It was meant to be

17 - Act Together

Tessa

I wake up before Auden, the early morning light filtering softly through the curtains. Carefully, I slip out of bed, making sure not to disturb him. He stirs a little, clutching his dinosaur tighter, but stays asleep. I smile softly at the sight—he's so peaceful when he sleeps. But that peace is a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me.

Today, Hardin and I need to talk. The weight of it has been sitting heavily on my chest since last night, and I know I can't avoid it any longer. Things between us have been too complicated, and after what happened with Vanessa, it's clear that boundaries need to be set.

As I quietly step out of Auden's room, I make my way downstairs, preparing myself for the conversation ahead. But when I reach the living room, I freeze.

Hardin is there, slumped on the couch, clearly having spent the night. An empty whiskey bottle is on the table next to him, the strong scent lingering in the air. His shirt is wrinkled, his hair disheveled, and there's a look of exhaustion on his face, even in sleep. My heart aches at the sight of him like this, so clearly hurting, but it also steels my resolve.

This can't continue—not for him, not for me, and definitely not for Auden.

I take a deep breath, moving quietly to sit on the edge of the coffee table, directly in front of him. I hesitate, then gently place a hand on his shoulder, shaking him awake.

"Hardin..." I say softly, watching as he stirs, blinking against the morning light. He looks at me with bleary eyes, confusion giving way to recognition, and then something like shame.

"Tessa." he mutters, his voice rough from sleep and alcohol. He rubs a hand over his face, trying to gather himself.

"We need to talk." I say, my tone firm but not unkind.

He sits up slowly, wincing as he does, the effects of last night clearly still with him. "I know." he sighs, running a hand through his messy hair. "About Vanessa..."

"About everything." I cut in, not wanting to dwell on the specifics of that night just yet. "Hardin, this...whatever has been happening between us—it can't continue."

His eyes widen slightly, and I can see the hurt flash across his face, but I press on. "I care about you, and I care about Auden. But this...entanglement, these feelings...it's not fair to any of us. Especially Auden."

"Tessa, I—" He starts to speak, but I hold up a hand, needing to finish.

"I need to be clear with you, Hardin. I'm Auden's nanny, and that's all I can be. You need to treat me like that. We can't let our feelings, or whatever this is, get in the way of what's best for him. He needs stability, and so do you."

He looks away, his jaw tight, and I can see he's struggling to find the right words. The silence between us is heavy, filled with everything we're not saying.

"You're right," he finally says, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've made a mess of things, and I'm sorry. I don't want to lose you, Tessa, not as Auden's nanny, and not as...not as a friend."

I nod, the tension easing just a little. "I'm not going anywhere, Hardin. I'll be here for Auden, and I'll support you both. But we have to keep things professional. It's the only way this will work."

He looks up at me, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and gratitude. "Thank you," he says softly. "For everything."

I offer him a small, sad smile. "We'll get through this, Hardin. But we have to do it the right way."

With that, I stand up, giving him a moment to himself. I know this isn't easy for either of us, but it's necessary. As I walk back upstairs to check on Auden, I can't help but feel a sense of loss. But deep down, I know it's the right thing to do—for all of us.

Hardin

I watch as Tessa walks away, her words still echoing in my mind. The finality of what she said settles in, heavy and cold. She's right—we need boundaries, and I've been blurring them for too long. But knowing she's right doesn't make it hurt any less.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and the dull ache in my head from last night's drinking. What the hell was I thinking, letting things get so out of control? Vanessa's advances, my weak attempts to push her away—it's all a blur now, but I know it was a mistake.

Tessa saw me at my worst, and I hate that she had to witness it. She's been a steady presence in my life and Auden's life, and I've put that at risk because I couldn't keep myself together.

As I sit there, staring at the empty whiskey bottle, I feel a surge of anger—mostly at myself. I've been drowning in my problems, using alcohol as a crutch, and in the process, I've nearly ruined one of the few good things in my life. Tessa. I'm messing this up, and for what? My own selfish needs? My inability to deal with Natalie's death, the court case, and the pressures of being a single father?

I stand up abruptly, needing to move, needing to do something to shake this feeling. I can't sit here and wallow. I need to be better for Auden, and I need to prove to Tessa that I can be the father Auden deserves. Not some mess of a man who can't keep his life together.

As I walk to the window, I see Tessa's car parked outside, a reminder of everything that's at stake. I can't lose her, not as Auden's nanny, not as someone I trust. But more than that, I can't lose myself in this spiral of self-destruction.

She's set the boundaries, and I have to respect them. I have to treat her like the professional she is, like the person Auden depends on. And if that means pushing down whatever feelings I have, then that's what I'll do.

I turn away from the window, determined to make a change. I can't undo what happened, but I can make sure it doesn't happen again. Tessa is right—we need stability, and that starts with me getting my act together. For Auden. For myself.

I grab my phone and delete Vanessa's number. There's no room for distractions, no room for mistakes. I'll focus on what matters—my son, this court case, and making things right. Tessa deserves that much, and so does Auden.

With a deep breath, I head toward the stairs. I have a lot to make up for, and it starts now.