Read After We Fell for Free Online

hurt is clear in my shaky voice.
    â€œI didn’t lie to you; I meant it when I said it.”
    I step closer to him. “So what changed your mind?”
    He shrugs. “A lot of things. I thought about all the shit he’s done to me, and to you. He doesn’t deserve to just walk away from this.” He gestures to his face. “Look at me, for God’s sake.”
    I’m not sure what to say to Zed in this moment. He has every right to be upset with Hardin, but I wish he wouldn’t take legal action against him.
    â€œHe’s already in trouble with the university board,” I say, hoping to change his mind.
    â€œHe’s not going to get in trouble; Steph told me his dad’s the chancellor,” he scoffs.
    Dammit, Steph—why would you tell him that? I nod to acknowledge what he said. “That doesn’t mean he won’t get in trouble.”
    But my saying this only makes him exasperated. “Tessa, why are you always so quick to defend him? No matter what he does, you’re right there to fight his battles for him!”
    â€œThat’s not true,” I lie.
    â€œYes, it is!” He throws his hands up in disbelief. “You know it is! You told me you’d think about what I said about leaving him,but then I see you with him at a tattoo shop days later. It doesn’t make sense.”
    â€œI know you don’t understand, but I love him.”
    â€œIf you love him so much, then why are you running away to Seattle?”
    His words rattle me. I pause for a second, but say, “I’m not running to Seattle. I’m going there for a better opportunity.”
    â€œHe’s not coming with you. Our group of friends talk, you know?”
    What? “He was planning to,” I lie. But I can tell Zed sees right through it.
    With challenge in his eyes, he looks off to the side, then levels his stare at me. “If you can tell me that you have no feelings toward me, none at all, I’ll drop the charges.”
    Right then, the air seems to grow colder, the wind stronger. “What?”
    â€œYou heard me. Tell me to leave you alone and never speak to you again, and I’ll do it.” His request reminds me of something Hardin said to me long ago.
    â€œBut I don’t want that; I don’t want to never talk again,” I admit.
    â€œSo what do you want, then?” he asks, his voice tinged with sadness and anger. “Because you seem to be just as confused as I am! You keep texting me and meeting up with me; you kiss me, sleep in the same bed as me; you always come to me when he hurts you! What do you want from me?”
    I thought I’d made my intentions clear at the hospital. “I don’t know what I want from you, but I love him and that’s never going to change. I’m sorry that I gave you mixed signals, but I—”
    â€œTell me why you’re going to Seattle in a week and haven’t told him!” he shouts back at me, his arms waving in front of his body.
    â€œI don’t know . . . I’m going to tell him when I get the chance.”
    â€œYou won’t tell him because you know he’ll leave you,” Zed snaps, his eyes looking past me.
    â€œHe . . . well . . .” I don’t know what to say—because I really fear Zed’s right.
    â€œWell, guess what, Tessa? You can thank me later.”
    â€œFor what?” I watch as his lips turn up into a wicked smile.
    Zed lifts his arm up, gesturing behind me, and a shiver rakes through me. “For telling him for you.”
    I know that when I turn around, Hardin will be standing there. I swear I can hear his ragged breathing over the harsh winter wind.

chapter five
HARDIN
    W hen I’d stepped outside, the wind whipped around me, carrying the one voice I didn’t expect to hear right now. I’d just had to endure hearing a lot of people say a lot of bad things about me, and I just