After Forever & Ever

After Never Chapter 4

Tessa

I've been in Seattle for a month now. And I don't think anyone is more shocked than me on how well everything is going. Including my relationship.

Hardin has been amazing. We talk all the time, probably more than when we lived together which is crazy to me. And he's been super sweet. I feel like all the things we were dealing with before have been put to rest and I feel like we are finally having a mature relationship.

We haven't seen each other since I left, so this weekend he is going to come visit and stay at Vance's.

I'm so excited to see him. Especially since he was supposed to come last weekend but he got a job at a bar and ended up having to work Saturday so he couldn't come. I was disappointed but I'm glad this weekend he was able to take off.

He's also been really focused lately on music, he said he started writing again. And said it's been something he's considering taking seriously.

I feel like the fact that we are both busy and have stuff that we're doing that we are passionate about has helped us a lot. It's growth that I wasn't sure we would ever see, but here we are a month in and I couldn't be happier.

"Hey Tess, would you guys rather go out to eat when Hardin gets in or should we do a dinner at the house?" Vance asks as he walks in my office.

"I can ask Hardin, but maybe go out to eat and show him a little bit of Seattle...who knows maybe he will like it here." I joke.

Vance smiles... "I'm happy to see you guys doing so well...you both have come a long way." He says to me since he is well aware of the toxicity that was Hardin and I.

"Thanks I'm happy too." I reply.

"And yes maybe you are right, maybe he will fall in love with the place, and who knows maybe he will finally take me up on the job I offered him." He says to me...which confuses me...

"What job?" I quickly question with a change in tone.

"I wouldn't have said anything...I thought he would have told you." He replies with some apprehension.

"I didn't know..."I reply.

"Don't tell him I told you Tess. I don't think it's something he kept from you, I think he probably thought of it more like he knew he wasn't going to take it so he would be better off not mentioning it." Vance tries to recover from the slip that unfortunately does have my brain spinning.

He had the opportunity to be here. To be here with me. Have a job...

I know like Vance said I shouldn't be upset he had no intention of taking it. But it still feels like he kept it from me.

But we are good...so good and I don't want anything to ruin that...not even this. And I certainly don't want to go against Vance and tell Hardin something that he asked me not to...he is my boss after all.

I've decided I have to let it go. Seattle is not where Hardin wants to be. Yet he is willing to make us work. So I have to respect that.

The rest of work I'm anxious for Hardin's arrival. He should have left already so I'm waiting for a text to tell me he's on the road but he hasn't texted me yet.

When I get back to Vance's after work, I finally get a text from Hardin.

'Hey Babe, I'm leaving now. Sorry I got off to a late start. Zed got me studio time...I'll tell you about it when I get there. Love you. Can't wait to see you 😘.'

Still so weird that they are friends again. But I'm also glad, because I know how close they are and I would have hated to be what got between them.

I'm a little upset that he's going to be late, especially because we have been looking forward to this weekend. I also didn't realize he was at a point where he was ready to record...I wonder if he will finally let me listen to a song...seeing as how every time I ask he tells me it still needs work and he will show me when it's done.