After Forever & Ever

After Never Chapter 21

Hardin-Present

Day 63.

I've been clean for 63 days. And last night tested me. It fucking tested me.

I was thankful Smith was with me because I really don't think I would have stopped myself from driving somewhere and finding a way to get fucked up.

I would have been surprised by any other reaction from her though...Truly exactly how last night went was exactly how I thought it would go.

She doesn't owe me anything I know that.

And I know I put her through enough shit that I was lucky enough that she even allowed me around her by picking her up.

I get X, Y and Z all had to happen for that to even occur and it won't happen again.

But I was happy to even see her....so I guess there's that. At least I got to say something.

And something is better than the nothing I had before...

Today is Kim and Vance's shower. Which Smith is going to. So it will be the first time I'll have the place to myself.

Because after the full week Vance worked from home. Kim started working from home claiming her doctor wanted her on 'modified bed rest'...and then I have been entertaining Smith while they work.

So my summer has been awesome.

Just fucking great.

I haven't gone downstairs yet this morning. Instead I've been sulking in my bed feeling sorry for myself.

But I should probably get up.

When I get downstairs, Vance, Kim and Smith are all sitting at the table eating breakfast.

"Morning." Vance says to me.

"Morning...how are you feeling?" I reply directing the attention on Kim since they went to the hospital last night.

"Much better, thank you." She replies.

I pour myself a cup of coffee and sit down at the table with them.

"Thanks for doing that last night." Vance says to me.

"Mhm." I simply reply as I take a sip of my coffee.

"You alright?" Vance asks me.

"Yea fine, why?" I question confused.

"You just seem like something's wrong." He replies...which do I really seem that way or is he fishing to find out how my interaction with Tessa was.

"Okay." He says letting it go.

They continue eating. I keep drinking my coffee. Lots of small talk...nothing major.

Then the question I'm sure Vance has been pressing to ask me comes up.

"What are you going to do today?" He asks me.

"Probably go to the gym, then nothing...?" I question turning it back on him to see what he will say.

"Can you just make sure you're available around 4, so you could help me bring the gifts in and up to the nursery?" He asks me.

"I don't know where else I would be so sure..." I reply.

He's the one who seems like something is wrong...and I'm sure it has to do with the fact that no one will be around to babysit me for the next 5 hours...

What does he think is going to happen when I go back to college?...

"Great thanks." He replies...again still acting super weird.