After Forever & Ever

Chapter 36

Tessa-Present

It's Friday morning and I haven't heard from Hardin. And I have been ignoring Zed.

I feel so much guilt that I just want to crawl into a hole and pretend I don't exist.

And a part of me thinks I should get ahead of things and just tell Hardin but I know that will end in disaster but if he finds out in another way it will end a thousand times worse.

Landon asked to meet up after work, and I haven't seen him in weeks so without telling him what I did maybe I can have a clearer head on all of this.

We meet a coffee shop just outside town. It's weird because I haven't seen or talked to him in so long. So needless to say it's a little awkward.

We both go in for a hug. "Wow you look great Tess baby bump and all." He says.

"Aww thank you..it's good to see you". I reply.

"How have you been? And the baby?" He asks.

"Good and it's a girl.." I tell him

"That's awesome Tess, congrats!" He exclaims.

"I'm sorry we haven't talked" I say to him.

"Its my fault I was hard on you about Hardin and what I said to you wasn't fair." He replies.

"No it's okay." I reply.

"He really seems different now though." Landon says to me.

"You saw him?" I ask.

"Yea...he really loves you Tess." He says.

I just start choking up and tears start running down my eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asks as he grabs my hand.

"I...I kissed Zed." I tell him I needed to get it off my chest.

"What?" He questions.

"It shouldn't have happened but I haven't allowed myself to forgive Hardin for all he has put me through and Zed has been there for me and I thought I had feelings for him but it's just the fact that he was there when no one else was..." I respond.

"Tessa!" He says turning away.

He follows up with..."you can't tell him....promise me you won't tell him." He says.

"But what if he finds out another way?" I ask.

"I don't care...deny it. He trusts you. If he knows it will destroy him and you know that...which I'm dissuhhh...never mind" he says showing disappointment and I know that's what he was going to say.

"Okay." I reply simply.

"Do you love him?" He asks me.

"Yes more then anything!" I respond without hesitation.

"Then go be with him....both of you need to stop fighting against each other. And just be." He yells at me.

And he's right. And it's what I needed to hear. I can't keep pushing the most important person in my life away or I am going to lose him forever and I can't let that happen.

"I need to see him." I say to Landon as I stand up.

"Go...it's fine we will catch up later." He says as he gives me a hug.

I head to Vance's since that is where Hardin is staying. I feel like it's taking forever to get there hitting every stop light imaginable.

I finally arrive I take the elevator up and go to Vance's door. I don't know why I'm nervous.