nevertheless~

part 01

Hardin's POV

"Hey, Landon", I call for him in the parking lot when I leave for back home.

"Yeah, Whassup?", he says and I jog near him.

"Is it alright if one of us doesn't come to the France trip", I ask referring to Tessa.

"Yeah, but with a defined and valid reason. She has one and you know it. Don't tell me you don't want to come either", he says as we walk to our cars, which are parked nearby

"I do, I do. Just curious", I shrug off and open the back door of my car and put my bag there.

"Don't be so curious about her, okay. She's just got out of a relationship and you are not her type. You don't date or did you forget?", he smirks.

"She's intolerable, I wouldn't date her if she was the last girl either. We are colleagues, stretch it too much, we are friends. That's it", I explain myself this small lie as I get inside my driving seat and start my car. I reverse my car and see Landon waving me bye and I just drive out of the lot and onto the streets of Seattle.

It's true, Theresa Young has caught my eye, just how she's got everyone's attention at work. First Jonathan always wants to keep her in every other

"I've had a long day at school and cookies are my happy place. Will you get me some milk?", he asks so sweetly that I just oblige.

"Oh, yeah. Life in first grade is so tough. Heavy labour and everything", I chuckle and get inside the kitchen of my small 2-bedroom loft. It's small, but it's sufficient. My house has mostly been, men dominated, me and my brother, it's always just bee the two of us. Smith being so young, we share a bedroom. My father comes a few days for dinner, but that's all. Smith chose to live with me after our parent's separation and I'm happy this way. Just 2 brothers. Ken didn't find anyone new, but his alcoholism is why Smith lives with me. While Trish she's happy as ever she will be She has the perfect family, she always wanted. 2 kids, a rich husband, a whole mansion-like house, everything my dad and I couldn't stand up against She has all of those riches, and she doesn't want us.

"How was school but? Did you get into any fights?" I ask and see my little brother, nibbling on the biscuits while looking at me with round eyes and a sad frown.

"What happened?"

"I was talking and you zoned out, you weren't listening to me.", he says, mentioning my earlier thoughts about Trish and her happy family.

"Sorry mate, I just was thinking about something, but you have my attention now. How was school?"

"It was good. Ms Kaitlyn gave me a star for being the most obedient kid in class today", he shows me the back of his fist and rubs my thumbs over it, feeling proud that at least my brother is getting things I couldn't.

"That's lovely, what else happened", I place a glass of milk in front of him and we exchange conversations until finally dad Smith gets too engrossed in his TV show and I leave to freshen up. The doorbell sounds all through the house, and I go to see Smith passed out on the couch with the box of cookies on his side.

You're early, Dad", I welcome my father in, and shut the door behind him, as he comes. He looks, happy? Ken Scott, doesn't look remotely happy on all days, there always is a reason behind that small on that old face.

"I see, Tessa got you cookies today too", he smirks, getting himself comfortable on the couch.

"She didn't get me those. She just gives me them, and for Smith", I take the box and empty milk glass back in the kitchen and get my father some water.

"I'll take Smith to bed", I push the tiny boy up over my shoulder and cradle his sleeping figure in my arms, as we go to our room.

"I'll get dinner started, once I freshen too", he says and I nod curtly.

Once in my room, I tuck smith on my bed, and I just stare at his happy and content face. I used to look like a boy like this, happy and in my cookie dreamland, until one day, I wasn't that boy. Ken and I have taken every possible measure to keep Smith out of Trish and her family dramas. We never told him about our mother, never let a single person hurt him the way I was hurt. We made; sure, nothing could break up this family of three we have formed here. He has grown in a happy environment, and that is all he will ever get, I will always protect my little brother.

"Hardin", Smith turns over in his sleep and faces the side of the room where I am sitting on my work desk.

"Yes, kiddo", I say as my finger continue typing in today's report. I hate doing reports. They consume too much time of the day but I got to give this to Jonathan tomorrow morning.

"Why don't you have a girlfriend?", he asks and throws me off guard with that question.

"What's that question and how do you know what's a girlfriend, you're 7, young man", I laugh to brush the question off.

"Just dad and I were talking in the morning, how you don't have a girlfriend, and you are getting old, soon you will bald, then you won't be able to find one", he says, and I can hear the snarky comment.

"Okay, I'm just 23. You don't need to worry about your brother's girlfriend", I shut the conversation down and go to work again. Only this time, what Smith says, sends currents through my skin.

"Tessa will make a nice girlfriend".

"Smith, what did I say about that topic".

"What? She's pretty, she brings cookies, she's sweet and she likes me too", he is not putting the conversation down.

"Okay. I'll talk to her tomorrow if she wants to be your girlfriend. Now, let me work", I laugh.

"Not mine, yours. She likes you too", he yawns.

"Sue Smith"

"Boys. Dinner", Ken calls for us and Smith hurries down the bed and into the living room, leaving me and my thoughts behind to clutter on what he said. I don't want to ignite another office romance and see my name being dragged around in the mud, it doesn't destroy the careers of both the people, it also just leaves you heartbroken and with a metric ton of trust issues to carry on your back. It has happened once, it won't again. I am not opposed to the idea of dating altogether. I did date back in the day when I was in university, but that changed when I got heartbroken. It's not easy to bounce back from that.

"Hardin, your food's been on the table for long", Ken calls for me, the same time my phone goes off.

"Coming", I say back and pick up the ringing device in my hand to see Trish's caller ID.

"Hello", I answer in a monotonous voice. I am in the least way interested in talking to the woman who left us because we didn't have enough money.

"Hardin, how are you?", the woman who divorced my father asks.

"I'm good. Why did you call so late?", I asked Trish. I have been told to keep in contact with her as per their divorce agreement. Being the eldest brother, 1 have to keep in contact with both my parents, even after their separation.

"I was hoping if I could meet Smith", she says and my blood boils.

"You can't."

"Hardin, he is just as much my son, as you are and Vou can't deny the agreement, I am allowed to keep contact with the both of you".

"You are, but I detest that. You can't enter our lives when you left all those years ago. Trish, this is the 7th call in all month, stop it now. It's not leading you anywhere", I hang up and turn to go out in the living room, and that's when I see Dad standing in the door frame.

"Dad".