The next day, the weather is nice, with no snow and minimal slush on the sides of the road. When I get to Vance, Kimberly is sitting at her desk, and she smiles at me as I grab my usual donut and coffee.

“I didn’t even know you came last night. I fell asleep,” I tell her.

“I know, Smith was sleeping, too. Thank you again,” she says, and her phone rings.

My office feels strange after being on campus yesterday. Sometimes it seems as though I live a double life: one half a college student, one half full adult. I have an apartment with my boyfriend and a paid internship that honestly feels like a job, not an internship. I love both halves, and if I had to choose, I would choose the adult life, but with Hardin.

I dive into my work, and lunchtime comes quickly. After several duds, I hit upon a manuscript that is really captivating, and I find myself eating quickly so I can get back and finish it. I hope they find a cure for the main character’s illness; I’ll be heartbroken if he passes. The rest of the day goes quickly as I am completely withdrawn from the world and fully enveloped in the manuscript, which ends terribly sadly.

With tears staining my cheeks, I leave for the day and head home. I haven’t heard from Hardin once since I left him asleep and grumpy in bed, and I can’t stop thinking about his words from last night. I need a distraction from ruminations; sometimes I wish I could just shut my mind off the way other people seem to be able to do. I don’t like that I overthink everything, but I can’t help it. It’s who I am, and now all I can think of is Hardin and me not having a future. Still, I really need to do something to get my mind off obsessing over this. He is who he is, and he doesn’t want to ever get married or have children.

Maybe I should call Steph after I go to Conner’s to get groceries and do a load of laundry since Hardin and Landon will be going to the hockey game tonight . . . God, I hope that goes well.

When I arrive at the apartment, I find Hardin reading in the bedroom.

“Hey, sexy. How was your day?” he asks as I walk in.

“It was okay, I guess.”

“What’s wrong?” Hardin looks up at me.

“The manuscript I read today was so sad, incredible but so heartbreaking,” I say, trying not to get emotional again.

“Oh, it must have been good if you’re still upset about it.” He smiles. “I would hate to have been there the first time you read A Farewell to Arms.”

I plop down next to him on the bed. “This was worse, so much worse.”

He grabs hold of my shirt, pulling me to lay my head on his shoulder. “My sensitive girl.” As he runs his fingers up and down my spine, the way he spoke the words he just uttered makes my stomach flutter. To be called “my girl” in any form makes me much happier than it should.

“Did you even go to classes today?” I ask him.

“Nope. Watching the mini-human wore me out.”

“By ‘watching,’ you mean watching TV with him?”

“Same thing. I did more than you did.”

“So you like him, then?” I’m not sure why I’m asking this.

“No . . . well, as far as annoying children go, he isn’t at the top of the list, but I won’t be planning any playdates soon.” He smiles.

I roll my eyes but don’t say anything else about Smith. “Are you ready for the game tonight?”

“No, I already told him I’m not going.”

“Hardin! You have to go,” I shriek.

“I’m teasing . . . he’ll be here soon. You owe me for this shit, Tess.” Hardin groans.

“You like hockey, though, and Landon is good company.”

“Not as good of company as you.” He kisses my cheek.

“You’re in a good mood for someone who acts like they’re being led to slaughter.”

“If this goes badly, I won’t be the one who is slaughtered.”

“You better be nice to Landon tonight,” I warn him.

He raises his hands in mock innocence, but I know better. A knock is heard at the door, but Hardin stays put. “He’s your friend, you answer the door,” he says.

I give him a look but go answer the door.

Landon is dressed in a hockey jersey, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. “Hey, Tessa!” he says with his usual friendly smile and a hug for a greeting.

“Can we get this over with?” Hardin says before I can even say hello.

“Well, I can see this will be a fun night.” Landon jokes and runs a hand over his short hair.

“It’ll be the best night of your entire life,” Hardin teases him.

“Good luck,” I tell Landon, who just chuckles.

“Oh, Tess, he’s just showing off, trying to act like he isn’t excited to spend time with me.” Landon smiles, and it’s Hardin’s turn to roll his eyes.

“Well, this is too much testosterone for me, so I’m going to change and run some errands. You two have fun,” I say, leaving the men to their little games.

Chapter seventy-four

HARDIN

As Landon and I push our way through the crowd, I groan and ask, “Why the hell is it so crowded already?”

He gives me a look with a little attitude behind it. “Because you made us late.”

“The game doesn’t start for another fifteen minutes.”

“I usually come an hour early,” he explains.

“Of course you do. Even when I’m not with Tessa, I’m with Tessa,” I complain. Landon and Tessa are literally the same person when it comes to their annoying need to be the first and best at everything they do.