Chapter 81 (1/2)

“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.