Marked

Chapter Four

What my mother says still replays in my head as Hardin drives us back to his father's. I can't believe my father saw me as a toy, a thing he could play with. The thought still churns my stomach. I can't believe he called her right in front of us, and had the audacity to ask to speak to me. And the nerve to ask to see me before he dies. Like I would ever want to see him after everything that happened. I hadn't realized that Hardin stopped the car.

"Tess, are you okay? You were pretty quiet on the ride back?" Harding asks concerned.

"Uh, yeah I'm okay. I was just thinking about what she had to say. I can't believe he called and asked to speak to me. Like I have anything to say to him after what he did. When I testified against him, he had no remorse for what he did. And now that his alcoholism is killing him, all of a sudden he feels guilty for what he did to me? I don't buy it. I think he has ulterior motives for wanting to see me. Like he doesn't expect me to be thriving. Like he expects me to be a drug addict or something who didn't finish high school. Not someone who not only graduated, but who is also attending college. I think he just wants to see how broken he thinks I am." I explain.

"Maybe, he still thinks you're something he can play with. Only difference from then to now, is you have a bad ass boyfriend who will beat anyone who dares to hurt you," Hardin grins evilly. I can't help but laugh at his choice of words.

"Bad ass boyfriend huh?' I smirk at him.

"Yes, bad ass boyfriend. But you know I meant what I said. I would hurt anyone who dared to hurt you. Plus, even if you did want to see him, there is no chance in hell I would let you go alone." Harding states.

"I wouldn't go without you anyway, so it wouldn't matter," I smile at him. I leave over the center console and grab his face. "Thank you for going with me tonight, I really appreciate it." Before he can answer, I pull his face closer to mine and crash my lips against his. I open my mouth to breathe, and he doesn't hesitate to put his tongue in my mouth. Our tongues caress each other as we each explore each other's mouths, like we are looking for buried treasure. Hardin pulls away.

"As much as I would love to continue this, we are still in the driveway. You ready to go inside?"

"Yes please!" I say a little too excited.

Hardin gets out of the car and walks around to open my door. He takes my hand in his, and intertwines our fingers together. We walk into the house, and see everyone seated in the living room. I know they will have a lot of questions about my meeting with my mother, but I'm honestly am too tired to answer them all tonight. All in all, it's been a very exhausting day. But it also turned out to be one of the best days. Hardin asked me to be his girlfriend and I'm working on my relationship with my mom. I will need to tell Darcy about it though. I think she will be happy about it. She has always tried to get me to talk to her. Which probably means that Mom is telling the truth about everything. I just hope we can have a normal relationship. I would love for her to be there when I graduate college and get married and start a family of my own.

"Hey guys, how did it go?" Landon asks.

"It went...well. I know you all must have a lot of questions. But I'm completely wiped out. I will answer all of your question tomorrow if that's alright?" I ask, addressing everyone in the room.

"Of course dear, you and Hardin go up and get some rest, we can talk about this tomorrow. Good night Tessa. Goodnight Hardin," Mia says with a smile. We say our goodnights to his family and head upstairs.

Once we enter Hardin's bedroom, I grab some clothes out of my bag and I begin to get undressed, totally forgetting that Hardin is in the room. But I'm not self conscious about it like I normally would be. He gives me this boost of confidence and makes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. I've shared my deepest secrets with him, and he never once looked at me differently. He was even there to calm me down when I was freaking out about my mother coming and wanting to see me. He talked me out of pushing him away, but I already knew that he would. It's been one day and I'm already falling in love with this emerald green eyed man. I never thought in a million years that I would move here and have my first boyfriend. I never thought that someone would be attracted to me. I'm pulled from my thoughts by the sound of Hardin's voice.