𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬.

Chapter four.

Tessa

After Hardin walked out of the room, I counted to thirty before I covered my face and let myself cry.

He's back.

Hardin is home.

He has a daughter.

The small knock on the door made me jump. I dropped my hands and saw my best friend from college, Blair, standing with a stunned expression on her face. We had been short on teachers this year and I had begged her to move from Austin to Balch Springs and teach first grade.

"What in the world? Why are you crying?" She rushed into the room, shutting the door as she walked in.

I practically threw myself at her. "He's back. Oh, God, Blair. He's back and he has a family!"

She pushed me away and stared into my eyes. "Hardin?"

I nodded.

"Holy crackers. Okay. This is an emergency. I've got this. I'm in control of the situation."

My legs felt weak. I couldn't get the look in his eyes out of my head. The second I saw him, I was overcome with happiness. Then everything that had happened came rushing back. When he smiled, I lost control, and let the anger win.

Blair rushed around my desk, grabbed my purse, shut off all the lights, and pulled me by the arm out the door.

"Where are we going?" I asked numbly.

"We're going out for ice cream."

The cool night air felt good on my face as I walked aimlessly around town. Most everyone I passed said hello. Balch Springs was a small town and everyone pretty much knew everyone else. The more people moved outside of San Antonio and Austin, the more our little town grew, though. Especially with the new growth in our little town square. Business after business popped up, bringing our historical downtown back to life.

I stopped and turned. The pull to go inside the new bar was strong, but what if he was in there? The chances of that were pretty good. Then again, he was probably home with his wife and daughter.

A younger couple approached and said, "Excuse us."

"Oh, I'm so sorry about that!" I said as I stepped out of the way for them to enter. Country music blared from inside, and I strained to look in. The man held the door open for me.

"You coming in?"

"Oh. Um. No." I took a step back.

He shrugged and let the door close. Glancing up, I stared at the neon sign.

I took in a deep breath and walked in. I was risking a lot by going into the bar Carson owned. After all, he was Hardin's younger brother. Even though it was a small town, I had done everything in my power to avoid the Scott family. Including Carson, who had been a good friend after Hardin left town. But even being around him proved to be too painful.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Carson had really made this place into something amazing. I hadn't been in here since he first opened it. The bar was beautiful. Wood covered the walls and a giant sign hung over the bar that read, Hey Y'all. Liquor bottles lined the wall behind the long bar. My eyes swung around and I noticed that a second floor had been added. People sat upstairs at tables that overlooked the massive wood dance floor. A large number of couples were dancing to a George Straight song.