When Hardin returns from dropping Anne off at the airport I am still awake. I hear him drop his clothes onto the floor and climbs back into bed wearing only boxers. He wraps his arms around me once more.  I am still a little irritated with him from our earlier conversation but his arms are cold and I missed him during his absence from our bed.

"I go back to work tomorrow." I say after a few minutes,  unsure if he is awake or not.

"I know." He is awake.

"Is something wrong?" I ask, his tone sounds off.

"No, just tired." He says.

Okay.. I am excited to get back to Vance."

"Why?"

"Because I love it there and I have had the week off, I miss working."

"You're quiet the over-achiever." He mocks, I know he is rolling his eyes even though I can not see his face.

"Sorry that I love my internship and you don't like your job." I smile.

"I do like my job, and I had the same job you had but I left it for something better." Hardin brags.

"Do you only like it more because you get to do it from home?"

"Yea, that's the main reason."

"What's the other reason?"

"I felt like people thought I only got the job because of Vance."

This is not a huge revelation but it's a much more honest answer than I expected from him. I expected a word or two about how the job sucked or was annoying.

"Do you think people thought that?" I roll onto my back from my side and Hardin leans up on his elbow to look down at me.

"I don't know, no one said it but I felt like they were thinking it. Especially after he hired me on as an actual employee not just an intern."

"Do you think he was upset when you left to work for someone else?"

"No, I don't think so. His employees were constantly complaining about my supposed attitude anyway." He smiles. His smile appears especially bright in the half lit bedroom.

"Supposed attitude?" I tease.

He cups my cheek beneath his hand and drips his head down to kiss my forehead.

"Yes supposed, I am very charming. No attitude at all." He smiles against my skin.

I giggle and he smiles, pressing his forehead against mine.

"What do you want to do today?" He asks.

"I don't know, I was thinking of calling Landon and going to the store."

"For what?"

"To talk to him and see when he can meet up with me. I would like to give him those tickets."

"The gifts are at their house, I am sure they already opened them."

"I don't see them opening them without us being there."

"I would."

"My point exactly." I tease him.

"Do you think.. what do you think about me apologizing.. well not apologizing.. but what if I called him, you know my dad?"

"I think you should call him. I don't expect you to apologize and I am sure he doesn't either but I do think you shouldn't let what happened yesterday ruin the beginning of a relationship you were forming with him." I know that I need to tread lightly when it comes to Hardin and Ken.

"I guess.." He sighs.

"After I hit him, I thought for a second that you were going to stay there and make me leave."

"You did?"

"Yea, I did. I am glad you didn't but that's what I thought."

I lift my head off the mattress and plant a small kiss on his jawline instead of answering. I have to admit that I probably would have done what he assumed I would do if he wouldn't have came clean about his past, that changed everything for me. It changed the way I look at Hardin, not in a negative way, or positive, just a more understanding way.

"I can call him today I guess."

"Do you think that we could go to their house? I really want to give them their gifts."

"We could just tell them to open them while you are on the phone, that's basically the same only you won't have to see their fake smiles at your terrible presents."

"Hardin!" I whine.

He chuckles and lays his head on my chest.

"I'm teasing, you give the best gifts. That keychain with the wrong sports team was killer." He laughs.

"Go back to bed." I swat at his messy hair.

"What did you need from the store?" He asks. I forgot that I mentioned the store.

"Nothing."

"You said you needed to go to the store, what do you need plugs or something?"

"Plugs?"

"You know to ..plug yourself." What?

"I don't get it." I tell him.

"Tampons."

"Oh..no." I flush.

"Do you even have a period?"

"Oh my god Hardin, stop talking about it."

"What? Your embarrassed to talk about your period with me?" When he lifts up to look at me, a huge grin is plastered on his face.

"I'm not embarrassed. It is just inappropriate." I defend, highly embarrassed.

"We have done quiet a few inappropriate things Theresa." He smiles.

"Don't call me Theresa, and stop talking about it!" I groan and cover my face with my hands.

"Are you bleeding now?" He asks. I feel his hand travel down my stomach.

"No.. " I lie.

I have gotten away with him not noticing before, usually because we are always on and off.  I have been lucky enough to never have him take pay attention when it was that time of month. Now that we are going to be around one another more steadily I knew this would happen, I just was hoping that it wouldn't.

"So you wouldn't mind if I.." His hands slips into the top of my panties.

"Hardin!" I squeal and remove his hand.

"Admit then, say I am on my period." He taunts.

"No, I am not saying that." I know my face is solid red by now. I have managed to make it this far without him even thinking about it and I was hoping it would continue that way.

"Come on, it's just a little blood."

"You are disgusting."

"I think I am bloody amazing." He smiles, obviously proud of his ridiculous joke.

"You're obnoxious."

"You need to lighten up, learn to go with the flow." He laughs harder.

"Oh my god! Okay, if I say it will you stop with the menstrual jokes?"

"I am not making jokes. Period."

His laugh is contagious and it feels great to be laying in bed laughing with Hardin, despite the subject of conversation.

"I am on my period, I just started right before you got home."

"Why are you embarrassed by it?"

"I'm not, I just don't think it's something that women should discuss."

"It's not a big deal, I don't mind a little blood." He presses himself against me.

"You're gross." I scrunch my nose.

"I've been called worse." He smiles.

"You're in a good mood today." I point out.

"Maybe you would be too if it wasn't that time of month."

I groan and grab the pillow from behind me to cover my face.

"Can we please talk about something else?" I say through the pillow.

"Sure.. sure.. someone's bloody panties are in a twist." He laughs.

I pull the pillow from my face and hit him in the head with it before climbing off the bed.

I hear him laughing as he opens the dresser, to put pants on I assume. It is early, only seven in the morning but I am wide awake now. I start a pot of coffee and open the cabinet to make myself a bowl of cereal. I can't believe Christmas is over, in a few days the year will be over.

"What do you usually do to celebrate the new year?" I ask Hardin when he sits down at the table wearing white cotton drawstring pants.

"Go out, usually."

"Go where?"

"Parties, or club. Or both. Last year was both."

"Oh."  I hand Hardin a bowl of cereal.

"What would you like to do?"

"I'm not sure. I want to go out I think." I answer.

"You do?"

"Yea.. don't you?"

"I don't really give a shit what we do but if you want to go out that is what we will do." He brings the spoon full of cheerios to his mouth.

"Okay." I have no idea where we will go or what we will do but I do want to go somewhere.

"Are you going to ask your father if we can stop by today?" I ask him and take seat next to him.

"I don't know.."

"Maybe they could come here?" I suggest. Hardin's eyes narrow.

"I don't think so."

"Why not? You would be more comfortable here right?"

He closes his eyes for a moment before opening them again.

"I guess. I will call now."

"It's too early you will wake them."

"And?"

"Just wait until nine. It's rude to wake them up this early." I say and stand up from the table.

"Where are you going?" He asks.

"To clean obviously."

"Clean what? The place is spotless."

"No it's not, and I want it to be perfect if we are having guests over." I rinse my bowl and place it into the dishwasher.

"Of course you do." He smiles.

"You could help clean you know? Since you are the one making the mess." I suggest.

"Oh, no. You are much better at cleaning than I am."

I roll my eyes but I don't mind honestly because I like things a certain way and Hardin's version of cleaning is not actually cleaning, he shoves things wherever they will fit.

"Don't forget you need to go to the store to get your plugs." He laughs.

"Stop calling them that!" I throw a dish towel at his face and he laughs harder at my embarrassment.

(Sorry for not updating yesterday, I worked all day and I was so tired. But if you vote and comment tons I will double update later today :) xo