As I move toward the table, Hardin is looking down, with a marker in his hand. I place my open book down on the table and slide it toward him. He grabs it before speaking. "Name?" he asks, never looking up.

I take a deep breath before answering, "Tessa." I watch as he smiles to himself at the sound of my name. I can tell he's thinking of fond memories as he starts to write my name. It's not the reaction I was hoping for, though. "You could just write Tess, if you prefer," I say, hoping to finally get his attention.

He immediately starts to look up from the book, until his eyes meet mine. I smile at him, but he just sits there, staring at me, like he's seen a ghost. "Tess?" he whispers.

"Hi, Hardin," I reply, my voice coming out a little shaky.

"I-I can't believe you're here."

"I couldn't miss your special day." I smile at him.

"It's so great to see you. What are you doing in New York?"

"I live here."

"You live here?"

"Yep, for just over three years now."

"Wow. New York looks good on you," he says before shyly looking away for a second.

"Thank you." I blush. "Success looks good on you." I giggle.

"Hurry up!" the horny girl yells at me.

Hardin turns to the man beside him and whispers something to him before getting up, coming around to the front of the table and grabbing my hand. He pulls me into a room and closes the door.

"Hardin, your fans—"

"Tess, I-I still can't believe you're standing in front of me. I've missed you so much. I tried to find you once my mum got better and didn't need me in England anymore, but I couldn't. Of course your mother was no help... and I couldn't find you on any social media..."

"I've missed you, too."

"Do you have plans tonight?"

"Nope," I quickly answer.

"Well, you do now. Come back to my hotel with me tonight?"

"Hardin..."

"Shit! I didn't mean it like that. I just meant so we could catch up," he explains nervously.

"I know. I was just going to suggest that you come back to my apartment. Maybe I could make you dinner. I mean, if you have time..."

"Of course I have time. I'll always have time for you." He reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear, but then quickly pulls his hand away. "Sorry. It's just a habit."

"I don't mind," I whisper.

Suddenly, there's a knock on the door. "Hardin, hurry up. The crowd is getting restless."

"Tess, do you have your phone?"

"Yes," I say and pull it out of my purse.

Hardin takes it from me and puts his number in it. "Text me your address. I'll come over as soon as I'm done here." He passes my phone back to me with a smile.

I return his smile. "Okay." Hardin opens the door for me and we walk back toward the table. I can feel the crowds' eyes on me and I start to feel self conscious.

"I look forward to tonight," he says with excitement in his voice before he sits back down, ready to sign the next book.

I walk past the front of the line and can't help but hear that same girl who's been annoying me all night. "What a slut," she mutters to her friend, as her eyes follow me.

I tell myself to keep walking, but there's something about the way she has the audacity to call me a slut, when I had to listen to her and her friend talking about having a threesome with Hardin all night. Before I can stop myself, I turn to her and say, "I guess he'll be burying himself into me tonight and not you." I give her a huge grin, then continue toward the door. I can't believe I said that, but it felt really good.