I get into the car and try to prepare myself for Hardin's reaction to Emma and Nate's news.
"Hey, baby. How was your day?"
"Um, it was okay."
"Are you feeling any better? You still look so sad, Tess," he says in a soft voice.
"I'm okay, Hardin. It's just..."
"Yes?"
"I have something to tell you," I say nervously.
"Tess, you can tell me anything," he replies lovingly.
"Well, actually, it's about Emma and Nate. They're... Well, they're..."
"Engaged." He finishes my sentence.
"Wait. You know?"
"I do."
"How?"
"I had lunch with Nate today and he told me he proposed to Emma for Valentine's Day."
"Okay, hold on! You had lunch with Nate?"
"Yeah. I finally have three friends. I might as well take advantage." He shrugs.
I can't help but let out a small laugh. "Wow, you're full of surprises, Hardin Scott."
"I am." He smirks.
"What are you up to?"
"Nothing..."
"Um, I sort of promised Emma we'd celebrate their engagement by going to dinner."
"Okay, Tess."
"Okay? What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"You're being awfully calm about Emma and Nate getting married before us. You're up to something." I narrow my eyes at him. "Hardin... this isn't the way home," I say as I look out the window. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see soon enough."
"Are we eloping?" I ask suspiciously and Hardin laughs at my question. "Seriously! Because I'm pretty sure that would count as kidnapping."
"Calm down, Tess. Just a few more minutes."
After waiting impatiently for what is definitely longer than a few minutes, we arrive at a bridal boutique.
"Hardin, why are we here?"
"I thought you could use some cheering up. I thought that maybe if you looked at some wedding dresses, you might feel a little happier."
"Is that the only reason?"
"Well... I thought if you found one, maybe we could get married... this spring."
"Or in other words, before Emma and Nate."
"You said it, not me." He shrugs.
"Hardin, bringing me here to look at dresses was... sweet, in a deranged sort of way, but I'm not going to try to beat my best friend to the altar!"
"Why not?"
"Because nice, normal, sane people don't do that!"
"Well, I'm none of those things!" He laughs.
"I know." I roll my eyes. "Please, just take me home."
We drive home in silence and when we get home to the apartment, Hardin breaks the silence. "Look, I'm sorry, Tess. I didn't mean to upset you. I really did think looking at dresses would cheer you up."
"I know you meant well, but now is just not the time to talk about marriage or wedding stuff. I have so much on my mind because of my mother and I don't know if I even want to..."
"You don't know if you even want to what?"
"Nothing." I sigh. "I'm going to take a bath."
"Okay, Tess..." Hardin says sadly.
After my bath, I feel slightly more relaxed, until I see Hardin. I love him so much, but I'm not as sure as I once was about marrying him. He loves me the way I am now. There's no guarantee he'll still love me if I turn into my mother years from now.
"Tess?" Hardin asks quietly. "Are you feeling better?"
"No." I sigh.
"Is there anything I can do?"
"No." I sigh again.
"Are you mad at me?" he asks sadly.
"No, Hardin. I'm just sorry that I can't give you what you want by marrying you right now."
"Oh. It's okay as long as you're going to marry me someday and make me the happiest guy in the world, baby," he says as he pulls me into a hug, oblivious to my recent feelings about marriage.
"Hardin—" I begin to say, but stop myself from saying anything else.
"How about we watch some Friends until you get sleepy? I won't even complain when we watch that episode about lobsters for the hundredth time." He chuckles.
"Sounds perfect." I give him a small smile.
Hardin makes himself comfortable on the couch and then pulls me close to him and covers us with a blanket. "Are you comfortable, baby?"
"Mmm-hmm," I hum quietly.
"You know, I am happy for Emma and Nate. I'm not going to lie, though. I really wanted us to get married first, but this just gives us more time to plan the perfect wedding. And of course, it gives me more time to save money for the perfect ring," he says happily before kissing my temple. "I love you, Tessa."
"I love you, Hardin," I reply quietly. I snuggle up to Hardin, feeling guilty that I might have to break his heart. But it would be better to do it now, instead of years from now, when it's too late for him to move on.