After We Collided (The After Series) (74 page)

“Really?”

“Yeah.” He rests his chin on top of my hair.

“Speaking of getting work done, where the fuck are your rings?” Drew asks, dipping the gun into a small plastic cup full of black ink.

“I’m over them.” Hardin shrugs.

“If he messes this up because you won’t stop talking to him, you’re paying for the whole thing.” Steph looks at Hardin, and I laugh.

“I’m not going to pay for that shit,” Hardin and Drew say in unison.

Tristan finally joins us and pulls a chair over to sit by Steph; he takes her hand in his. I look over at the small and freshly inked cluster of birds drawn into Steph’s skin. It’s sort of lovely, actually, the placement of them. Drew gives her a mirror so she can get a better look.

“I love it!” She smiles, handing the mirror back to Drew before sitting up.

“What are you going to get, Hardin?” I ask him quietly.

“Your name.” He smiles.

Shocked, I step back from him with my jaw on the floor.

“You wouldn’t want that?” he asks.

“No! Gosh no, that’s . . . I don’t know, that’s insane,” I whisper.

“Insane? Not really, it’s just showing you that I’m committed to you and don’t need a ring or marriage proposal to stay that way.”

His voice is so clear that I’m no longer sure if he’s joking. How did we go from joking to commitments and marriage in less than three minutes? This is how it always is with us, so I suppose I should be used to it by now.

“Ready, Hardin?”

“Sure.” Hardin steps away from me and pulls his shirt over his head.

“A quote?” Drew speaks my exact thoughts.

“I just want it across the top of my back; it’s ‘I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.’ Just make it like an inch in height, do it in your cool freehand,” Hardin instructs and turns his back to face Drew.

I never wish to be parted from you from this day on . . .

“Hardin, can we talk about this for a second, please?” I ask him.

I swear he knows about my plans to go to Seattle and he’s taunting me by getting this tattoo. The line he chose is perfect but cruelly ironic, considering I’ve been withholding telling him about my move to Seattle.

“No, Tess, I want to do it,” he says, dismissing me.

“Hardin, I really don’t think—”

“It’s not a big deal, Tessa, it’s not my first tattoo,” he jokes.

“I just—”

“If you don’t shut up, I’ll have your name and Social Security number printed across my entire back,” he threatens with a laugh, but I get the feeling he would actually go through with it to prove his point.

I stay quiet to try to think about what to say. I should just blurt it out right now before the gun touches his clear skin. If I wait . . .

The now-familiar buzz of the gun sounds, and black ink litters Hardin’s back.

“Now, come over here and hold my hand.” He smirks, holding out his hand to me.

T
essa shyly grasps my hand, and I pull her closer to me.

“Stop moving,” Drew snaps.

“My bad.”

“Does it hurt?” she softly asks.

The innocence in her eyes astounds me, to this day. She was on her knees last night, and twenty hours later she’s speaking to me the way she would speak to a wounded child.

“Yes, really fucking bad,” I lie.

“Really?” Worry flashes over her features.

I love the feeling that comes with the needle transferring the ink to my skin; it’s no longer painful, it’s relaxing.

“No, baby, it doesn’t hurt,” I assure her, and Drew, being the dick he is, makes gagging noises behind my back.

Tessa giggles, and I put my middle finger in the air. I didn’t mean to call her baby just now, in front of Drew, but I don’t really give a fuck what he thinks, and I know for a fact he’s head over heels for the girl he just had a baby with a few months ago, so he can’t say shit to me.

“I still can’t believe you’re doing this,” she says as Drew spreads the ointment over the new tattoo.

“It’s already done,” I remind her, and she looks worried as she stares at her phone screen.

I hope Tess doesn’t make too big of a deal out of this tattoo; it’s not that serious. I have a shitload of tattoos. This one is for her, and I’m hoping she’s excited about it. I know I am.

“Where the fuck are Steph and Tristan?” I look out the windows of the shop in an attempt to spot Steph’s bright-ass hair.

“We can go next door and find them?” Tessa suggests after I pay Drew and promise to come back and let him give me an entire back piece.

I nearly knock his teeth out when he suggests giving Tessa a sleeve or belly piercing.

“I think I would look cool with my nose pierced.” She smiles as we walk outside.

I laugh at the thought and bring my arm around her waist as a bearded man stumbles past us. His jeans and shoes are dirty, and his thick sweatshirt is stained with liquid. From the smell of it, I assume vodka.

Tessa stops next to me, and the man does the same. I gently pull her behind me. If this homeless drunk thinks he’s coming any fucking closer to her, I will fucking. . . .

What she says next is so spoken so softly that it comes out as a whisper, and I watch in confusion as all the color drains from her face.

“Dad?”

H
ere we are again, the second book over already. Two down, two to go. I am going to try to make it through this without turning into a blubbering mess like I did while writing the first book’s acknowledgments. (Not likely, but it’s worth a try.)

First, I want to thank my husband, who continued to support me while I spent hours and hours writing and tweeting and writing and tweeting and then writing again.

Next are my Afternators (I think we decided on this name—hah!). You all mean the world to me, and I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have you supporting me. (Here come the tears.) Every single tweet, every comment, every random selfie you send me, every secret you share with me has made us into the family we are now. Those of you who were here from the beginning (Wattpad days), we have a bond that can never be explained. We will be the ones who remember how it felt the first time Harry and Tess kissed. You know how nerve-racking it was waiting for updates—you remember commenting things like OMH HARTYSH SHJD, and we all know exactly what it means. I could never thank you enough, and I hope Hardin has the same place in your heart as our Harry.

I owe so much to Wattpad. I have no idea where my life would be right now if I hadn’t found the platform. Ashleigh Gardner, you are always there for me for all my random questions and life advice. You have become a friend to me, and I’m so thankful to have you in my corner. Candice Faktor, you always support me
and fight for the vision behind After, and I owe you so much for that. Nazia Khan, you make my life easier every single day, and I’m lucky to have you as a friend. Wattpad was my first home and will always be my favorite place to write.

Adam Wilson, the world’s most fabulous and witty editor, you are next, my friend. I know that I drive you insane with my fandom references, Twilight references, and every other random thing I bother you with. You had your work cut out for you taking on After (and me), and you have made this into the easiest, most enjoyable experience. (Even if you sent me work during a 1D concert lol.) Thank you for everything. Two more to go!

Gallery Books, thank you for believing in me and my story. You made my dreams come true! Kristin Dwyer, you always have my back and help keep me sane! A huge thank-you goes out to the proofreaders and production folks working on this series: Steve Breslin and crew, I know you had your work cut out for you, and you are incredible!

One Direction, I may be twenty-five and married, but there is no age limit on loving something. I have loved all five of you for three years now, and you have done so much for me, not even including inspiring this series. So thank you for showing me that it’s okay to stay true to who you are.

ALSO BY ANNA TODD

After