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 been a week since Tessa's attack. Her bruises have healed, but that's all that's healed. Tessa hasn't been to school or her new job all week. She stays in bed all day. She only leaves the bedroom to go to the bathroom or shower. She says no matter how many times she showers, she can still feel Neil's hands burning her skin.
She told me the only time she feels like herself and safe is in my arms. Because of her words, I've been able to work toward forgiving myself. Tessa still insists she doesn't blame me, but part of me will always feel the guilt of what happened to her.
I've spent every night holding her while she cries, until she finally falls asleep safe in my arms.
I walk into the bedroom and see Tessa still in bed staring at the wall. "Tess, baby, do you want to try to go to school today?"
"No," Tessa sighs as she rolls over to turn away from me.
"Come on, Tess. You need to get out of this apartment."
"I'm fine here."
"No, you're not!" I make my way over to the bed and sit on the edge. "How about if I stay home with you today?"
"You should go to school."
"Come on, Tess. Please tell me what it would take to see your beautiful smile again."
"I don't know."
"I'll do anything. I won't even complain about it!"
"Um..."
"Tell me! I know there's something that will make you smile again."
"You'll probably think it's stupid if I tell you."
"I won't. I promise."
"Well, when I was little and felt sad my parents would take me to the aquarium."
"You want to go to the aquarium?"
"You think it's dumb, don't you?" She frowns.
"Of course not!"
"So, you'll take me? I haven't been since I was young."
"If that's where you want to go, then we'll go." I smile down at her.
"Okay," she says with the smallest hint of a smile.
Tessa changes and puts on a little makeup to hide the fact she's been crying all week. I have to keep her from changing her mind twice. I quickly rush her out the door before she has time to change her mind about going a third time.
"Are you excited?" I ask after she gets into the car.
"I guess."
"We'll have a good time, I promise," I say as I gently squeeze her thigh. Tessa flinches at my touch. "Sorry, Tess."
Tessa wants me to hold her, but beyond that, she's not ready for any physical contact. It kills me not to kiss her.
The drive to the aquarium is mostly silent. I miss my Tessa. I miss the way she would ask so many questions. I miss how she would give me shit about stupid things I do. I just want her back.
"Okay, we're here. I want you to promise me you'll at least try to have a good time, okay Tess?" She continues to look out the window as I ask again, "Okay?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, let's go." I try to smile at her, but inside I feel so lost without her. The real her.
We stroll through the tropical fish gallery, the shark tanks, the sea turtles, the African penguins and the sea otters.
Tessa seems to really love the seahorses and takes the time to tell me some facts she learned about them. "Did you know seahorse couples greet each other every morning by dancing together?"
"I did not know that," I chuckle. Usually I wouldn't give a shit about something like that, but telling me that finally brought some light into Tessa's eyes. It makes me want to learn more. "What else do they do?"
"Well, the males are the ones that give birth."
"Really? I'm glad I'm not a seahorse then," I tease.
"Hardin!" Tessa says as she playfully swats at my arm. It's so good to see her smile again and to feel her touch.
"They are really romantic. They can mate for life."
"Well, I take that back then. I'd love to be your seahorse."
"Like how Ross is Rachel's lobster?" she jokes.
"Yeah. Like that." I smile.
"I'd love for you to be my seahorse." She smiles brightly at me for the first time in a week.
"Tess, I really want to kiss you right now."
Tessa responds by moving her hand behind my head and pulling my lips to hers. Her lips feel like Heaven after going so long without feeling them.
After she pulls away from the kiss, I take her hands in mine. "I've missed this so much, Tess. I never want to lose you again. I love you."
"I'm sorry, Hardin. I've missed you, too. I just needed time to find my way back to myself and to us. You helped me with that. Thank you for being here for me, this past week and always. I love you, so much," she says as she kisses me again.
"I'm so glad we came here," I say.
"Me too! I had a really great time. Thank you for bringing me," she says with another smile.
We walk around the rest of the aquarium until closing. On the way out we stop at the gift shop and I buy Tessa a gift. When we get into the car, I hand it to her before we leave.
"What's this?"
"Open it!"
Tessa opens the box and reveals a charm bracelet with a seahorse charm dangling from it. "Thank you! It's perfect! I love it!"
