After Forever & Ever

Chapter 6

Tessa Present

When I wake up I am upset at myself for falling asleep last night so early. I wanted to soak in every second with him.

And knowing this is the morning that in a few short hours he's going to be going under and we have no idea the outcome is terrifying to me.

He is still sleeping. I nudge him to wake up . And he kisses me on the forehead.

"Good morning babe" he says.

"Good morning" I tell him. I just want to hear that every morning for the rest of our lives. Please just let me hear that.

"Today is the big day, huh?" He says jokingly.

I just shake my head and sit up.

I hear a knock and it's his mum.

"Hi Trish." I say.

"How are you guys?" Trish asks.

"I guess will see..." Hardin replies.

He is in very weird spirits this morning. I don't know if it's how his fear is coming out. But he is definitely not himself right now.

"Tessa would it be okay if I had a moment with Hardin? Everyone else is in the waiting room" she says.

"Yes of course" I reply as I lean down to give him a kiss and walk out.

I see Landon out in the hallway. And of course what's fresh in my mind is what Hardin told me from last night. I shouldn't confront him not here. But I want to hear it from him.

"Hey Tess, how is he?" Landon asks.

"He's okay right now." I reply.

"I'm sure he will be fine" he replies.

"Can I ask you something?" I ask Landon

"Of course" he replies.

"Why didn't you tell me you stayed in touch with Hardin and that he would ask about me?" I ask him.

He pauses and you can tell he was hoping I would never know that.

"I'm going to be honest Tessa it's the same reason I lied to you when he left. I still don't think you should be with him and I hate saying that right now of all times. But he's not good for you....he's a pretty bad guy and I don't know why you overlook that. Why he gets a pass." He says to me and you can tell that's something he has wanted to say to me for a long time.

"You don't know him like I do. You don't see him for more than his mistakes. You never have Landon. Why are you even here if you hate him so much and he's such a bad guy?" I yell.

"I'm sorry Tess the last thing I want is to upset you now of all times." He tells me.

"You should have told me..." I say.

"When? When he crashed the car? When he overdosed? When he got arrested because of that girl?... because all that shit made me want to keep him as far away from you as possible. But it doesn't matter he can do whatever he wants to you and you come back for more." He says

And all his words shock me and I have no idea what he is talking about being arrested for that girl, and I can't even ask him about it.

"Just so you know we are having a baby." I say hoping that stings after everything he said.

Pretty unphased by it "That doesn't mean you have to be with him or that he will even stick around." He says clearly out of anger.

"Thanks Landon." I say beyond upset as I walk away into the waiting room.