I climb off the counter to find Landon walking through the door first followed by Karen and Ken. I gasp when I take in Ken's face. A deep purple bruise is clear on his cheek and his bottom lip holds a small cut right down the center. I fidget with my hands, twirling the heart charm on my bracelet between my fingers.

"Hey." Hardin says, looking away from his father's injured face.

"Your place is so lovely." Karen smiles and the three of them stand by the door, unsure what to do.

"Come on in. You can put those by the tree." I tell Landon, gesturing to the bag of gifts in his arms.

"We brought the gifts you left at the house as well." Ken says.

The air is thick with tension, not an angry tension necessarily, but an awkward tension.

"Thank you." I smile.

Landon walks to the kitchen first, followed by Karen and Ken. Hardin is standing so close to me that I can practically feel his nerves shaking.

"How was the drive?" I ask, trying to start conversation.

"It wasn't too bad, I drove." Landon answers.

"Are you excited to get back to classes? I miss them, doing the work at home isn't the same." I tell him. Sometimes I forget that I am still a college student. that is until I have a ten page essay to write without being present all week. Everyone awkwardly fills their plates with food, I get the feeling that Landon and I will be doing most of the talking today.

"Yes, very. I have been bored out of my mind all winter break. So when the semester starts will you still be gone everyday? I don't want to be stuck in all my classes alone."

"No, I will be at Vance three days a week and on campus the other two. I am excited for new classes." I explain.

"Our religion professor is young, only twenty four I believe."

"Really? She must be fresh out of college." I say.

"He." Landon corrects me.

"Oh." I smile and take a bite of a cherry tomato from the vegetable tray.

"What are your other classes?" Ken asks.

"Well Landon and I are taking world religion, an American Literature class, and I am taking yoga and French alone."

"Landon you didn't want to take yoga?" Karen smiles and Landon shakes his head with a smile.

I feel Hardin's eyes on me and I turn to glance at him. I can't tell what he is thinking but he doesn't look happy.

"The food was excellent." Karen compliments me.

"I didn't make it, Hardin did." I smile and place my hand on his thigh.

"Really? It was delicious Hardin." Karen smiles.

"Thanks." Hardin replies simply. He offers her a small smile to soften his short answer.

No one seems to know what to say so I stand up and place my empty plate in the sink before filling Hardin's empty glass with sweet tea.

"Thank you." He quietly says to me.

"Should we open the gifts?" Landon asks.

"Yes." Karen and I say at the same time.

Silent Hardin is almost as uncomfortable as irritated Hardin.

We walk into the living room and Hardin sits on the chair. Ken, Karen, and Landon sit on the couch. Just as I am about to sit on the floor Hardin grabs me gently and pulls me onto his lap. I feel my cheeks redden at his public display of affection and Karen tries to hide her smile.

Landon gets up to grab the bag of gifts and hands each of us our gifts, I probably should be the one doing this but I appreciate Landon doing it. Everyone opens their gifts at the same which is nice because the attention isn't on me or Hardin at the moment. Hardin's arm rest comfortably around my waist as I tear open the small box marked From: Ken and Karen . A jewelry box is revealed and I gasp when I see a blue box. Tiffany & co is written in silver scroll on the front.

"What is it?" Hardin asks me quietly.

I remove the lid and find a thin chain link bracelet with a silver bow and a small name plate tab that reads "Tiffany & Co."

"A bracelet." I whisper back.

"Of course it is." He rolls his eyes.

I knew the second that I saw what was in the box from Karen and Ken that Hardin would not be pleased with the idea that they got me a similar.. and more expensive gift.

"Its beautiful thank you both so much." I smile at them.

"She already.." Hardin starts to say but I silently plead with him not to start a fight.

He sighs and sinks back into the chair, tightening his grip around my waist.

"What is in yours?" I ask Hardin, planting a kiss on his forehead before I realize what I am doing.

Luckily he doesn't say anything or move away from the kiss. It's strange the way we have been the last few days, it feels like we finally have a real relationship.

"A watch." He says and tilts the box towards me.

I don't know anything about watches but it is sleek, black, and looks very pricey.

Hardin's POV.

"I have been wanting this set all season!" Karen beams over the box of pans from Tessa.

Tessa thought I didn't notice that she added my name on the small snowman shaped tags, but I did. I just didn't feel like crossing it out. She would let me have it if I did.

"I feel like a jerk because I only got you a gift card when you got me these tickets." Landon says to Tessa.

I have to admit that I am happy for his impersonal present of a gift card for her to purchase more books on the Nook that I got her for her birthday. If he would have gotten something more thoughtful it would have annoyed me but with Tessa's caring smile you would think he bought her a fucking first edition Austen novel. I still can't believe they got her an expensive bracelet, what show offs. What If she wants to wear this new one instead of mine?

"Thank you for the gifts, they are great." My dad says and looks at me, holding up the keychain Tessa mistakenly chose for him.

I feel a little guilty for his busted face but at the same time it's slightly amusing. I want to apologize for my outburst, well I wouldn't say want to, but I need to. I don't want to go backwards with him. It was sort of okay to spend time with him, I guess. Karen and Tessa get on pretty well and I feel obligated to give her the chance to have a motherly figure around since it's my fault her and her mother are on such bad terms. It is good for me in a fucked up way because it's one less person in the way of us being together.

"Hardin?" Tessa's voice says into my ear.

I look up at her and realize that one of them must have been talking to me.

"Would you want to go with Landon to the game?" She asks.

"What? No." I say quickly.

"Thanks man." Landon rolls his eyes.

"I mean I don't think Landon would want that." I correct myself.

Being decent is much harder than I thought it would be. I am only doing this for her, well a little for myself because my mum's words keep repeating in my head that my anger will only give me busted hands and a lonely life.

"Tessa and I can go if you won't." Landon says to me.

Why is he trying to annoy me when I am trying to be nice for once?

"Yea, I will go with. I don't know anything about hockey but I will tag along." She smiles.

Without thinking I wrap my other arm around her waist and pull her against my chest.

"I will go." I give in.

Amusement is clear on Landon's face and I know if Tessa's back wasn't to me she would share the same expression.

"I really like what you guys have done to the place Hardin." My father speaks.

"It came decorated mostly, but thanks." I reply.

I have came to the conclusion that it is less awkward when I am punching him than when we are trying to avoid an argument.

"It was really nice of you to invite us over." Karen smiles at me.

My life would be easier if she was a hideous bitch but of course she is one of the nicest people I have ever met.

"It's nothing really.. after what happened yesterday it's the least I can do." My voice sounds strained and shakier than I wanted it to.

"It's okay, it happens." Karen assures me.

"Not really, I don't think that violence is a regular holiday tradition." I say.

"Maybe it will be from now, Tessa can punch me out next year." Landon makes a lame attempt to lighten the mood.

"Maybe." Tessa sticks her tongue out at him and I smile slightly.

"It won't happen again." I say and look at my dad.

"It was my fault, I should have known it wasn't going to go well but I hope now that you let some of the anger out we can get back to trying to develop a relationship." He says to me.

Tessa puts her small hands over mine to comfort me and I nod.

"Uh yea.. cool." I say timidly.

"There is a classic car show next weekend..maybe we could go?" He asks me.

I notice the look his new wife shoots him and I know she is telling him to chill the hell out.

"Sure.. we could go I guess." I will never forget what he did or who he was but I need to try to move on from it.

"Cool." He lamely says to hide his surprise.

"Yea.." I chew on the inside of my cheek.

"Let me know if you really want to go to the game." Landon says before they leave.

A hockey game with Landon and a car show with my dad, what the fuck have I gotten myself into?

Tessa hugs the three of them as I lean against the wall. I was nice enough today there is no way that I am hugging anyone., except Tessa of course but after my politeness today she should be giving me more than a hug. I stare at the way her loose dress hides her beautiful curves and literally have to talk myself down before I drag her to the bedroom. I remember the first time I saw her in that hideous dress, well then it was hideous to me, now I sort of adore it. She came out of the dorm looking like she was getting ready to sell bibles door to door. She rolled her eyes at me when I teased her and climbed into the car, I had no idea that she would make me fall in love with her.

I wave once more as our company leaves and let out a deep breath that I hadn't realized I was holding.

"That was so nice, you were so nice." She praises me and immediately kicks off her high heeled shoes before lining them neatly by the door.

"It was okay, I guess." I shrug.

"It was better than okay." Tessa beams at me.

"Whatever." I grumpily state and she giggles.

"I really love you, you know that don't you?" She asks as she walks around the living room picking up after everyone. I tease her about her cleaning habits but the place would be trashed if it was only me living here.

"So the watch? You like it?" She asks me.

"No, it's hideous and I don't wear watches."

"I think it looks nice."

"What about your bracelet?" I hesitantly ask her.

"It's beautiful."

"Oh.." I look away. "It's fancy and expensive." I add.

"Yea.. I feel bad that they spent all that money on it when I won't really be wearing it. I will have to wear it when they are around once or twice."

"Why won't you wear it?"

"Because I already have a bracelet." She rocks her wrist back and forth making the charms hit one another.

"Oh. You like mine better?" I can't hide my stupid smile.

"Of course I do." She assures me.

I try to hold on to some of the dignity I have left but I can't help but scoop her up by the back of her legs and when she screams I laugh loudly. I don't remember ever laughing this way in my entire life.

(Sorry for the late update I have been gone all day! Don't forget to vote and comment please :) Next chapter will be New Years and Tessa returning to work, I am excited!! lol. I hope you are too! ily all!! xo)