After Forever & Ever

Chapter 48

Tessa-Present

The biggest relief right now and weight off of my shoulders is that Hardin is good, that we are good.

I'm just on cloud 9 and I feel like nothing can take me off of it. I've been wanting what we have right now for sooo long. Before he even came back this is what I had hoped for.

My mom keeps texting me about throwing me a baby shower. But she doesn't want Hardin there.

Which I know it's usually just a girl thing but I want him there and I feel like he should be there.

The sooner she understands he isn't going anywhere the better.

I also have a doctors appointment tomorrow and ultrasound that I was planning on inviting Hardin to.

I'm excited that he will actually be able to come with me this time.

When I get to work and walk past Vance's office I notice Vance and Kim are in his office it looks like they are arguing.

I hope that him and Kim can make things work again...

I mean if Hardin and I can I'm pretty sure anyone can.

Today is probably the first day in a while that I am feeling super focused and actually getting work done.

I am trying to not only get caught up because of missing so much work but also to get a head start for when I'll be off when I have Emery.

So crazy we have a name for her...that we were able to decide together. My heart is just so full and I feel like nothing can bring me down from this incredible feeling I have.

I keep thinking that maybe if Hardin is living with me then maybe Kim and Vance could have a better shot of working things out.

But I don't know if it's too soon. Actually I know it is. But we have been spending every night together anyways.

I'm almost scared to ask him.

I don't think he would say no but I don't want to feel rejected if he does.

But we are having a baby soon...it wouldn't make sense for us not to live together...right?

When I get home from work I feel like someone has been in my apartment so I call Hardin "hey we're you at my place?" I ask him.

"Not since I left when you did...why?" He asks.

"Someone was here." I tell him.

"Tessa go down to the lobby and call the cops...I'm on my way." He says to me.

I listen to what he says. And go downstairs and call 911.

The cops arrive and they walk back up with me to my apartment. They have me look around..."is anything missing miss?" They ask me.

And I don't think anything is missing. But I can just tell things were moved around and gone through.

"I don't think so." I tell them.

"Okay we are going to have you fill out a police report." The cop tells me.

As I am filling it out Hardin comes in. I stop what I am doing and give him a huge hug. "Are you okay?" He asks.

"I'm fine" I tell him and I am I'm just a little shaken up.

"There are no signs that anyone broke in?" The cop comes over and says.

"Does anyone have a key?" Hardin asks.

And I don't even want to answer that....I just pause.

"Tessa who has a key?" He asks me again.

I quietly respond "....Zed."

He just looks away and walks away for a second.

He comes back...."you gave him a fucking key?" He asks slightly raising his voice enough for a cop to look over at us.

"I don't know why I did." I reply...and looking back I really don't.

"So you think it was him?" Hardin asks with anger behind his voice.

"Hardin even if it was...let the police do their job it's not up to you." I tell him.

"Mhm" he responds and walks out of my apartment.

After I finish up with the cops I walk downstairs and he is sitting outside.

"What the hell was that about?" I ask him.

"I'm just trying to figure out if I'm the idiot who forgave you way too fucking easily and if there was more then you two just kissing twice...." he says to me raising his voice.

"Hardin stop!" I tell him.

"I just don't get why he would have a fucking key to your apartment if you weren't fucking him." He says.

"Seriously Hardin! I can't believe you would even say that. I was just about to ask you to move in with me too." I say to him.

"Oh well perfect I'll just go ask Zed for his key..." he says super sarcastic.

"Fuck you Hardin...you're such a dick." I say to him.

"Alright well at least we know I am back to being myself." He says to me as he starts walking away and towards his car.

"Are you just going to let me stay by myself after my apartment was broken into?" I ask him.

"No , I'll drop you off at Vance's." He tells me.

"Why where do you have to go?" I ask him as we get in his car.

"Out." He replies.

The car ride is pretty silent...until we get close to Vance's.

"Promise me you aren't going to do anything to Zed." I tell him.

"Im not." He responds.

When we arrive at Vance's I don't want to get out of the car.

"Tessa what are you doing?" He asks confused as to why I'm not getting out of there car.

"Can you just come up with me?" I ask him.

"I'll be right back." He tells me trying to convince me to let him leave.

"Babe please." I say as I grab his face so he looks at me.

"Okay." He replies.

"Okay?" I question.

I'm surprised he agrees to come up with me. When we arrive upstairs Hardin walks into his room and slams his door.

"What's that about?" Vance asks.

I just shake my head as in to imply I don't want to talk about it....because I don't. I don't want to talk more about my mistake with Zed.

And if it was Zed why would he go to my apartment...that is what I am trying to figure out. All I know is I'm scared to go back there. But I am also relieved Hardin agreed to come up because I wasn't sure what he would do....