After Forever & Ever

Chapter 140

Tessa-Present

When I arrived in Seattle I had no intention of being here for as long as I have. It's been a month and he finally got released....

We haven't talked...well he hasn't been able to and he just got home today so I guess I'm just waiting for the call.

The night of the set up with the DA things went bad....I haven't heard the story from him yet which i would like to hear....but things went really bad....really fucking bad.

I felt bad because I pushed him to go to the DA and do what they wanted him to do....so I feel guilty. I feel like he wouldn't have done what he did or maybe even been there that night if I didn't push him... it has ate at me everyday and everyday that I haven't been able to talk to him I convinced myself he hates me and blames me as much as I blame myself.

I asked Vance if I should just fly back to LA and be there for when he gets home but I feel like even he implied he doesn't want to see me because his response was.... "just give him a few days...things were really bad in there"

Which I know they were and because he was clinically diagnosed as bipolar they put him back on meds while he was in jail and Vance said that in combination with everything else it really messed with him.

And I am terrified for that too....and again I feel responsible. Because before all this Hardin was good...he was probably in the best head space I have seen him in since we reunited and I'm just scared of what this did to him...

A call doesn't come but a text.... "hey." He simply writes.

"Hey, how are you?!" I immediately text back.

"Fine, hbu?" He writes back.

I decide I don't want to go back and forth so I just call him.

He finally answers on what was probably the last ring... "Hello." He says which it feels good just to hear him again...

"Hey sorry I just thought it be easier to call." I reply.

"How's Emery?" He asks.

"She's good, we both miss you." I respond.

"I miss you too." He replies. Which I guess I wasn't sure if he did...

"Vance thought it be a good idea to give you a few days so I thought we would come back to LA on Tuesday." I tell him.

"Yea...I mean whatever you want to do." He replies.

"I just want to see you." I tell him.

"Me too." He replies again surprising me.

"Adler is on the other line...can I call you back?" He asks me.

"Yea of course." I reply and he hangs up.

I guess that went okay...he seems down but okay...
today is Saturday so luckily I don't have work today. I have been working back at the Seattle office. Kim and I got pretty close again with working together. Since I haven't been able to tell my mom the whole truth(she knows what the news put out and that's about it) I confided in Kim which only solidified her opinion of Hardin but it's not like her and Vance are getting back together. Since all she does is go on and on about her new boyfriend who she has not told me his name she said "it's too new and she doesn't want to jinx it."

She doesn't understand why I haven't walked away. But I meant what I said I would go through a million more things along as it meant I got him.

Going through what I went through and losing what we lost, made me want that more than I ever have. I want our little family...I want our little family to grow. I just want him...forever. And for him to be okay...and happy.

And although his future is still unknown...I'm not going anywhere and I want him to know that. No matter what happens I am not walking away...

I try to keep myself busy and decide to take Emery out for a walk. I'm still waiting for Hardin to call me back...

As we are walking...I stop to bend down and tie my shoe. When I get up I am met with the sight of Easton and a girl in his grasp. But not just any girl Kim!!!!

I have no idea what to do so I turn around and start walking the opposite way.

"Tessa wait!" Kim yells from behind me.

I continue to just walk until she finally catches up with me.

"Tessa I'm sorry I wanted to tell you." Kim says to me.

"It's too new I don't want to jinx it." I finally say out loud looking her dead in the eyes

"I'm sorry we met at a fundraiser and we sort of bonded over well....Hardin ruining our lives...." Kim replies....which is that supposed to make it better.?....

"So while I have been telling you everything about my life...you have been what pretending to be my friend?" I ask her.

"Tessa...no it's not like that. I just didn't want to hurt you." She tells me.

"I'm hurt that you lied. I don't care about him." I tell her.

All I can do is walk away and this time she doesn't follow...

I'm so disgusted. They bonded over their hatred for Hardin and it brought them together.....

Luckily I'll be going back to LA and won't be seeing her anymore...but honestly just what the fuck!

When I get back I get Emery down for a nap and I decide to call Vance since I haven't heard from Hardin.

"Hey Tess." He says into the phone.

"Hi, how is he?" I quickly ask.

"He's okay. He can probably fill you in and he would probably prefer it come from him." Vance says to me.

"Vance was is it?" I quickly follow with.

"It's about the deal...I'd rather him tell you Tess...please." He replies.

"Okay then I'm coming back tomorrow instead. I can't just wait around here...I need to see him." I tell him.

"If that's what you want to do then okay." Vance replies which feels cryptic.

I was always scared of what could come of all this...but now I'm even more terrified and the fact that Hardin didn't call back and obviously doesn't want to tell me or should I say isn't in a hurry to means it can't be good which I already know based off Vance's responses.

I almost immediately start packing. Even if he does hate me or is mad at me I just want to see him. I want to know what's going on. I want to hear from him everything that happened and see for myself how he really is...

****Hi everyone! I am so sorry for the delay on an update. This is the end of the school year for me so I have been crazy busy. But I promise more frequent updates are coming your way. And again so sorry but I hope you enjoy this chapter and what's to come. 🖤