After Forever & Ever

Chapter 148

Tessa-Present

I didn't expect to be able to see him again this soon. Especially given the whole reason he went in the way he did was to avoid this.

It's only been 8 days but I have no idea how he's feeling and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared to see him.

When Vance let me know that Adler was flying in and that he was going to need Hardin to testify I didn't understand....what was the purpose of the deal if it didn't matter. They still are getting what they want and forcing Hardin to testify. And trust me I want to ensure Reed stays locked away too but I understand why Hardin is scared. And I do understand why he did what he did. A lot of things Hardin has done haven't always made sense but this did....

I decided to drive separate and wait in my car for when Hardin gets out. I figured it be best if him and I could just see each other and talk alone without anyone and I knew I couldn't wait until he got home to see him.

So here I am sitting outside of the jail waiting for him to come out. I've missed him so much....

After about 15 minutes I finally see Vance then Hardin is right behind him. I see Vance point to my car showing him I'm here and so I get out.

He walks towards me and he immediately brings me in for a hug and keeps me there and I feel him kiss the top of my head.

As I finally pull away I just look at him and say "hi."

"Hi." He simply replies back.

"We will meet you guys back at the house." Vance says.

"Okay." Hardin replies.

He says hi to Emery who is in the backseat in her car seat and so I get in the car and then he has a seat in the passenger seat after he is done saying hi to Emery.

He leans over and gives me a gentle peck.

"How are you?" I ask him.

"Ok I guess." He replies.

I feel like I don't know what to say and he's pretty silent. So I just drive and when we get home. He lets me know he is going to take a shower.

While he's in the shower Vance gets home. "How was the ride home, did he say any anything?" He quickly asks me.

"It was fine, and no nothing at all really." I tell him.

I hear Hardin get out of the shower so I go to our bedroom. He's laying down on the bed in just his boxers.

"Are you okay?" I ask him.

"Yea I'm good I just wanted to lay down in our bed for a minute." He tells me.

So I plop down next to him and he positions his arm under me and brings me close and I lay my head on his chest.

"Vance said there are options....what are they?" He asks me.

"You could testify and hope nothing comes back to you. Or we could go into witness protection...." I tell him.

"And if I don't testify...." he replies.

"If you don't I think they will make you serve your full sentence." I tell him.

"So basically I'm fucked either way." He replies.

"If you don't get on that plane tonight...yes. But right now it's the only choice...you know that, right?" I ask him.

"Mhm." He replies leaving me with a lot of doubt.

We just lay there for a while and finally when he goes to get up I pull him back which positions him on top of me.

"I missed you....so much" I tell him.