Man of My Dreams

Chapter 17 (Tessa)

"Hardin, are you going to tell me where we're going?" I giggle.

"Not a chance!"

"We've been driving forever! Are we almost there?"

"You're so impatient, Theresa."

"Hardin..." I whine.

"Okay, we're here." Hardin smiles at me.

I look out the window and all I see is a forest with a trail leading somewhere too far to make out. "Are we going hiking or something?"

"Not exactly." He smirks.

"Then what are we doing here?"

"Get out and I'll show you."

I hear a strange beeping noise through my sleep and slowly open my eyes and reach for my phone, turning off my alarm.

It's been two days since I ended things with Hardin. I completely skipped my classes yesterday to avoid running into him, but I can't today. I have a test to take and I really hate missing class.

I also really hate the fact that I'm still dreaming about him. But this time is different. I've had the exact same dream two nights in a row. I haven't been able to finish it before my alarm wakes me up, but both times he was driving me to the same clearing in the forest. I wonder what that could mean. What's it matter, anyway? I'm never speaking to him again, let alone getting in his car, going on a date with him or letting him call me Tess and brush my hair behind my ear.

I try to shake the thought of anything remotely related to Hardin from my head, but there's still one thing I can't stop thinking about. He called me baby. He's called me that in my dream before, but nothing could have prepared me for what it felt like to hear it for real.

That very word almost made me open the door and leap into Hardin's arms. Thankfully, I came to my senses. Telling him to leave and never come back was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I hope he respects my wishes because I know I won't be able to resist him if he keeps pursuing me.

After obsessing over Hardin, I finally get out of bed and get ready for the day. I almost change my mind about going to my classes, but I know I can't miss another day.

"Tessa?" Emma asks softly as I finish putting my books in my backpack.

"Hmm?"

"Are you feeling any better today?"

"I want to say I am, but I feel much worse. I don't want to see him today, or ever again." I start to tear up.

"Tessa..."

"No, Emma! Don't try to change my mind about him. This is hard enough as it is."

"Then why are you letting yourself suffer? He really cares for you."

"Because I want to enjoy my life again. I don't want to spend it crying, getting laughed at and waiting for Molly to plot her next cruel move against me."

"You should at least hear him out. You didn't see him yesterday. After you ran off, he was a mess."

"You don't think I know that? I could hear the desperation in his voice when he came to my door. It broke my heart not to let him into my room... or my heart."

"I really think you're making a mistake."

"I appreciate how much you care about me, but please, just worry about your relationship with Nate. And be thankful Molly doesn't want to ruin your relationship with him," I snap before leaving to go to classes without Emma.

Once I'm at school, I try my hardest to avoid Hardin. I keep my hood up, I walk in the middle of big crowds and I avoid spending lunch in the campus cafe or with Emma and Nate.

Luckily, the day is almost over and I've managed to avoid Hardin all day. I just have to leave my last class and make it back to my dorm, which seems simple enough considering I made it through a whole day and didn't see him. What's a few more steps?

As I turn the corner and walk down the hall leading to my room, I'm checking my text messages from Emma. I know she's only trying to be a good friend, but I need space from her too right now. If it wasn't for her encouraging me to go for it with Hardin, I wouldn't be such a heartbroken mess right now.

When I reach my door, I see black boots out of the corner of my eye. No... I know exactly whose boots those are. I look up from my phone to see Hardin leaning against my door with his arms crossed.

"Took you long enough."

"I told you not to come back here."

"And you actually thought I would listen? I thought you knew me better than that."

"Hardin..." I sigh. "Just don't. Go away. Go screw Molly. Go screw someone else. I really don't care. Just leave me alone." I try to push Hardin out of the way, so I can get into my room, but he's like a tree trunk. He just won't budge.

"Tess, please don't say that."

"Say what?"

"Any of that! I'm not leaving. And I don't want to be anywhere near anyone except you."

"Move."

"Tess..."

"Hardin, move!"

"No! Not until you talk to me."

"Just stop!"

Hardin reaches up to caress my cheek and I feel like I'm complete again. I've missed his touch so much. "Baby, please don't throw away what we have," he begs.

I close my eyes and allow myself to lean into his hand for a moment before I come to my senses. "No... Don't call me that! It doesn't make anything better."

"But..."

"If you come back here again, I'll call campus security," I threaten before finally opening my door, going inside my dorm and slamming the door in his face. I lean against the door and start to cry. It kills me to hurt him, but he needs to get the message. It's time for both of us to move on. He needs to let go of the idea of 'us' and I need to let go of the man from my dreams.