Before He Lied

Tessa Chapter 51

He leaves my office.

"FUCK!"

I sit at my desk and cover my face with my hands.

What the fuck, this isn't ok. We can't just go from screaming to being completely fine. This isn't what I signed up for, this isn't what I want for us. Is this our future? Fight after fight, apology after apology? I wanted so much more for me..............for us.

"It's fine Tessa, it's fine." I tell myself.

I take a deep breath and starts answering emails.

As I'm typing my mind wanders, when I finally snap back into reality I reread my email.

*The online platform Hardin Hardin Hardin Hardin Hardin*

I shake my head before I delete the draft, what the fuck is up with me.

I hear a light knock at my door.

"Come in."

The door slowly opens and Sam walks in, she walks towards me.

"Hey Sam."

"Tessa look."

She lifts her hands, her sticky rainbow fingers dance in the air.

"Look what the candy did." She says.

The skittles dyed her fingers a bunch of colors.

"Did you eat the whole bag?" I ask.

"Yes."

She says with a smile.

"Let's go wash your hands before everything you touch gets sticky." I say with a smile.

We walk to the bathroom and I help Sam wash her hands and clean her face.

Once she's clean we walk back to my office, I attempt to answer my email again.

"Where's Hardin?" Sam asks quietly.

"He went out." I say softly.

Sam looks down.

"He's mean.................he hurt my feelings."

I feel so bad, I stand up and walk towards her.

My heels click as I take each step.

I sit down next to her.

"Hardin is complicated Sam..............he doesn't mean what he said..................sometimes when he gets mad her says hurtful things to the people he most cares about........it's not right but that's just the way he is."

Sam's little eyes look up and meet mine.

"He cares about me?" She softly asks.

I lightly smile.

"Of course he does, Hardin doesn't like anyone but he has a soft spot for you. He cares Sam, he just has a hard time showing it."

"I wish he didn't have to say hurtful things."

"I know, I wish he didn't say things too but that's the way he is. I guess that's how you know if you truly love someone, if you're able to love their flaws then you know it's real."

"Love?" Sam questions.

"Sorry, I was just talking to myself."

Suddenly I hear a knock at the door, we both look towards the door and see Hardin standing in the doorway with his arms behind his back.

Sam crosses her arms and looks away, he looks at me with a worried face. I nod my head reassuring him that it's ok for him to come inside, he slowly walks in.