After Forever & Ever

Chapter 32

Tessa-Present

I just want to be alone.

I take the evening to just be alone away from Hardin, away from Zed. Away from everyone.

I'm hoping tomorrow I wake up with a clear head. A clear answer. And I don't want to lead anyone on or feel like I am betraying Hardin. After all technically we aren't together and I'm trying to justify it as I owe myself this time given all that he has done to me.

But I still feel horrible. I still feel like he deserves more from me.

And I don't want to risk hurting him and him being clean while I figure it out and I sure as hell don't want history to repeat itself and him to do anything to Zed.

My thoughts are going a million miles a minute and before I know it my alarm for work is going off and I feel like I never even slept.

I feel like a zombie and it's not like I can even load up on caffeine to make it better.

Instead I stop for a tea on the way to work and when I arrive I am surprised to see Vance and Kim cozying up in the lobby together. If they could work it out. Hardin and I can right?

Neither one of them notice me so I take the elevator up to my office. When I arrive there are flowers on my desk.

I look at the card and it just says "Meet me at Jameson's for dinner tonight at 7PM."

It doesn't say who it's from. It could be Hardin or ....Zed.

What the hell is wrong with me? What have I done?

"Nice flowers." Vance says as he walks in my office.

"Thanks." I simply reply.

"I know he stayed by you Saturday night, how is it having him back?" Vance asks.

"I guess I wasn't sure if he would be back so I'd say I am just adjusting to the idea." I tell him honestly.

"No...I get it. He does seem good though better than well I think I have ever seen him." Vance says to me.

"I agree" I reply which is true he really is everything I have been asking of him he is showing me and I'm shutting him out.

"He doesn't stop talking about you or the baby." Vance tells me and that makes me really happy.

Before I can answer. He takes a phone call and steps out...while mouthing "I'm sorry I have to go."

When he leaves I text Hardin and Zed. Just so I could get a better feel of who sent the showers.

I just send them both a simple "what's up".

Zed responds first "Hey you, just got to work. What are you up to?"

I respond "Same just enjoying some tea. What are you up to later?"

"Not too much, do you want to hangout?" He asks.

I decide to hold off on texting him back and see what Hardin says.

He finally responds. "Hey. Sorry just woke up. Hbu?"

"Just working...what are you doing later?" I text back.

"Just hanging out...what are you up to?" He replies.

Okay so either one of them gave me any hint what so ever who sent the flowers and who I am meeting tonight.

I decide to not respond to either of them and try to focus on work the rest of the day which was nearly impossible but I made it to the end of the day.