Patience

13. Drive

"Shit"

I stand dumbstruck by the door. My heart has been pulled to the throat. I feel like I have seen a ghost. I blink rapidly a few times to make the situation in front of me disappear.

But no he is actually here, Hardin is actually here.

Mr. Volano is here.

Wait. What?

How the hell does he know where I live.

Why is he even here?

My feets are rooted by the door.

As if they are cemented in.

Ray pushes me towards them and I unwillingly take a few step ahead but halting back again.

A squeal breaks me out of my stupor...

I am finally able to look past the green eyed volcano staring sharply at me, to find molly...

Wait what? Molly?
And Logan?

Molly runs up to me and embraces me...

" Oh my god.... A late Merry Christmas Tessa, Surpriseeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!", she screams while pulling back.

I flinched at the high pitched scream coming from her but the genuinity of the hug makes me giggle..... I breathe for a moment.

" Hello and same to you molly. How are you guys here...?????..... How do you even know know this house's address ?? " I enquire ......

She completely pulls out of the hug and laughs....

" Woahhh. Easy on the detective trait my girl. First come sit...." with that she drags me till the couch..... On my way I manage to ask Ray about mom and dad.

" They are out for some work. They will be back before I leave. They will drive me to the airport... They met your friends before leaving. " he explains in short.
......

Once we are comfortably settled on the dining area, and I have greeted Logan and deliberately missed out Hardin even when is green eyes are staring at me. It could burn hole on my skin, the intensity. I resume talking about there out of the blue arrival...

" Ok so first things firsts tessa" molly starts suddenly sounding serious" You know that we had this Christmas party at my place yesterday . Right?"

I nod. An icy feeling suddenly creeping in with the tone of her voice.

" During the party a fire broke in the bar area in our backyard-" she says...

" Oh my goddd...." I manage.

"Yes it was scary. Because the fire was almost like a small blast.. The sudden explosion was so bad that there was glasses scattered around." she goes on.

"Oh my god was anyone hurt? " I choked almost.

"No not very much, but Hardin was. "

"WHAT ?? " I gasp and sharply turn at Hardin, and find his head low, concentrated on that damn iPad.

Until now he was staring at me. Just when I wanted a look at his face he is looking down.

"Yes, we were actually winding up the whole thing when this happened. So the lawn was almost clear and nobody was near the bar. Except for Hardin, so he has a few minor injuries from the flying glass pieces." I am still focused on Hardin. My eyes scanning his whole body for visible injuries. I control my urge to throw that damn thing away from his hand.. How the hell is he so calm about his fatal experience? Here, I am fucking paranoid in my mind in worry.