More Than Friends

Part 146 (Hardin)

"Tess? Are you okay?" I call out as I walk onto the rooftop.

"I'm over here, Hardin!"

I follow Tessa's voice and turn the corner. I'm immediately greeted with the most beautiful display of fairy lights hanging from one side of the rooftop to the other. There's a table with a buffet of food. And then there's the most beautiful sight of all— Tessa. She's dressed in a beautiful floral dress I've never seen before and her hair is pulled back, making it easier to see her beautiful face. "Tess... This is... It's so beautiful!"

"I know you said you wanted to spend our anniversary with just the two of us, but how about you, me and billions of stars?"

"That sounds perfect." I walk over to Tessa and wrap my arms around her waist. "How did you do all of this? I thought you were with Emma today."

"I was. I only lied about the reason. Her and Nate didn't really fight. She was helping me decorate the rooftop for our anniversary surprise."

"You guys did a wonderful job. And look at all this food!"

"Before you start making fun of my cooking, read this!" Tessa says and shoves a note into my hand.

I start to read it. "Happy anniversary, lovebirds! And don't worry, Hardin... Tessa helped cook the food, but she was very carefully supervised. Enjoy! Love, Emma."

When I finish reading the note, I can't help but laugh.

"You know, you guys really are jerks!"

"Oh, come here, baby." I pull her close to me and wrap my arms around her. "I love you so much, Tess. I was so disappointed when you left me today, but this surprise is amazing. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"I mean... thank you... for everything. You've done so much for me. You're everything to me." I brush Tessa's stray strands of hair behind her ear. "You are everything to me, baby."

"I love you, Hardin. I'm so lucky that you're mine." Tessa reaches up and gently caresses my cheek for a moment. "Hardin... are you sure this isn't too much?"

"Are you kidding?! It's so beautiful. I wish I would have proposed this way."

"Don't say that. That night was perfect exactly the way it was."

"Maybe I'll quickly go buy you a real engagement ring and propose under these lights and stars. Wait here, baby."

"Hardin!" She laughs and swats at my chest.

"I'm serious!"

"I know you are!" She continues to laugh. "Let's just eat before it gets cold, okay?"

"Okay, baby. Now, what exactly did you make?" I chuckle.

"Hardin!"

"I'm only joking. Everything looks delicious. You guys outdid yourselves."

"Oh, well, thank you." She smiles.

Tessa and I sit down at the table and I put a little bit of everything on my plate. "Mmm. This really is delicious. You helped make this?"

"You don't have to sound so surprised!"

"There might be hope for you as my wife after all." I chuckle.

"Hardin! I'm not going to be spending my days as your wife cooking and cleaning up after you!"

"I know." I chuckle. "We'll get a maid for that. You'll be too busy raising all our children."

"Has anyone ever told you what an infuriating man you are?" Tessa asks with the cutest angry face I've ever seen.

"Only you, baby. And I look forward to hearing you say it for the rest of our lives."

"I've never met someone who was so infuriating, yet so charming," she says with a slight smile.

"What about you? You are constantly giving me shit, yet I can never get enough of you."

"Well, isn't that sweet?" She laughs and crinkles her nose.

"That's us, baby! We drive each other crazy and then we have the most amazing, mind blowing sex two people have ever had."

"I'm not so sure about that. I have nothing to compare it to." She giggles.

"It's amazing. Trust me." I smirk.

"Well, isn't this the most romantic dinner ever? Is this what the rest of our life together will be like? Telling each other how much we annoy each other, then planning to have amazing, mind blowing sex?"

"Sounds like a great life to me. And I don't see why forever can't start today."

"Hardin..."

"A rooftop wedding sounds pretty damn romantic, Tess."

"It does. Someday."

"Can't blame a guy for trying." I sigh.

"And trying, and trying, and trying!" Tessa giggles.

"What can I say? I'm obsessed with having you forever."

Tessa and I finally finish dinner. I only bring up marriage and kids a couple more times.

"Hardin, do you think we could maybe... um, could we dance?"

"Of course, baby. I'd love to. We just need a little music."

"I'll get my phone!"

"Allow me. I still have that playlist with all your favourites." I reach for my phone and start to play 'The Wave' by Colouring before placing it on the table. "I hope it's okay to dance to this one. It's one of my favourites, too."

"Hardin, I don't care about the dancing part as much. I just want you to hold me close to you." She smiles a shy smile.

I pull Tessa as close to my body as I possibly can and wrap my arms around her back. She wraps her arms around my waist and rests her head against my chest. As we slowly sway to the music, I wish this moment could last forever.

The song ends and Tessa slowly pulls away from my chest and looks up at me. "Happy anniversary, Hardin. The last four months have been some of the hardest of my life, but because you were always by my side, they've also been the best."

"The last four months have been some of the scariest of my life. I've learned to love and cherish someone other than myself. That was fucking terrifying for me, Tess. Because I had someone to love, I had so much more to lose. And I did almost lose you a couple times. Those were the hardest moments. But now here we are. It was all worth it just for this moment with you."

"You make it really easy for me to want to marry you right here and now, Mr. Scott."

"I am charming, remember?" I chuckle.

"Yes, but right now it's your openness and honesty that I love," Tessa says before reaching up and rubbing her thumb over my cheek.

"I want you, now," I quickly say.

"Okay," she squeaks. "Let me just clean up this stuff and we'll go back to our apartment."

"No." I gently grab on to her wrist, stopping her from leaving. "I mean... I want you right now, right here... On this rooftop, under the stars."