Chapter 166 (1/2)

I’m glad Landon didn’t come to say hello when I heard him get home. I was still holding a little hope and I would have looked even more ridiculous, not that he’d ever tell me that, of course.

I reach over and turn off the light on the nightstand, then turn down the music slightly. If this were a month ago, I would jump into my car and drive to that stupid house and ask him why the hell he stood me up, but it’s now, and now I just don’t have it in me to fight him. Not anymore.

I’M WOKEN UP by my phone ringing in my ears, and the noise coming through my headphones startles me.

It’s Hardin. And it’s almost midnight. Don’t answer it, Tessa.

I literally have to force myself to ignore his call and shut off my phone. I reach over and set the alarm clock on the nightstand and close my eyes.

Of course he’d be drunk, dialing me after standing me up. I should have known better.

Chapter one hundred and eight

HARDIN

Tessa isn’t answering my calls, and it’s pissing me off. It’s my damn birthday for fifteen more minutes, and she doesn’t answer the phone?

Yeah, I probably should have called her sooner, but still. She hasn’t even responded to my text from hours ago. I thought we had a nice time yesterday, and she even tried to get me naked. It killed me to say no, but I knew what would happen if we went there. I don’t need to take advantage of her right now, even though I really fucking want to.

“I think I’m going to go,” I tell Logan, prompting him to unwrap himself from the dark-skinned brunette he’s obviously taken a liking to.

“Nah, you can’t leave yet, not until—oh, there they are!” he calls and points.

I turn around to see two girls in trench coats coming toward us. No fucking way.

The crowded living room bursts into clapping and cheering.

“I don’t do strippers,” I tell him.

“Oh, come on! How’d you even know they were strippers?” He laughs.

“They’re in fucking trench coats and high heels!” This is so fucking stupid.

“Come on, man, Tessa won’t care!” Logan adds.

“That’s not the point,” I growl, even though it is. It’s not the only point, but it’s the biggest.

“Is this the birthday boy?” one of the girls says.

Her bright red lipstick is giving me a headache already. “No, no, no. I’m not,” I lie and bolt out the door.

“Come on, Hardin!” a few voices call.

Hell no, I’m not turning around. Tessa will lose her shit if she thought I was around strippers. I can practically hear her screaming at me about it now. I wish she’d answered when I called. I try to call her one more time as Nate attempts to call my other line. I’m not going back in there, no way in hell. I’ve participated in the birthday festivities long enough.