After We Fell Read Online Free PDF

little while.”
    He holds the garment like it’s nuclear waste or an alien artifact. “If I wear this shit and they still kick me out, I’ll burn that whole campus to the ground.”
    â€œYou’re so dramatic.” I roll my eyes at him, but he doesn’t look amused as he steps into the dress pants.
    â€œIs our apartment still operating as a homeless shelter?”
    I drop the shirt, still on the hanger, onto the bed and march to the door.
    Frantic fingers lace through his hair. “Dammit, Tess, I’m sorry. I’m getting anxious, and I can’t even fuck you to settle me down because your dad is on our couch.”
    His vulgar words stir my hormones, but he’s right: my father in the other room is a big impediment. I walk over to Hardin, whose long fingers are struggling with the top button on his shirt, and gently move his hands out of the way. “Let me,” I offer.
    His eyes soften, but I can tell he’s beginning to panic. I hate seeing him this way; it’s so foreign. He’s so controlled all the time, never caring much for anything—except me, and even then he’s still pretty good at hiding his feelings.
    â€œEverything will be fine, babe. It’ll work out.”
    â€œBabe?” His smile is instant, and so is the flush in my cheeks.
    â€œYes . . . babe.” I adjust the collar of his shirt, and he leans over to kiss the tip of my nose.
    â€œYou’re right; worst-case scenario, we go to England.”
    I ignore his comment and return to the closet to pick out myown clothes for the day. “Do you think they’ll let me accompany you inside?” I ask him, unsure what to wear.
    â€œYou want to?”
    â€œIf they allow it.” I grab the new purple dress that I planned to wear to Vance tomorrow. I undress and put it on as quickly as possible. I slip on some black heels and exit the closet with my hands holding up the front of the dress. “Can you help me?” I ask Hardin, turning my back to him.
    â€œYou’re purposely torturing me.” His fingertips travel across my exposed shoulders and down my back, leaving goose bumps in their wake.
    â€œSorry.” My mouth is dry.
    He slowly raises the zipper, and I shiver as his lips press against the sensitive skin on the back of my neck. “We need to get going,” I tell him, and he groans, fingers digging into my hips.
    â€œI’m going to call my dad on the way. Are we dropping the . . . your dad off somewhere?”
    â€œI’ll ask him now; can you grab my bag?” I say, and he nods.
    â€œTess?” he calls as my hand hits the doorknob. “I like that dress. And you. Well, I love you, of course . . . and your new dress,” he rambles. “I love you, and your fancy clothes.”
    I curtsy and do a little three-sixty so he can see me. As much as I hate Hardin being nervous, it’s also very appealing to me, because it reminds me that he’s not so tough after all.
    In the living room, my father is sitting on the couch, having fallen back asleep. I don’t know if I should wake him up or just leave him here to rest until we get back from campus.
    â€œLet him sleep,” Hardin answers, sensing my thoughts as he walks up behind me.
    I quickly scribble a note for him explaining when we’ll return, along with our phone numbers. I doubt he has a cell phone, but I leave them just in case.
    The drive to campus is short, too short, and Hardin looks like he’sgoing to either scream or punch something at any moment. When we arrive, he scans the parking lot for Ken’s car.
    â€œHe said to meet him here,” Hardin says, checking the screen on his phone for the fifth time in five minutes.
    â€œThere he is.” I point to the silver car pulling into the lot.
    â€œFinally. What the fuck took him so long?”
    â€œBe nice to him; he’s doing this for you. Please, just be nice to