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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I slowly open my eyes to the morning sunlight pouring into our bedroom. My eyes are puffy, swollen and sore from crying last night. I feel awful for keeping Hardin up so late, so I quietly sneak out of bed and let him sleep a little longer.
After I shower I feel a little better, but ever since seeing her again, my mind keeps wandering to my mother. What if I'm destined to turn out just like her? What if Hardin and I get married and I turn into a controlling, bitter woman like her? I don't want him to end up stuck in an unhappy marriage.
I'm dragged from my thoughts by a knock on the bathroom door. "Tess? Can I come in?"
"Y-yes," I reply quickly.
"Baby, I was so worried when I woke up and saw you weren't in bed. Are you doing okay?"
"I guess... I'm really sorry about last night. I didn't mean to lay all my problems on you."
"Tessa, don't ever apologize for needing me for anything. Whatever you need, I'm always going to be here for you, whether it's to talk, cry, scream, shout... I'm here for you, okay, baby?"
"Okay," I whisper as Hardin wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head.
"Are you sure you want to go to school today?"
"Yes. I can't miss another day, and I'm excited to talk to Emma about her weekend."
"Do you think Nate did something special for her?"
"Oh, yes! He was always really good at the romantic stuff. Actually, I used to get a bit jealous..." I shyly admit.
"Well, now she can be jealous. Just make sure to tell her what an incredible lover I was to you this weekend." Hardin chuckles.
"Um, I think I did most of the work." I giggle.
"Mmm, I loved seeing you on top, wearing that... sexy little lace number," he whispers into my ear.
"Hardin! You're embarrassing me," I say and hide my face in his chest.
"Baby, you're literally the sexiest woman in the world. You should own that."
"Well, thank you, but some other time. We're going to be late for school! Hurry up and shower, so we can leave soon!"
"Okay, okay!" He laughs.
After Hardin showers and we grab something to take with us for breakfast, Hardin drives us to school.
"Hardin, I was hoping to spend lunch with just Emma today."
"Already sick of me after only one weekend? How are you going to make it through marriage with me?" He chuckles.
I start fidgeting with my hands, remembering my earlier thoughts of what marriage with Hardin will be like.
"Tess? You okay?"
"Um, yeah. I'm fine."
"I want you to talk to me, baby. If this stuff with your mother is still bothering you, I want you to talk to me."
"There's nothing to really talk about, Hardin. I have to accept who she is."
"Tess..."
"I'm fine, Hardin. You don't have to worry."
"You know I'm always going to worry about you."
"I know, but I'm okay. She hasn't changed after all this time and I can't have someone like her in my life anymore. End of story."
When we arrive at school, Hardin and I go to class, then I meet up with Emma for lunch.
"Tessa! Guess what!" Emma squeals and jumps up from her seat. "Tessa? Are you okay? You look so sad."
We both take our seats at the lunch table before I explain. "Hardin and I went to a bed and breakfast this weekend, but when we were leaving, we ran into my mother."
"Oh. Are you okay? Is she still—"
"A horrible person? Yes. She was so judgemental and insulting towards Hardin and then she lectured me for being with him. And of course, she criticized every little thing about me." I sigh.
"I'm sorry, Tessa. How was your weekend before you ran into her?
"It was really wonderful. Hardin was amazing. First, he surprised me with the trip, then he did all these girly things I wanted to do and before we left, he gave me this new charm," I say as I dangle it in front of Emma.
"That's so sweet of him. You're really softening him up!" She laughs.
"How was your weekend?"
"Well... Nate surprised me with..."
"Hurry up and spit it out!"
"This!" she says as she holds out her hand.
"Is that an... engagement ring?!"
"Yes!"
"Wow. It's stunning! When are you—"
"This summer!" she squeals.
"Wow, that's so... soon."
"I know, but Nate and I don't want to waste another second. We already lost so much time when we broke up. Will you be my maid of honour?"
"Duh!" I scream before hugging her. "We have to celebrate! We'll go out to dinner on the weekend!"
"I'd love that." She smiles.
"Oh..." I say sadly.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm going to have to tell Hardin about this."
"Yeah, I know how much he wanted you two to get married first. Good luck with that!" she teases. "Have you guys set a date yet?"
"Um, no... I've just been thinking lately and I don't know if..."
"You don't know if...?"
"Never mind. It's nothing," I lie.
"You can tell me," Emma encourages.
"Really, it's nothing. I'm really happy for you, though. You and Nate deserve to be happy." I smile.
"Thank you." She smiles back.
After finishing lunch while discussing a few details about her upcoming wedding, Emma and I go to the rest of our classes.
After my last class, I go to meet Hardin. When his car comes into view, I feel myself getting nervous. How am I going to tell him that Emma and Nate are getting married this summer? All he wants is to marry me and start a family with me and I don't know if I can give that to him anymore.
Hardin glances in my direction and gives me a warm smile. I start walking toward him, trying to figure out how to break this news to him.
