After Everything (Hessa Fanfic)

17

Tessa POV
'Tessaaaaa.' Kelsey smiled, coming over to me.

Kelsey was another one of the servers at the restaurant. She was here full time, unlike the majority of us who were just here to get through college. She recently got promoted to a shift leader and was a great addition to the team.

'Hey.' I smiled, noticed how she was clutching one of the check holders we give the bills in.

'So, what do you get when you mix rich, bored businessmen with a sexy blonde fantastic waitress?'

'What?'

'You get what you bloody deserve.' She smiled, handing me the check holder.

'What's this?'

'Open it!' She squeaked.

I did, opening it up to see a stash of $20 bills.

'Wow, Kelsey. Where did this come from?'

'Table 17 left it for you. The three men in navy suits.'

My mind flicked back, remembering. They all had the steak. They were easy to serve and friendly enough.

'Oh wow.' I said amazed, counting the tip total as $100.

'Really well deserved, you've done a great job today. I've never seen you so smiley.'

'Thanks Kelsey.'

'Sooo... is there a reason why you're so smiley?' She said, with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile.

'I just had a really nice time at Landon and Nora's wedding.'

Kelsey didn't know about Hardin. I tried to keep it that way wherever I could. Too many people knew about After already so I took full advantage of anyone who was really meeting me for the first time, holding that card so close to my chest.

Sometimes it was just nice to be known as Tessa.

Just Tessa.

Not a character in a book or a pathetic broken-hearted girl.

'With Robert?' Kelsey teased, wriggling her eyebrows at me.

That however was the downside of keeping Hardin in the past wherever I could. People assumed Robert and I were hot for each other. I guess it made sense when we spent so much time together, them not knowing how my heart is gated closed and surrounded by a moat filled with crocodiles. Only Hardin holds the key to the drawbridge.

'He's just a friend.' I promised.

'Yeah yeah, I've heard that before.' Kelsey teased.

'No, really.' I smiled, unsure why I was justifying this so much.

'I think you two would be a really good match, plus it's always handy to have a doctor around. You know what they say about doctors, good with their hands.' She winked, making me cringe thinking about Robert in that way.

He was far too nice for this gruesome girl talk behind his back.

'You disgust me, Kelsey.' I laughed.

'You love it!'

'Anyway, would you fancy getting a drink after work tonight?' I asked her, holding the cheque envelope up. 'It's on me!'

We didn't typically hang out outside of hours unless it was a staff party but Kelsey was cool and it was about time I made an effort to make some more friends.

Truthfully, I just didn't want to spend another night in the apartment on my own, trying to keep myself busy.

'Yeah sure!' She said enthusiastically. 'You're off at 7pm right?'