nevertheless~

part 19

TESSA's POV

"Hardin...Hardin...HARDIN", I turn around in his grip and shake his arm, the one that is wrapped around my waist. Last night, we both fell asleep, me first then later at some point maybe he did too. It was exactly the kind of the first date I like. Dinner, chatting until late, and a whole lot of fun. I remember beating Hardin in all rounds of 'Earth Reborn'.

"Just sleep, Tess. We don't have anywhere to be?", he says from a few inches above me and I push my head a bit up to look at his face. It's rested on the couch leg, eyes still shut closed and him, breathing very laboured. I can hear it from where he's holding me.

"I know, but I should at least go home. Freshen up and then we can spend the day together if you want to", I profess.

"Why do you have to go anywhere for it?", he rubs one hand up and down my back, feeling the skin there and leaving me with goosebumps to feel behind.

"How else will I get stuff done?"

"Here. This is a big ass house", he says like this is an idea he just gives everyone. Does he? Has he given the liberty to stay with him to other girls before me? He did say that he's never been with someone before and Smith did concur that, but it's not possible.

A guy like Hardin has had his share of hookups and on-and-off relationships. He is not the kind that gets unnoticed at a bar or anywhere really. I'm sure he has had a girlfriend before, one that maybe Smith doesn't know about.

"I know it's a big house, but I don't want to make you guys uncomfortable by staying longer than I'm due. And I have work to do at home".

"I don't want you to leave", he kisses the top of my head. Oh gosh, his kisses, I could hear the touch of his lips and the exact second, he leaves my skin, all day, every day!

"I'll stop by in the evening"

"What work do you have? We can work together"

"I need to learn the presentations and some more files I need to check for when we come back from France. I need to even prepare for the trip"

"It's crazy, isn't it?"

"What?"

"I've known you for 2 years, and not once did I think you'd be spending a whole night with me", this time when I look at him, he's looking at the ceiling. I climb up, from where I am tucked in his right side and lay on him and rest my chin between his chest and place my hands on the side of his face.

"Me spending the night with you, is a big thing to you?", I ask.

"Yes, it is, isn't it?", It is not, because, that's what people when date other people, do. They spend, time with each other. Night. Day. Afternoon. Evening. Dusk. Dawn...all the time. Maybe this is the answer to my earlier question.

"Why is it a big thing to you?", the obnoxious part of my brain asks before I can filter it out.

"So, uh... because. Okay a truth...no girl has ever stayed the night with me"

"Why?", I ask, very curious now.

"I've never dated before.".

"I am sure you have been with people before right. I'm not your first, am I?", I ask. Oh my gosh, my mind needs to have a filter.

"No, you're not. It's just...the way I care about you is not what I did with other people I've been with"

"Oh my gosh! Hardin. This is too heavy a talk for the morning", I sit up straight, but the small space of the couch has me sitting on his lap, it's the only option for me.

"Okay. So, you've dated people before, correct?", I ask

"I wouldn't call it dating. It was more like, we just had sex with each other and that was it"