More Than Friends

Part 171 (Tessa)

"Hardin! Could you please leave? I'm trying to do my makeup."

"I already told you, baby, I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"Didn't you get enough of watching me when you insisted on showering with me?"

"I'll never get enough of you. Period."

"Fine, could you at least move then? You're blocking the mirror."

"I guess..."

"This bathroom isn't big enough for the both of us. Where do you think I'm going to go? There's not even a window in here! Do you think I'm going to tunnel out through the toilet or something?" I huff.

"Okay, fine. But if you're not ready in ten minutes, I'm coming in to make sure you didn't." Hardin chuckles.

After Hardin finally gives me a minute to breathe, I finish getting ready for dinner with Emma and Nate. Thankfully, I leave the bathroom just in time, so Hardin doesn't have to bust the door down.

"Wow, Tess, you look gorgeous."

"Thank you!" I smile. "And you look... a little too casual. Could you at least put on a dress shirt?"

"Really?" he whines.

"Please? This is our first dinner at their apartment and I want to make a good impression."

"But it's just Emma and Nate."

"It's still polite to make an effort. I even bought some things for them as a house warming present."

"Fine." He rolls his eyes. "You're lucky I love you."

"Believe me, after today, I know that." I give him a kiss on the cheek.

After Hardin changes, we get ready to leave.

"Hardin, don't forget to grab the bottle of wine."

"Tess, are you sure it's a good idea to bring Emma wine?"

"Why not? Did you change your mind about being okay with us drinking in front of you?"

"No, Tess. I'll be fine. I'm just not sure Emma will be able to drink it."

"What do you mean?" I give Hardin a confused look.

"Well, you're not supposed to drink when you're pregnant."

"What?! Emma's not pregnant! Don't be mean."

"I don't mean that she looks pregnant. I just think there has to be a reason they're rushing into getting married so quickly."

"Stop." I swat at his arm. "They just feel like they've already lost so much time when they broke up and just want to start their life together as soon as possible."

"I guess... I just don't know many guys who want to be tied down this early in life."

I let out a laugh. "You're one to talk!"

"I'm the exception."

"Come on, we're going to be late." I drag Hardin out the door with me and head to the car.

As we drive to Emma and Nate's, Hardin asks, "So, what's in the gift bag?"

"Oh! I got some really cute stuff. I guess it's more for Emma, but I think she'll love it." I pull out a throw pillow and show it to Hardin. "See? It says 'Home Sweet Home'!"

"Great, now Nate can deal with the decorative cushion fetish." Hardin laughs.

"Stop," I say and gently hit Hardin with the cushion.

"What else is in there?"

"I also found this sign for her." I pull it out and show Hardin.

Hardin quickly glances over at it. "'Bless This Mess'?" He chuckles.

"Yeah." I giggle. "There's a lot of wonderful qualities to love about Emma, but the one thing about her that drives me absolutely insane is how messy she can be!"

"Well, that's Nate's problem now." Hardin chuckles. "When we were roommates, his side of the room was always obsessively clean."

"There's nothing wrong with that!"

"Sure, baby, it's not annoying or anything when you yell at me for throwing my jacket over the chair."

"Well, take the hint and hang it up next time!"

"But I love annoying you." Hardin smirks.

"I knew it!" I giggle.

"So, anything else in there?"

"Yeah, I got them one more thing."

"Let me guess... Some sort of photo frame... or scented candle?"

"Actually, it is a framed photo of us from your birthday party. I thought it was a nice memory, despite the whole thinking you were cheating on me thing."

"Yes, despite... that, it was a really great day. I love that photo of us. We should get a copy framed, too."

"Okay!" I agree.

"Okay, we're here." Hardin says as we pull up in front of Emma's building.

I grab my gift bag and Hardin grabs the wine, then we get out of the car, buzz up to the apartment and Emma lets us in.

"Wow, this is a fancy building," Hardin says in awe.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot that you've never actually been inside here. You usually just drop me off."

"Fuck. Is Emma secretly rich?"

"No." I giggle. "Her parents bought it for her when she decided to go to WCU."

"So, her parents are rich?"

"Kind of. Her dad's the Chancellor of another university."

"But she goes to WCU?"

"Yeah. He was disappointed she didn't go to school at his university, but proud because she got a partial scholarship to WCU. Her parents felt better about her living in an apartment than a dorm."

"How come you were never her roommate?"

"I couldn't pay anything for rent. She insisted it was fine because her parents had paid everything, but I didn't feel right about it. All I could afford were the dorms."

As we ride up in the elevator, Hardin continues to ask questions. "So, are her parents rich snobs?"

"Not at all! I love Ken and Karen. They were like second parents to me. My father had already left when I met Emma, and you know how my mother was. So, I guess they were more like actual parents to me."

"Aw, Tess," Hardin says as he hugs me. "I'm so happy you were surrounded by such loving people. No wonder you turned out to be such an amazing woman."

The elevator dings, so we get off and head down the hall to Emma's apartment.

Before I knock, I turn to Hardin. "Okay, please, please be on your best behaviour tonight."

"What's in it for me?" he jokes.

"Well, if dinner goes well... I'll let you have whatever you want for dessert tonight." I smirk.