Chapter 140 (1/2)
“Wait until you see it; you will love it,” he says.
“Does anyone know that you are getting an apartment?” I ask. I already know the answer.
“No, why would they need to know?”
“They don’t, I was just wondering.”
The faucet creaks as I shut the water off. Hardin holds a towel open for me as I step out and wraps it around my soaked body.
“I know you well enough to know that you think I am hiding the fact that we are moving in together from my friends,” he says.
He’s not wrong. “Well, it does seem a little odd that you’re moving out of here but no one knows.”
“That isn’t because of you—it’s because I don’t want to hear their shit about dropping out of the fraternity. I will tell them all—even Molly—after we move in.” He smiles and wraps his arms around my shoulders.
“I want to be the one to tell Molly.” I laugh and hug him back.
“Deal.”
After multiple attempts to keep Hardin’s hands off me as I get ready, he hands me the keys to his car and I leave. The moment I get in the car my phone vibrates.
Be careful. I love you, the text reads.
I will. You be careful in my car :) I love you. xo
I can’t wait to see you again. Meet me at five. Your crap car will be fine.
You should watch what you say or I may accidently hit a parking median in yours. I smile to myself as I send my reply.
Stop pestering me and go to work before I come down there and peel that dress off you.
As appealing as that sounds, I put my phone back onto the passenger seat and start the car. The engine gently purrs to life, unlike the loud roar of mine. For a classic car it drives much smoother than mine; he really takes care of it. When I turn onto the freeway my phone rings.
“Jesus, you can’t go twenty minutes without me?” I laugh into the phone.
“Tessa?” a male voice says. Noah.
I pull my phone away from my ear and look at my screen to confirm my horror.
“Um . . . sorry, I thought . . .” I stammer.
“You thought it was him . . . I know,” he says. His voice is sad and not at all hateful.
“I’m sorry.” I don’t deny it.
“S’okay,” he says.