Hardin Scott has been madly in love with Tessa Young since the moment he first laid eyes on her, but there's no way she could ever see him as anything more than a friend. After all, he's a bad boy with a promiscuous past and she's a sweet and innoce...
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It's already been two weeks since our anniversary and now I'm busy trying to plan a birthday party for Hardin. His birthday is in a week and I still don't have any solid plans.
"Morning, baby," Hardin greets me as he leans down and kisses my cheek. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to plan your birthday," I huff.
"Tess... You know I hate that kind of crap."
"Hardin! It's not fair you always get to plan things for me, but you get to take away my joy of planning something that's just for you."
"Tessa, birthdays are nothing but a bad memory for me." He sighs.
"I know. And I'm sorry for that. That's why we need to make new memories, together."
"We can, without some party."
"Could you please just give me a guest list for your party? And a list of gifts you'd like? I've been asking for a week!" I watch as Hardin takes a piece of paper from my notebook and starts writing something on it before placing it back in front of me. "What's this?" I ask, confused.
"It's the lists you wanted."
"But it only has my name on it."
"You're the only guest I want and the only gift I want to unwrap." He smirks at his witty answer while I roll my eyes at him.
"Could you please be a little helpful?"
"Tessa, spending my birthday alone with you is all I want to do."
"We will spend the night alone, but I want to have a party for you before that."
"You're not going to drop this, are you?" he groans.
"Nope! How about if we have a dinner party and just invite Emma and Nate?"
"That's still two guests too many."
"It's my final offer," I say and cross my arms over my chest.
"I guess I know better than to try to fight my very, very stubborn fiancée on this." Hardin sighs.
"Good. I'm glad you're learning." I giggle. "It will be fun! We finally have a couple to double date with! You know I've been waiting forever to do this kind of stuff with another couple we enjoy spending time with."
"So... the party is really for you, then?" Hardin teases as he playfully pokes my nose.
"If that will convince you to agree, then yes!" I giggle.
"Okay, Tess. But only Emma and Nate. And only dinner."
"Okay, Hardin. And no trying to get out of it!"
Hardin pulls me up from my chair. "As long as you promise to spend the night with me, baby." He gently brushes my hair behind my ear and pulls me into a hug before kissing the top of my head.
"I promise," I whisper into his chest.
"Okay, I should get going," Hardin announces and quickly pulls away from me.
"You're leaving? Now?" I ask, surprised.
"Um... yeah."
"Why?"
"I-I have to go to work."
"You never go to work. You always work from home."
"Um... I have to go in today. I'm sorry, baby. I'm already running late. I'll be home by dinner. I love you." Hardin kisses my forehead and rushes out the door.
"Yeah... I love you, too," I say sadly to myself.
While Hardin's gone, I take the opportunity to call Emma and tell her about the party.
"Tessa? How are you?" she asks cheerfully.
"I'm okay. And you?" I reply quietly.
"I'm great! Nate just finished moving in today!" she chirps.
"Really? Why didn't you ask us to help you guys?"
"He didn't have much stuff to move."
"Oh, well, I'm so happy for you both."
"Thank you, Tessa. Now, what were you calling for?"
"Oh, I just wanted to invite you to Hardin's birthday party next weekend."
"Really? Hardin's having a birthday party?" She giggles. "I bet that took a lot of convincing."
"Yeah... I talked him in to a dinner party with you and Nate. I hope you can make it."
"Of course! Can we bring anything?"
"Well, I was just going to order us pizza that night, but I know how much Hardin loves your cooking, so I was wondering if you could bake him a birthday cake? I mean, if it's not too much to ask..."
"I'd love to, Tessa! I can make something for dinner, too, if you'd like."
"A cake is more than enough. Thank you so much."
"No problem. One of these days you need to come over and I can teach you to bake for your man." She giggles.
"It would be nice for him to stop teasing me about my cooking. Although, I secretly kind of love that. I know he does it with love." I smile to myself.
"You guys are ready adorable." She laughs. "Does Hardin want anything as a gift?"
"Um..." I pause, thinking of how Hardin only wants to unwrap me. "No, just the cake!"
"Okay. Vanilla or chocolate?"
"Chocolate," I quickly answer. "Make it Devil's food cake," I snicker.
"You're so bad." She laughs.
"He deserves it after all the trouble he's giving me over this party." I giggle. "Anyway, I'll let you get going. Enjoy your new love nest with Nate. And thanks again!"
"I will." She giggles. "Bye, Tessa!"
After I finish with my call to Emma, I spend a little time cleaning the house. Hardin is such a pig. Maybe I should start nagging him more about that.
I finally finish cleaning around the house and washing some dishes that were left in the sink, when I notice it's almost dinner time. Hardin should be home soon.
I'm just about to grab the takeout menu and order us something when I glance over at his desk. All his work stuff is just sitting on top of the desk. If he went to work, why didn't he take it with him? Suddenly, I feel sick. He was acting weird when I asked him about going to work today. He rushed out of here so quickly, he didn't even give me time to say goodbye. That's not like him. Where did he really go? What was he really doing all day?
