more necessary in his life, and my head tilts back as he continues to push his tongue against mine, standing between my legs.
“Closer,” he moans into my mouth. His hands grip the back of my knees and he pulls me to the edge. My hands tug at his jeans and he pulls his mouth away from mine.
“What . . .?” He raises an eyebrow at me. He must think I am insane, coming in here and helping him break things, and now trying to undress him. And maybe I am. I don’t care at the moment. All I care about is the way the curve of Hardin’s collarbones are shadowed by the moonlight coming through the bay window, the way one of his hands is holding my face like I am fragile, despite him trying to break everything in the room minutes ago.
I answer him wordlessly by wrapping my legs around him and pulling him closer.
“I really thought you were going to storm in here and tell me off.” He smiles and presses his forehead against mine.
“You were wrong,” I remind him with a smug smile.
“Very. I don’t want to go back down there tonight,” he says, eyes searching mine.
“That’s fine. You don’t have to.”
He relaxes and moves his head to the crook of my neck. I’m surprised by how easy this is between us. I had expected him to snap at me, maybe even try to make me leave when I came in here, but here he is leaning on me. I can tell he is really trying to navigate this relationship the best he can, despite the fact that he is one giant mood swing.
“I love you,” I tell him, and feel his lip ring move against my neck as he smiles.
“I love you,” he replies.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask, but he shakes his head, still buried in my neck. “Okay, do you want to watch a movie? Something funny, maybe?” I suggest.
After a long pause, he looks back toward the bed. “Did you bring your laptop?” When I nod he continues. “Let’s watch The Vow again.”
I laugh. “You mean the movie that you supposedly despise?”
“Yes . . . well, despise is a little harsh. I just think it’s a sappy, mediocre love story,” he corrects.
“Then why do you want to watch it?”
“Because I want to watch you watch it,” he answers thoughtfully.
Remembering the way he watched me the entire time we watched it in my room, that night seems so long ago. I had no clue what was coming up between us. I would have never imagined we would come to this.
My smile is all the answer he needs as he grabs my waist and carries me to the bed.
Within minutes, he is snuggled up next to me studying my face as I watch the movie. Halfway through I feel my eyes getting heavy.
“I’m getting sleepy,” I say with a yawn.
“They both die; you’re not missing much.”
I nudge him with my elbow. “You have issues.”
“And you’re adorable when you’re sleepy.” He closes my laptop and pulls me up to the top of the bed with him.
“And you’re uncharacteristically nice when I’m sleepy,” I say.
“No, I’m nice because I love you,” he whispers and I swoon. “Sleep, beautiful.”
He gives me a small peck on my forehead, and I am too tired to try for more.
THE NEXT MORNING, the light is bright, too bright. When I roll over to bury my head in Hardin’s shoulder, he sighs in his sleep and pulls me closer. When I wake up again, he is awake and staring at the ceiling. His eyes are hooded and his expression unreadable.
“You okay?” I ask, nuzzling farther into him.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he answers, but I can tell he is lying.
“Hardin, if there is something wrong . . .” I begin.
“There isn’t, I’m fine.” I decide to let it go. We have gotten along all weekend; it’s a record for us. I don’t want to ruin it. I lift my head up and place a single kiss on his jaw and his arms wrap tighter around me.
“I have a few things to do today, so whenever you’re ready, can you drop me off at my house?” he asks. My stomach drops, hearing the distance in his voice.
“Sure,” I mumble and move out of his embrace. He tries to grab my wrist but I move too quickly. Grabbing my bag, I head to the bathroom to change and brush my teeth. We have been