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...
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING - SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS! ⚠️
After Tessa finally opened up about what was bothering her, I knew I had to make today a good day for her, so I make us some breakfast and read a little with her on the couch.
"Are you sure you're not going to get fired over coming home early?" Tessa asks.
I can't help but just stare down at the sweet girl I'm holding in my arms, not paying any attention to what she's asking.
"Hardin, did you hear me?"
"Sorry, Tess, what did you say?"
"Hardin, what's wrong?" she asks as she looks up at me.
I unwrap my arms from around her and turn my body so that I'm facing her. "Tess, what you said earlier about hurting yourself... I can't get it out of my head."
"I shouldn't have said anything." She looks down and starts to fidget with her hands.
"No, Tessa," I say, tilting her chin up to force her to look at me. "I want you to talk to me. You can tell me anything. If you need to talk about Neil, or the trial, you can tell me. I don't want you going through this alone. And I don't want to ever have to think that you might hurt yourself again."
Tessa gets up off the couch and starts to walk away from me.
"Tess..." I call out as I get up and grab onto her arm.
She turns around and I see tears are streaming down her face. "Hardin, I really thought I was over this. Then I got that call, and I was alone and I... I wasn't strong enough," she sobs.
I pull her into a hug. "Tess, you are so strong," I say as I rub her back and stroke her hair.
"I'm not or I wouldn't have thought about hurting myself or had so much to drink," she cries into my chest.
"I should have been here for you, Tessa. I'm so sorry, baby, but I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere." Tessa continues to cry into my chest as I hold her. I hate to see her in pain, especially when I can't do a damn thing to stop it. "Tessa, I'm so proud of you for being brave enough to testify."
"Really?" she sniffles.
I pull her back and cup her cheeks. "Yes. It's because you are so brave that you will be able to protect other women from experiencing what you did."
"Hardin..."
"My brave girl," I say as I hug her again and she wraps her arms around my waist.
"I love you," she says into my chest.
"I love you, so, so much. Tess," I begin to say as I pull her back and force her to look at me, "Do you promise to talk to me when something is bothering you?"
"Yes," she quietly replies.
"Is there anything you want to say to me now?"
"Yes."
"Okay, baby, what is it?"
"I missed you."
"I missed you," I say as I wipe a tear from her cheek.
"Kiss me?"
"You don't have to ask me twice," I quietly chuckle before kissing her perfect lips.
After I pull away, she reaches up to rub her thumb gently across my cheek. "Thank you for being so understanding and supportive. I'm sorry this is happening again."
"We'll get through this together and then you'll be able to put it behind you forever, okay?"
"Yes," she says as she gives me a small smile.
"Now, there's the smile I love." I run my thumb over her bottom lip.
Tessa grabs my hand and locks eyes with me before pulling me to the bedroom.
When we get to the bedroom, Tessa begins to kiss me as she reaches for the hem of my shirt.
I gently grab her wrists, stopping her, and pull away from her lips. "Tess, we can't do this right now."
"Why?" She pouts.
"It wouldn't be right to do this when you're vulnerable like this."
"Hardin, I missed you so much and right now I need to feel safe and loved. I feel that most when I'm in your arms."
"Are you sure?" I ask as I tuck her hair behind her ear.
"Yes," she says as she smiles up at me.
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