After We Fell (After, #3)

by Anna Todd

My mother—everyone—will always misunderstand Hardin, and why I love him. It doesn’t matter, though, because I don’t need them to.

“Why do you turn against everyone to defend that boy, after all he has done to you? He’s put you through so much, Theresa.” “He’s worth the defending, Mother. That’s why.” “But—” “He is. I won’t keep having this discussion with you. I told you before, if you can’t accept him, then I can’t have a relationship with you. Hardin and I are a package deal, whether you like it or not.”

“The pearls around your neck hide your scars, just as Hardin’s tattoos hide his.”

I roll my eyes. “Of course you can. Every problem looks like a nail when your first tool of choice is a hammer.” He smiles wickedly. “Are you saying you need to get nailed?”

“Ahh, baby, don’t be like that.” He pinches my behind, and I yelp, sliding further into his lap, “Go with the flow.” He grins. “You’ve used that one before.” I smile back. “Well, excuse me for not being original. I like to recycle my jokes about once a month.”

“Are you plugged?” he whispers, still kissing me. His hands have moved to my chest, and my heart is thumping rapidly, making his sleepy voice barely audible. “I am.” I nod, only mildly cringing at the hideous term I have become used to.

Hardin’s eyes roll. “Fucking lovely.” He stares down at me. “Well, I had planned on fucking you before we left, but now that Mr. Sunshine’s awake…”

Neither was Tessa, but I had her shaking and moaning my name while she was still seeing Noah… though I keep that fact to myself for everyone’s sake.

Life before Tessa was nothing, only sloshed memories and darkness, and that’s exactly what it would be like after her, too.

“You know, I miss the days when you wouldn’t even hold her hand in front of me,” Landon complains. He bends down to collect the broken squares and smashed cupcakes from his floor. I sure as hell don’t miss those days, and I hope Tessa doesn’t either.

“You’re an asshole,” she whispers. The smile that I love plays on her lips. “And you love me,” I counter, making that smile grow.

I want Hardin to be my Elijah, my happy ending.

Women do too much shit to impress men who can barely tell the difference.

“You’re everything to me,” I say.

I want to thank her, to tell her that I love her and that she brought me out of the darkness, not only tonight, but ever since the day she caught me off guard by kissing me in my old room at the frat house, but I can’t find the words.

“I wish I could take you away, far away.”

“You’re just like him, you know? With your stupid fucking books,” he slurs.

Vance is his dad.