nevertheless~

part 29

HARDIN'S POV

*One night before the France trip*

As I make breakfast for Smith today, the last day I will make him breakfast because tomorrow we leave for France. He has forced me into making all the demands he has for breakfast. Bacon, Eggs, Pancakes, and my hands feel like they might fall because of the multitasking I have to do. He has no mercy on me.

"Hardin...I'm done", he brings his dish down and puts it away in the sink.

"Oh lord, finally", I turn the knob on the stove off and finally wash my hands away.

"I think, I made you work a lot?", he asks.

"You, think? I made for you 6 pancakes and all those bacon and eggs. I'm just exhausted", I say.

"But you're leaving me and I won't be able to eat anything you make for 20 days! 20 days are so much", he holds his hand apart, showing me the measurement of 20 days.

"I know, I know", my cellphone pings with a message and continuously goes off as I load the dishwasher.

"Hardin it's Tessa", Smith informs me.

I pick up my phone and I see a selfie of Tessa with her bag full of clothes lying open, shirts and pants, almost pouring out of it and a couple of texts messages beneath it.

Tessa: I CAN'T DO THIS!!!

Tessa: MY CLOTHEESSS DON'T FIT!!! I'M NOT COMING!

A small giggle falls from my lips as I read those messages, another message comes from Nora.

Nora: Tessa is not picking up my calls, what did you do?

I hit facetime on my phone and it connects almost instantly to Tessa, who is dressed in a loose top and jeans shorts, with her hair in a messy bun. She is so beautiful, what did I do to deserve her.

"Oh my gosh. I can't do this. I need help! This is too much for me, and we have only 12 hours, how do I do anything!!!!", she cries into my ears as I switch to AirPods.

"Can you relax for a second?", I say and she glares at me through the screen of her phone.

"I cannot! There's no time! I haven't even packed my suitcases yet!", she groans.

"Tessa. We have 12 hours. 12, that's a lot of time to do stuff. What's wrong?"

"I don't know what to do? Should I pack these things first? Should I go shopping for other things? Should I read the last of the documents that we have for the Presentation? What should I do?".

She puts her arms on her waist, standing tall near the bed, on which her suitcase is propped up, a small pout on her lips which if we weren't on facetime I would gladly kiss away.

"Okay, take a breath. Alright. Sit down and talk to me, what's the most important. Do that first"

"Everything!!!", She screams.

"Tessa".

"WHAT! Don't laugh at me, I'm stressed"

"I know, if it makes you feel any better, I haven't started packing anything too. I don't even know what clothes to bring with me.", I go to my bedroom, bring my suitcase and open the doors of my wardrobe.

"Nora is calling, I'll put you on hold", she says and I prop my phone on the bed.

"Hardin, I have a question", Smtih shouts as he barges into my room.

"Is dad going to stay with me?", he asks.

"Yep. Do you think, I'd leave you at his house, no. This is your house, and that old man is making his amends with you, so it's only fair", I say and he comes my way, hugging my waist.