkward smile and he returns it, red creeps up his neck over his cheeks.

I expect him to look at Hardin but then I realize due to the way we are seated, Landon and I look like a couple, along with Hardin and Lillian. My stomach flips again.

"Take our order or go," Hardin interrupts my thoughts and all attention is moved to the shy server.

"S..sorry." he stammers and leaves the table in hast.

I scowl at Hardin but he doesn't seem to care, he's too infatuated by those damn blue eyes. As I watch them I feel as if he's a stranger to me, as if I'm intruding on some private moment shared between a loving couple. The thought raises bile in my throat. I swallow it down and I'm thankful when the man returns with the wine and ice buckets, this time he has another person with him to help carry one of the buckets. Hardin watches him the entire time and I roll my eyes at his audacity to glare at the boy when he's here with her acting as if he doesn't know me at all.

My glass is filled to the brim and I quietly thank him, he smiles less shyly this time and moves to fill Landon's. I've never seen Landon drink except the wedding and even then he only had one glass of champagne. If I wasn't so disheveled from Hardin's behavior I would turn down the wine and not drink in front of Ken and Karen, but I've had a long day and without the wine I don't think I will make it through this dinner.

"No thank you," Ken covers the top of his glass to prevent the blonde from pouring any wine into his glass.

I look up at Hardin to make sure he isn't planning to  throw out a snide remark toward his father but once again he's talking quietly to Lillian. I'm so confused right now, why is he doing this? Yes we were fighting but this is too much.

The wine is cool and crisp, deliciously sweet on my tongue and I try to pace myself. The last thing I need is to get drunk and emotional in front of everyone. Hardin doesn't decline the wine but Lillian does. He rolls his eyes at her, teasing her, and I force my eyes away from them before I turn to a puddle of tears on the stained hardwood floor.

...

"Max was scaling the wall, he was so drunk that he had to be pulled down by campus security," Ken says and everyone at our table laughs, except Hardin of course.

I twirl my fork around my pasta and take another bite. I focus on how the noodles wrap tightly around the spokes on the fork, otherwise I would have to focus on Hardin.

"I think you have an admirer," Max's wife says to me. I look up and follow her attention to Robert who is clearing the dishes from the table beside us, his eyes on me.

"Don't pay him too much attention, he is a waiter after all," Max states with a sly smile and I'm surprised by his callous remark.

"Dad," Lillian glares at her father and he smiles at her before cutting into his steak.

"Sorry sweetie, I'm only stating the truth.. A girl as beautiful as Tessa here shouldn't be looking at anyone working in hospitality." Max continues his degrading comments and I drop my fork onto my plate.

"Don't," Hardin says to me, speaking to me for the first time since I arrived. I look away from him and back to Max, weighing my options. He's being a jerk and I have had almost an entire glass of wine. I should probably keep my mouth shut, like Hardin said.

"You can't talk about people like that," Lillian looks at her father and he shrugs.

"Fine, I don't want to upset anyone," he grumbles, chewing on his steak. His wife looks embarrassed as she wipes the corners of her mouth with a cloth napkin.

"I'm going to need more wine," I tell Landon and he smiles, sliding his half-empty glass over to me.

"I'll wait for him to come back to the table, thank you though," I smile. I can feel Hardin's eyes on me as I search the restaurant. I don't see his blonde hair so I lean up and grab the bottle myself to fill my glass.

I half expect Max to make a comment about my actions but he doesn't. Hardin is staring coolly across the room and Lillian is talking to her mother. I'm in my own world, a world where Hardin is sitting next to me, his hand on my thigh as he leans in to make some cheeky comment making me laugh and blush feverishly.

My head is a little fuzzy as I clear all of the food from my plate and finish off my second glass of wine. Landon is in conversation with Max and Ken about sports, of course. I stare at the printed table cloth, trying to find faces or pictures inside the black and white swirls. I find a cluster that resembles an H and my finger traces over the pattern repeatedly. I stop my movements and look up quickly, paranoid that he may have seen me tracing the letter. Hardin isn't paying attention to me though, his eyes are focused on her.

"I need some air," I tell Landon and stand from my seat, the chair screeches against the wooden floor and Hardin looks up from his conversation but quickly looks away.

(For everyone asking, I image Lillian as Alexandra Daddario. Thank you all so much for over 7 million reads on this book already! It means so much to me! I love you guys so much! xo)