After We Fell by Anna Todd Page A

fucked you while Karen, Landon, and my father were just down the hall?” He reaches down and touches my thigh softly. “Oh, wait, you must mean like when I bent you over your desk at work—”
    â€œOkay! Okay! I get it, I get it.” I flush, and he laughs.
    â€œCome on, Tessie, lie down.”
    â€œYou’re sick.” I laugh and step away from him.
    â€œWhere are you going?” he says with a pout.
    â€œTo see what my father’s doing out there.”
    â€œWhy? So you can come back in here and—”
    â€œNo! Gosh—go to sleep or something!” I exclaim. I’m glad he’s still being playful, but despite his confession, it’s still annoying that he lied to me and is being so stubborn about even really discussing Seattle.
    I thought for sure that when I got home from my late lunch at Applebee’s, he’d be furious at me for not answering his texts. I never suspected that we’d talk things out and he’d admit to lying about being expelled. Maybe Steph had reassured him that I was on my way, so he had time to calm down. Then again, Steph’s phone was on the table when I turned back around . . .
    â€œDid you say Steph didn’t answer when you called?” I ask.
    â€œYes; why?” He looks at me, confused.
    I shrug, unsure what to say. “I’m just wondering.”
    â€œWhy, though?” His tone is off.
    â€œI told her to tell you I was on my way, and I’m just wondering why she didn’t.”
    â€œOh.” He looks away, reaching for a cup on the dresser. This whole conversation is so awkward—Steph not telling him that I was on my way, him avoiding my eyes.
    â€œI’m going out there. You can join us if you want.”
    â€œI will. I’m just going to change.”
    I nod and turn the door handle.
    â€œWhat about your dad, though? He just came back into your life, and you’re going to leave?” His words stop me in my tracks. It’s not like I hadn’t thought about it before, but Hardin lobbing that question at me like a missile when my back is turned doesn’t sit right with me.
    I take a moment to recover before leaving the room. When I get to the living room, my father is asleep again. Binge drinking at noon must be exhausting. I turn off the television and head to the kitchen for some water. Hardin’s words about leaving so soon after seeing my father again keep replaying in my mind. But the thing is, I can’t put my future on hold for a father whom I haven’t seen for nine years. If the circumstances were different I would consider rethinking this, but he’s the one who left me.
    When I get back to the bedroom door, I hear Hardin’s voice speaking from inside.
    â€œWhat the fuck was that shit today?” he says, his voice muffled.
    I press my ear to the door. I should just walk in, but I get the feeling I’m not supposed to hear the conversation. Which means I really should hear the conversation.
    â€œI don’t give a fuck, it shouldn’t have happened. Now she’s all upset and shit, and you’re supposed to . . .” I can’t make out the rest of the sentence.
    â€œDon’t fuck this up,” he snaps.
    Who is he talking to? And what are they supposed to be doing? Is it Steph? Or, worse, Molly?
    I hear his footsteps approaching the door, and I quickly scoot into the bathroom and close the door.
    Moments later, knuckles tap against the wood. “Tessa?”
    I open the door. I know I must appear flustered. My heart is pounding against my rib cage, and my stomach is in a knot. “Oh, hey. Was just finishing up in here,” I say, but my voice too small.
    Hardin cocks an eyebrow at me. “Okay . . .” He looks down the hall. “Where’s your dad? Is he asleep?”
    â€œUh, yup,” I say, which makes him grin wide.
    â€œWell, c’mon back to the bedroom, then,”