Nothing More by Anna Todd Read Free Book Online Page A

date anyone other than Dakota. The whole dating game just seems so grueling, and it’s only been six months since she broke up with me. Is she dating? Does she want to? I can’t imagine anyone ever knowing me better than her, or making me as happy as she did. She has known me so long and it would take years for anyone to know me as well as she does . . . As she did.
    I know I don’t have years to wait; I’m not getting any younger here. But thoughts like that aren’t helping me move on.
    The couple stops for a kiss and I look away, smiling because I’m happy for them. I’m happy for the strangers who don’t have to spend their nights alone, jerking off in the shower.
    Gah, I sound bitter.
    I sound like Hardin.
    Speaking of Hardin, I can call him and blow at least five minutes before he hangs up on me. I pull my phone from my pocket and tap on his name.
    â€œYeah?” he says before the second ring.
    â€œOne of your famous warm hellos.” I cross the street, continuing my aimless trek in the general direction of my neighborhood. I should get to know this area better anyway; may as well start today.
    â€œWarm as I’m gonna get. Do you need something in particular?”
    An angry cabdriver shouts out of his window at an elderly woman as she slowly crosses the street in front of his car.
    â€œI’m looking at your future self, actually,” I tell him, laughing at my insult. I watch the scene in front of me to be sure the woman makes it across okay.
    He doesn’t laugh or ask what the hell I’m talking about.
    â€œI’m bored and wanted to talk about your trip here,” I say into the phone.
    â€œWhat about it? I haven’t booked the flight yet, but I’ll be there around the thirtieth.”
    â€œOf September?”
    â€œObviously.”
    I can practically see his eyes roll from here. “Are you staying in a hotel, or at my apartment?”
    The old woman reaches the other side of the street and I watch as she goes up some steps and into what I assume is her place.
    â€œWhat does she want me to do?” His voice is low, cautious. He doesn’t have to say her name, hasn’t in a while.
    â€œShe says she’s fine with you staying at the apartment, but if she changes her mind, you know you have to go.”
    I don’t draw many lines between the two of them, but Tessa is my priority in this situation. She’s the one I hear crying at night. She’s the one who’s trying to become whole again. I’m no fool—Hardin is probably even worse off. But he has found himself a support system and a good therapist.
    â€œYeah, I fucking know that.”
    I’m not in the least surprised by his annoyance. He can’t stand anyone, including me, coming to Tessa’s rescue. That’s his job, he thinks. Even though he’s the one I’m protecting her from.
    â€œI’m not going to do anything stupid. I have a few meetings and wanted to maybe hang out with you and her a bit. Honestly, I’m just happy to be in the same fucking state as her.”
    I focus on the first part of his sentence. “What kind of meetings? You’re trying to move here already?”
    I sure hope not. I’m not ready to be in the middle of a war zone again. I thought I would have at least a few more months before the magical forces of insanity brought those two back together.
    â€œFuck no. It’s just some shit for something I’ve been working on. I’ll tell you when I have time to explain the whole thing, which is not now. Someone’s calling on my other line.” He hangs up before I can respond.
    I look at the time on my screen. Five minutes and twelve seconds, a record. I cross the street and shove my phone back into my pocket. When I reach the corner, I look around to gauge where I am. Rows of brick town houses and brownstones line both sides of the street. At the end of the block, a small