More Than Friends

Part 174 (Hardin)

For the last three weeks I've been hard at work planning two surprises for my beautiful girl. The first is a special six month anniversary date I'm taking her on tonight. The second is a trip I've been making arrangements for. I'm a bit nervous to tell her about it, though. At the time, it seemed like exactly what Tessa needed, but now I'm afraid it might be too much for her.

"Hardin?" Tessa calls out as she walks into the room, interrupting my thoughts. "Which dress should I wear tonight?" She holds up two completely different dresses. One is a more elegant dress, like she wore to the gala, and one is a cute floral dress, perfect for spring.

"Neither."

"Oh? You want me to go on our date naked?" She raises an eyebrow at me.

"You'll end up that way by the end of the night anyway." I shrug.

"Hardin! Be serious!" she scolds and I laugh. "Which one is more appropriate for tonight? I have no clue which to wear, since you won't tell me where we're going."

"Okay... the flowy one."

"Really? So the date is casual?"

"Sorry, Theresa... No hints for you," I say as I playfully poke her nose.

"Sorry, Hardin... No sex for you." She giggles as she skips to the bathroom to finish getting ready.

While Tessa finishes getting ready, I finish packing everything we need for tonight into my trunk without Tessa seeing.

Once I finish, I head back upstairs and I'm greeted by the most beautiful sight. Tessa is wearing the floral, flowy dress I picked. She has her beautiful blonde locks pulled back with a headband and she has the most adorable matching purple sandals on.

"Wow, you look... so beautiful. You should wear your hair like that more often."

"Really? You like it?" Tessa smiles shyly.

"It really suits you, baby."

"Thank you." She giggles as she twirls around for me.

"Ready to go?"

"We're going already? It's still light out."

"Yep, so grab your purse and let's get going."

Tessa snatches her purse off the counter, as well as a nicely wrapped gift box and we head to the car.

Before Tessa is about to climb in the front seat, I catch her trying to peek in the back seat. "Sorry, baby, nothing to see back there." I chuckle.

"I wasn't trying to see anything," she says innocently.

"Sure... But just in case, it's all under lock and key." I chuckle as I dangle my key to the trunk in front of her.

"Come on! Just a little hint?" Tessa begs as she bats her eyelashes at me.

"Okay, if you tell me what's in the gift box."

"No way!"

"Then, no way!" I repeat.

"You've won this round, Mr. Scott," she jokes as she finally gets into the car.

While I drive us to the location of our date, I'm thankful Tessa isn't paying much attention. If she were, I'm sure she'd recognize where we're heading.

As I drive in silence, I feel myself getting nervous about telling Tessa about the trip. I don't want her to feel pressured to agree to it, but I think it'd be really good for her.

"Hardin? What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," I lie.

"Something seems to be bothering you."

"I'm just a little nervous about giving you your gift."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'm not sure if it's too over the top."

"Everything usually is when it comes to you." She giggles. "But I'm sure I'll love it anyway."

"I hope so, baby."

"I'm a little nervous about giving you your gift as well," she explains as she starts to fidget with the nicely wrapped gift box in her lap.

"You are? Then that means it could only be one thing..."

"What?"

"A positive pregnancy test!"

"Hardin!" Tessa shrieks and I laugh.

"The cat's out of the bag now, so you might as well just let me open it right now."

"Will you ever stop with that?" She laughs.

"Not until you give me my adorable baby, Theresa."

"I really don't know why I stay with you. You're just so... you all the time." She laughs.

"That's exactly why you stay with me. There's no one else like me."

"Well, it's not a positive pregnancy test, but I still think you'll love it."

"Naked Polaroids?"

"Seriously?"

"We haven't done that yet..." I smirk.

"Yes, we have," Tessa says confidently.

"What?!" I ask as I snap my head to look at her before turning back to watching the road.

"I took some and hid them in one of your books."

"Are you fucking serious? You mean there's been naked photos of you in our bedroom and I didn't know?"

Tessa starts to giggle. "I guess you'll just have to check for yourself."

"You better not be pulling my leg. You know I'm going to go through every single book I own just to find those photos."

"I know. That should keep you busy for a while." She giggles.

"Tessa!" I whine. "Are you serious or just playing me again like you did with the strippers at Emma's bachelorette party?"

"I'll never tell." She giggles again.

"Have I ever told you that you're a cruel, cruel woman?"

"Several times." She smiles proudly.

"I really don't know why I stay with you when you get such a kick out of torturing me," I joke.

"You stay with me because you love a challenge."

"Yes... And you're definitely a fiery, stubborn little challenge." I smile.

"Look at you being all sweet on our six month anniversary," Tessa teases.

"Wow... six months. I really can't believe it. Half a year ago you were nothing but a fantasy to me, and believe me, I fantasized a lot. Now... you're my whole life, my future, a part of me that I can never, ever lose."

"I just wish we would have been able to admit our feelings for each other sooner. We could have had so much more time together."

"I know, baby, but at least we have forever ahead of us." As I say those words, I notice Tessa begins to nervously fidget with the gift box in her lap again. "Something wrong?"

"Nope." She turns to smile warmly at me. "Everything is absolutely perfect."

"Speaking of perfect... We're here! Isn't this the perfect place to celebrate being together for half a year?"

"Hardin! I should have realized this is where you were bringing us! What are you up to, Mr. Scott?"

"Come with me and you'll find out, Miss Young."