Chapter 148 (1/2)

If she fucked him, I’m done, completely and utterly fucking done with her.

“How did you get in here?” she asks, her face full of sadness.

“Tyler let me in. You’re in his bed? How could you be in his bed?”

Zed rolls over onto his back and wipes his eyes, then he pops up and sits ready, eyeing me where I stand in the doorway. “What the hell are you doing in my room?” he demands.

Don’t, Hardin. Stay still. I have to stay fucking still or someone will end up in the hospital. That someone is Zed, but if I’m going to get her away from him, I have to stay as calm as possible.

“I came to get you, Tessa. Let’s go,” I say and reach my hand out, even though I’m across the room.

Her brow furrows. “Excuse me?”

Here comes the infamous Tessa attitude . . .

“You can’t just come to my apartment and tell her to leave.” Zed moves to get out of bed, and I see he’s only in loose gym shorts that sag down to show his boxers.

I don’t think I can stay calm.

“I can, and I just did. Tessa . . .” I wait for her to get off the bed, but she doesn’t move.

“I’m not going anywhere with you, Hardin,” she tells me.

“You heard her, man. She’s not coming with you,” Zed taunts me.

“I wouldn’t start that shit right now. I’m trying with every fucking fiber of my being not to do anything that I’ll regret, so just shut the fuck up,” I growl.

He throws his arms wide in challenge to me. “It’s my apartment, my bedroom at that—and she doesn’t want to go with you, so she’s not. If you want to fight me, then go ahead. But I’m not going to force her to go if she doesn’t want to.” When he finishes, he gives her the fakest concerned expression I’ve ever seen.

I let out an evil laugh. “That’s the plan, though, isn’t it? You get me mad enough so I beat your ass, and she’ll feel bad for you, and I’ll be the monster who everyone is afraid of? Don’t buy into this shit, Tessa!” I shout.

I can’t stand the fact that she’s still sitting in his bed, and even more I can’t stand the fact that I can’t beat the shit out of him for it because that’s exactly what he wants.

Tessa sighs. “Just go.”

“Tessa, listen to me. He isn’t who you think he is, he’s not Mr. Fucking Innocent.”

“And how’s that?” she challenges.

“Because . . . well, I don’t know—yet. But I know he’s using you for something. He just wants to fuck you—you know this,” I tell her, struggling to keep hold of my emotions.

“No, he doesn’t.” She says it flatly, but I can see she’s getting angry.

“Dude, you should just go—she doesn’t want to leave. You’re making a fool out of yourself.”

When the words leave his busted lip, my body starts to shake. I have way too much anger that I need to let out.

“I warned you—to shut the fuck up. Tessa, stop being difficult and let’s go. We need to talk.”