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If she fucked him, I’m done, completely and utterly fucking done with her.
“How did you get in here?” she asks, her face full of sadness.
“Tyler let me in. You’re in his bed? How could you be in his bed?”
Zed rolls over onto his back and wipes his eyes, then he pops up and sits ready, eyeing me where I stand in the doorway. “What the hell are you doing in my room?” he demands.
Don’t, Hardin. Stay still. I have to stay fucking still or someone will end up in the hospital. That someone is Zed, but if I’m going to get her away from him, I have to stay as calm as possible.
“I came to get you, Tessa. Let’s go,” I say and reach my hand out, even though I’m across the room.
Her brow furrows. “Excuse me?”
Here comes the infamous Tessa attitude . . .
“You can’t just come to my apartment and tell her to leave.” Zed moves to get out of bed, and I see he’s only in loose gym shorts that sag down to show his boxers.
I don’t think I can stay calm.
“I can, and I just did. Tessa . . .” I wait for her to get off the bed, but she doesn’t move.
“I’m not going anywhere with you, Hardin,” she tells me.
“You heard her, man. She’s not coming with you,” Zed taunts me.
“I wouldn’t start that shit right now. I’m trying with every fucking fiber of my being not to do anything that I’ll regret, so just shut the fuck up,” I growl.
He throws his arms wide in challenge to me. “It’s my apartment, my bedroom at that—and she doesn’t want to go with you, so she’s not. If you want to fight me, then go ahead. But I’m not going to force her to go if she doesn’t want to.” When he finishes, he gives her the fakest concerned expression I’ve ever seen.
I let out an evil laugh. “That’s the plan, though, isn’t it? You get me mad enough so I beat your ass, and she’ll feel bad for you, and I’ll be the monster who everyone is afraid of? Don’t buy into this shit, Tessa!” I shout.
I can’t stand the fact that she’s still sitting in his bed, and even more I can’t stand the fact that I can’t beat the shit out of him for it because that’s exactly what he wants.
Tessa sighs. “Just go.”
“Tessa, listen to me. He isn’t who you think he is, he’s not Mr. Fucking Innocent.”
“And how’s that?” she challenges.
“Because . . . well, I don’t know—yet. But I know he’s using you for something. He just wants to fuck you—you know this,” I tell her, struggling to keep hold of my emotions.
“No, he doesn’t.” She says it flatly, but I can see she’s getting angry.
“Dude, you should just go—she doesn’t want to leave. You’re making a fool out of yourself.”
When the words leave his busted lip, my body starts to shake. I have way too much anger that I need to let out.
“I warned you—to shut the fuck up. Tessa, stop being difficult and let’s go. We need to talk.”
“It’s the middle of the night, and you—” she begins, but I cut her off.
“Please, Tessa.”
Her expression changes as she hears my words, and I have no idea why. “No, Hardin, you can’t just come here and demand that I leave with you!”
Zed shrugs and nonchalantly says, “Don’t make me call the cops, Hardin.”
And that’s it. I take a step toward him, but Tessa jumps up off the bed and steps between us. “Don’t. Not again,” she begs, her eyes staring directly into mine.
“Then come with me. You can’t trust him,” I tell her.
Zed scoffs. “And she can trust you? You blew it, just face it. She deserves better than you, and if you would just let her be happy—”
“Let her be happy? With you? As if you actually want a relationship with her? I know you only want to get in her pants!”
“That’s not true! I care about her and I could treat her better than you ever did!” he shouts back in my face, and Tessa presses her palms against my chest.
I know it’s stupid, but I can’t help but revel in her touch, the way her hands feel against me. I haven’t felt her touch in so long.
“Both of you stop, please! Hardin, you have to go.”
“I’m not leaving, Tessa. You’re too naïve, he could give a shit about you!” I yell in her face.
She doesn’t even blink. “And you do? You were ‘too busy’ to call me for eleven days! He was there when you weren’t, and if . . .” she shouts, and continues shouting something at me, but right then I notice her clothing.
Is she? She isn’t . . .
I take a step back to find out for sure. “Are those . . . what the hell are you wearing?” I stammer and begin to pace back and forth.
She looks down, seeming to have forgotten her attire.
“Are those his fucking clothes?!” I nearly scream. My voice cracks and I tug at my hair.
“Hardin . . .” She tries to speak.
“Indeed they are,” Zed answers for her.
If she’s wearing his clothes . . . “Did you fuck him?” I croak, tears threatening to spill at any given moment.
Her eyes go wide. “No! Of course not!”
“Tell me the truth right fucking now, Tessa! Did you fuck him?”
“I already answered you!” she shouts back.
Zed stands back and watches with a worried look on his bruised face. I should have done more damage.