Chapter 55 (1/2)

“What was that?” I hear Molly ask Hardin. She should really work on her whispering voice.

“Nothing, she doesn’t like ketchup,” he simply says and she huffs before taking a drink of her beer.

“So?” Molly says and Hardin glares at her.

“So, nothing. Just drop it.”

At least I know I am not the only one he is rude to.

My new food sans ketchup arrives, and I eat most of it despite my lack of appetite. Zed ends up paying for my meal, which is both nice and awkward at the same time. Hardin’s annoyance seems to grow as Zed puts his arm around me yet again on the walk outside.

“Logan says the party is already packed!” Nate says, reading a text.

“You should ride with me there,” Zed offers, then frowns when I shake my head.

“Oh, I am not going to the party. Tristan is going to take me back.”

“I can take her back to her room since I drove,” Hardin says.

I almost trip over my feet at this, but fortunately Steph grabs hold of me and smiles at Hardin. “No, Tristan and I will take her. Zed can ride with us, too.”

If looks could kill, Steph would be collapsing on the floor right now.

Hardin turns to Tristan. “You don’t want to drive drunk on campus; the police are going to be looking for people to give tickets to because it’s Friday.”

Steph looks at me, waiting for me to speak up, but I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to be in the car with Hardin alone, but I don’t want to drive with Tristan when he has been drinking. I shrug and lean into Zed while they settle this among themselves.

“Great, let’s drop her off and then go have some fun,” Molly tells Hardin, but he shakes his head.

“No, you ride with Tristan and Steph,” he says forcefully and Molly shrinks.

“For God’s sake can we just get in the cars and go!” Nate whines and pulls his keys out.

“Yeah, let’s go, Tessa,” Hardin says and I look up at Zed and then at Steph.

“Tessa!” Hardin barks again as he unlocks his car door. He looks back at me and I get the feeling that if I don’t follow he will drag me to the car. But why would he even want to be around me if he told Steph that I had better not come around? He disappears inside the car and starts the engine.