**I just finished the first final of my sophomore year and I just want to be done already. Plz enjoy this chapter while I cry over my nurtrion and philosophy notes.**

Tansy's POV

All color immediately drained from my face the second her words registered in my brain.

"What!" I screeched.

"I just realized she didn't have her ring on when she finally woke up. They had a massive fight, but she wouldn't elaborate much." She replied, her voice heavy with emotion.

"Oh my God. Do you want me to come talk to her?"

"I would say yes, but she keeps saying she wants to be alone. She's about to be released, so I'll let you know what we're dealing with after she's had a shower and something to eat." She said. I could hear someone in the background talking to her about signing something.

"Alright. Well, I'll let you go. Please keep me updated, alright? I love you." I insisted before hanging up. I chucked my phone at the ground and screamed up into the air.

"WHY DO MEN SUCK?!" I screamed again before looking at Judd with an expectant look.

"I cannot analyze the situation and give an answer unless I know the situation in which we are referring to." He stated calmly.

"My sister's daughter, who is my age and also my best friend, was with this guy she met and pretty much fell in love with after, like, a week. Apparently everything was great, they have amazing sex, they'd already gotten through her dad finding out about them - which let me tell you is fucking incredible in itself - and they're fucking engaged. Now I just found out that he just ended things for what I'm assuming is no fucking reason, and she's in a hospital bed with alcohol poisoning, which is totally unlike her." I finished, taking a deep breath that I had been neglecting to take during my rant.

Judd looked to be deep in thought for a few minutes as silence encompassed the area around us.

"From my expert opinion, there's some underlying reason that has absolutely nothing to do with her in which would explain this. I've never a known a guy, friend or not, who would willingly call off a relationship with someone they love and care about just for shits and giggles." He explained smartly. "Granted, there are some guys in this world who just get bored and what not, but they usually just end up cheating like the assholes they are and that's what ruins the relationship. I would give this guy the benefit of the doubt before you completely write him off as a bastard." He finished.

I sighed deeply. "You're probably right." I murmured, his words causing me to think about Tanner's own actions.

"So what would you say for a guy that goes and fucks another girl and dangles it in your face even though you have bomb sex with him, he gets angry and jealous over the tiniest of things, his daughter loves you, and you made an unofficial agreement to live together?" I asked, not looking him in the eyes, but feeling his stare burning into the side of my face.

"Shit." Was all he said before blowing a puff of air out through his lips.

"Just forget it." I whispered, already feeling myself start to get emotional once again just thinking about the betrayal.

"You know what? No. Fuck him. I deserve to be happy. I deserve to be with someone who isn't going to selfishly turn their back on me and do the single most hurtful thing ever just to get back at me because their ego was hurt by their own doing. That's bullshit." I growled, feeling myself become worked up as my hands morphed into fists.

"So are we re-thinking being a nun now? Or are we still swearing off men for good?" Judd asked, looking genuinely confused.

"Let's be honest, I could never be a nun. I enjoy sex far too much. And I want my own children someday, so swearing off of men for good would never work." I grumbled.

"There's always sperm banks." Judd suggested with raised brows and a meaningful shrug. I laughed and smiled for the first time today before shoving his shoulder with hand.

"Shut up." I said through continued giggles.

"Well, I don't know about you, but a big greasy burger and a beer sound just perfect right about now. Would you care to join me? Strictly as friends of course. Belching is encouraged." He joked.

"Fuck it. Let's do it. But you're driving, we'll come back for my car later." I insisted to which he agreed.

**

"So what is it that you do for a living?" Judd asked while licking the grease that was dripping off of his burger onto the side of his hand and arm off.

"I own a flower shop here in town. It's technically my mother's, but I run the whole operation. She just pops in every once in a while." I explained before dipping a fry in mayonnaise and popping it into my mouth.

"That's disgusting." He grimaced while watching me chew. I just smirked and gave him the middle finger before taking a large swig of my beer.

"What about you?" I asked before wiping my mouth off with a napkin.

"I'm a civil engineer." He said simply. He laughed when I gave him a dumb look, letting him know I had no idea what the hell that was.

"I basically have a part in the construction, management, etcetera of building roads and other public infrastructures." He said while stealing one of my fries as he'd already eaten all of his.

"So you're smart is what you're saying." I teased before chucking a fry at his face. I didn't get the satisfaction I was looking for as he caught it in his mouth while giving me a smug smirk and a shrug at what I'd said. A comfortable silence settled between the two of us as I leaned back in the booth and rested both my hands on my stomach.

"If I had a belt, I would loosen it right now." I giggled while drumming my hand against my bulging stomach that was now filled to the brim with food. I took a longing glance at the last few drinks of my beer, knowing there was no way I was finishing it without puking.

"What do you say we go back to my place at watch the notebook? Isn't that what most girls do when they go through some traumatic relationship experience?" He asked, looking curious. I just scoffed at him before placing some money on the table.

"Not all women like cheesy romance movies. I, personally, would watch something like Hot Rod or Step Brothers over a romance any day." I stated soundly before grabbing my purse and sliding out of my seat.

"Either way, the offer still stands." He said, following me out to his car.

"Alright, I'll take the bait. I'll follow you there, though, because I'll need my car." I said. He agreed before taking me to where we'd left my car. It was nice being able to spend the ride there all alone because it gave me time to think.

I couldn't help but notice how nice the houses in the neighborhood were that we were entering. It was nothing near Poppy and Knox's place, but it was definitely nicer than anything I could afford right now. When he finally pulled into the driveway of a cute ranch-style house, I stopped my car next to the curb. There were a few other cars parked around me, and one in the garage, so I figured he had roommates. This is going to be awkward.

He guys! Meet my new friend that I just met a couple hours ago!

If I wanted to try and make myself feel better, going to another guys house I just met hours before really wasn't the way to do it...but hey, I least I knew this guys name.

"I hope you like dogs. I have a massive great dane and he's pretty friendly." Judd joked before unlocking the door and opening it for me. I mumbled my thanks before waiting excitedly to be mauled by this dog of his. I heard the sound of nails scratching against the hardwood floor before the cutest thing I've ever seen came into sight.

"Hi, baby!" I cooed as the dog jumped up on my chest, taller than me by more than a couple inches. The force in which he came at me caused me to almost tumble to the floor.

"This is Digger. Take a look at the backyard and you'll see why we named him that." Judd joked before ordering the dog down and showing me into the living room.

"So do you live alone or...?" I asked awkwardly, having not heard any other noises other than those coming from Digger.

"Yeah, I've got two other roommates but they're out at celebrating a buddies birthday right now. I don't know the guy, though." He explained offhandedly before slipping his shoes off and plopping down onto the couch. "All our CDs are in there," he said pointing to a nicely crafted wood cabinet, "pick whatever you want and pop it in." He insisted.

Wandering over, I opened the doors and began searching. Deciding I was in the mood for an ugly cry, but also a happy feel-good movie, I picked The Blind Side. We couldn't get the movie to play right away, so I kneeled down in front of the DVD player and began fiddling around with the machine. Finally seeing that one of the cords wasn't plugged in, I had to manoeuvre my body to be able to reach behind and plug it back in.

When I stood back up and turned, I caught Judd in the act of staring very obviously at my ass. He cleared his throat and looked away while trying to play it off, but I knew better. Deciding I didn't want to make it awkward, I chose to ignore the situation and just sat down a ways away from him before tuning into the movie.

"HEYOOO! YOU HOME MOTHER FUCKER?" Someone came into the house screaming about an hour later. I furrowed my brows while glancing at Judd, whose face had morphed into one of subtle dread.

"WHERE'S YOUR BITCH ASS AT?" A different voice yelled this time as the sound of their footsteps grew closer.

"I'm very sorry for what you're about to experience." Judd said looking deeply apologetic.

"What's up asshole- oh shit. Hi baby, Judd's got company!" A chubby bearded guy with a can of beer in his hand asked only to be followed into the room by four more guys.

"Why did you guys bring Tank home with you?" Judd asked, some anger lacing his tone.

"Why the fuck not, brother!" The guy named 'Tank' answered, stumbling around before two of his friends grabbed onto the back of his shirt so he wouldn't fall.

Already piss drunk at 7 p.m.? Cute.

"You never have company over!" The dude said again while trying to walk towards me, but his friends held him back to keep him from falling.

"That's because you don't live here, so when you do come around I tend to keep those I value away." Judd stated brashly before rolling his eyes. I couldn't help the snort of laughter that tumbled from my chest.

"This is Tansy, my-"

"Friend. Judd's friend." I interjected, completely cutting him off and doing my own introduction.

"Ouch bro, friend-zoned as FUCK!" Tank screamed before finishing his beer in one go and smashing the can against his head.

"It's incredible that his kind hasn't been killed off yet by natural selection." I whispered to Judd, causing him to laugh under his breath.

"If you're referring to his neanderthal tendencies, then I would 100 percent agree." Judd replied before lifting himself off the couch.

"I'll show you out. It's not going to get any better from here, and I'd actually liked to stay friends with you and I don't think that's going to happen if you stay here with him around any longer than you already have. C'mon." Judd said, motioning towards the hallway to the front door with a jerk of his head.

"That's fine, I actually really need to go see my niece and make sure she's alright. My sister never texted me about her, so I'm assuming she doesn't want company. Either way, I'm going to go pop in and just see how she's holding up." I said before sighing deeply.

"Absolutely. Text me and let me know how she's holding up." He asked, looking genuinely concerned. I smiled and nodded, remembering that he'd play fought me for my phone at the restaurant so he could program his number in it. That way he could track me down and give my family closure if I did run off and join a convent.

His words, not mine.

"Will do. Punch Tank in the balls after he blacks out for me." I said with a mischievous smirk before turning and waving over my shoulder as I made my way to my car.

Thinking about it, I'd never had a friend that wasn't Ellie and Evan. I mean, I'd had various girlfriends here and there throughout high school and college but we always ended up going our separate ways. It was nice to finally have someone I could talk to and who could give me their completely unbiased opinion since they weren't blood-related.

Then again, you know what they say. A guy and girl can't be friends without eventually thinking about the other in bed.