After Ever Happy (After 4)

“I get what you’re saying,” he says after taking a drag. “I can’t believe you’re saying it, but I do get it, and I hope you know that I’m sorry for my part in the shit with Steph and Dan. I knew they were up to something, but I had no clue what.”

The last thing I want to think about is Steph and Dan and the shit they pulled. “Yeah, well, we could go on and on about it, but the outcome would be the same. They won’t ever be close enough to even dare to breathe the same air as Tessa.”

“Steph is gone, anyway.”

“Gone where?”

“Louisiana.”

Good. I want her as far away from Tessa as possible.

I hope Tessa texts me soon; she sort of agreed to today, and I’m holding her to that. If she doesn’t soon, I’m sure I’ll break down and text her first. I’m trying to give her space, but our emoji conversation last night was the most fun I’ve had since . . . well, since I was inside her only hours before. I still can’t believe what a lucky son of a bitch I am that she allowed me near her.

I was a dick afterward, but that’s beside the point.

“Tristan went with her,” Nate tells me.

The wind is picking up, and the entire campus just seems like a better fucking place now that I know Steph has left the state.

“He’s a dumb-ass,” I say.

“No, he’s not,” Nate says, defending his friend. “He really likes her. Well, loves her, I guess.”

I snort. “Like I said, he’s a dumb-ass.”

“Maybe he knows her in a way that we don’t.”

His words make me laugh, a quiet and annoyed laugh. “What else is there to know? She’s a crazy bitch.” I can’t believe he’s actually defending Steph—well, Tristan, who is dating Steph again, despite that she’s a fucking psycho who tried to hurt Tessa.

“I don’t know, man, but Tristan’s my boy, so I don’t judge him,” Nate says, then looks at me coolly. “Most people would probably say the same shit about you and Tessa.”

“You better be comparing me and Steph, not Tessa and Steph.”

“Obviously.” He rolls his eyes and ashes his cigarette beside him. “You should come with me to the house. Just for old times’ sake. There won’t be a lot of people, just a few of us.”

“Dan?” My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to find Tessa’s name on the screen.

“I don’t know, but I can make sure he doesn’t come around while you’re there.”

We are standing in the parking lot now. My car is only a few feet away, and his motorcycle is parked in the front row. I still can’t believe he hasn’t wrecked the damn thing. He dropped the piece of shit at least five times the day he got his permit for it, and I know his ass doesn’t wear a helmet while speeding across town.

“I’m good. I have plans, anyway,” I lie as I send back a hello to Tessa. I’m hoping my plans could involve talking to Tessa for hours. I almost agreed to go by that damn frat house, but that my old “friends” still hang out with Dan reminds me exactly why I stopped hanging out with them to begin with.

“Are you sure? We could hang one last time before you graduate and knock your girl up. You know that’s coming, right?” he teases. His tongue flashes in the sun, and I push his arm back.

“You got your tongue pierced?” I ask, absentmindedly running my finger over the small scar next to my eyebrow.

“Yeah, like a month ago. I still can’t believe you took those rings out. And nice save on avoiding the second part of what I said.” He laughs, and I try to remember what it was that he said.

Something about my girl . . . and pregnant.

“Oh, hell no. No one will be getting pregnant, asshole. Go to hell for even trying to curse me with that shit.” I shove at his shoulder, and he laughs harder.

Marriage is one thing. Babies, a totally fucking other thing.

I glance down at my phone. As nice as it is to play catch-up with Nate, I want to focus on Tessa and her messages, especially since she wrote something about going to the doctor. I type out a quick reply to her.

“There’s Logan right there.” Nate pulls me from my phone, and I follow his eyes to Logan, walking toward us. “Shit,” Nate adds, and my eyes focus on the chick walking next to Logan. She looks familiar, but not quite . . .

Molly. It’s Molly, but her hair is black now instead of pink. My luck today is remarkable, really.

“Well, that’s my cue. I got shit to do,” I say, attempting to avoid the potential disaster walking in my direction. Just as I turn to go, Molly leans into Logan and he wraps his arm around her waist.

What the fuck? “Them?” I gape. “Those two? Fucking?”

I look at Nate; the fucker doesn’t even try to hide his amusement. “Yep. For a while now. They didn’t tell anyone until about three weeks ago. I caught on early, though. I knew something was up when she stopped being such a bitch all the time.”

Molly flips her black hair and smiles at Logan. I don’t even remember her smiling, ever. I can’t stand her, but I don’t hate her the way I used to. She did help Tessa . . .

“Don’t even think about leaving until you tell me why you’ve been avoiding us!” Logan’s voice shoots across the lot.

“I had better shit to do!” I yell back, checking my phone again. I want to know why Tessa is at the doctor again. Her last text avoided the question, and I need to know. I’m sure she’s okay, I’m just being a nosy asshole.