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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The drive home from the restaurant is awkwardly silent. I can feel Hardin's jealousy radiating off him. As we pull into the parking lot and go into our apartment, Hardin stays silent and I dread the conversation that I know is coming.
Hardin tosses his keys, phone and wallet on the counter and goes to sit on the couch.
I change into something more comfortable first, then reluctantly join him on the couch. "Okay, Hardin, what do you want to know?" I sigh.
"Everything," he barks at me.
"'Could you be a little more specific?" I fire back.
"Okay. When were you two together?" he asks angrily.
"In high school."
"For how long?"
"A couple of years."
"Did you love him, Tessa?" Hardin asks in such a worried tone that in this moment I find it hard to be mad at him and find myself wanting to comfort him.
"No."
"No?"
"Did you want me to say yes?" I sneer.
"How could you not love him if you were together for years?"
"I just didn't" I answer and look down. When I look back to Hardin, I can tell that answer isn't good enough for him. "Look," I sigh, "I really hate talking about this part of my life, Hardin," I sigh again.
"I'm sorry, Tess, but I really need to know."
"Okay, Hardin," I sigh and take a breath. "In high school I didn't have a lot of friends. I mostly kept to myself, which my mother loved because she loved to control me. When our new neighbours moved in, she absolutely loved their son, Noah, so she... encouraged me to date him. She didn't stop nagging until I finally did. He was a good person. He was nice to me and a good friend, but I didn't feel for him the way that you should feel for a boyfriend. I know I never loved him. I was only with him to make my mother happy."
"That's awful, Tess. I'm so sorry things were like that for you," he says as he takes my hands in his and I see a glimpse of my sweet, gentle Hardin again.
"Me, too," I say quietly.
"Tess... did he ever make you do anything you didn't want to?" Hardin asks with a frightened look on his face.
"No, Hardin. It wasn't like that."
"Did you do... anything with him?"
"Hardin, how would you like me to make you recount every single detail of all your sexual encounters with your exes, or one night stands, or whatever the hell you want to call them, for me?" I shout.
Hardin stares blankly at me for a minute before speaking. "I know it's not fair, Tessa, but I need to know everything. I need to know you're only mine, and always will be."
"I am, Hardin. You know that."
"Tessa..."
"We only kissed and stuff, okay?"
"'Stuff'?" he practically shouts as his eyes go wide.
"You're impossible! We didn't do anything that involved being naked, okay?" I shout back.
"What does 'stuff' mean, Theresa?"
"No, Hardin. I've answered enough of your questions now," I warn.
"Why is it such a secret?" he barks at me.
"It's not, but I don't deserve to be treated like I'm being interrogated for committing a crime or something."
"So, that's all you're going to tell me? That you dated for a few years, but you didn't love him and you kissed and 'stuff'?"
"Yep. That's all," I say and watch Hardin start to pout.
After a few minutes of sitting on the couch in awkward silence, I decide to be the first to speak. "Hardin, Noah is my past and you are my present, future and forever. You have my heart, body and soul. Can't that just be enough for you?" I wait for him to answer, but he looks lost in thought. "Hardin?"
"I guess it will have to be," he pouts.
"I give up!" I shout and go to get up off the couch, but Hardin gently grabs me by the wrist, stopping me.
"Tess, please sit back down," he begs.
I sit back down and he takes my hands in his again.
"What you just said was everything that I ever dreamed of having with you. Hearing you speak of forever with me and telling me your heart and soul are mine is beyond anything I deserve. I'm sorry, Tess. I can't control my jealousy when it comes to you. Picturing you anywhere near another man kills me. It doesn't matter if you're naked with him, or just sharing a laugh. It breaks my heart to even consider you might leave me for someone else one day."
"That's not going to happen," I say as I look him in his piercing green eyes and rub the top of his hand with my thumb.
"It might. What if one day you decide you want someone who looks and acts just like you, like that fucking Noah? Come on, Tess, you know that's why your mother wanted you with him."
"That's not what I want. You are perfect for me. I love your messy hair and your dimple that only shows when you really laugh at something. I love your tattoos and how you look in a leather jacket and skinny jeans. I love how you're my first thought in the morning and my last at night. I love how I fit perfectly into your arms when we cuddle. I love how you always take care of me. Most of all, I love how you love me for me. You don't want to change me," I say, almost out of breath.
"Tess... Come here, baby," Hardin begs.
I lean into him and he gives me a warm hug and kiss on the top of my head.
"I'm sorry we fought," he says softly.
"Me, too. You have nothing to be jealous about. Please remember that next time, okay?"
"What do you mean 'next time'?" he growls.
"If we go out with Emma and Noah again."
"Oh, no! You're not seeing fucking Noah again."
"Wow. What happened to 'sorry we fought'?"
"I mean it, Tess."
"Emma's my best friend. I'm not going to stop seeing her because Noah might be there."
"Tessa!"
"Hardin, I thought we just solved this! Didn't you hear everything I said about loving you and only you? Don't you trust me at all?"
"I do trust you! It's him I don't trust. Didn't you see him drooling all over you all night and touching you every chance he got?"
"No..." I lie.
"Fuck, Tess! Even Emma saw it! I'll be surprised if they're even still dating after that dinner."
"He was just being friendly."
"He doesn't want to be your friend, Tessa. He wants to fuck you!"
"Hardin! Stop this!" I plead.
"I can't. I know I'm right."
"Even if you are, which you aren't, I don't want him. End of story."
"You're not seeing him again."
"I'm going to bed, Hardin. Think whatever you want," I say coldly as I walk into the bedroom and slam the door.
