After

You . . . you make me want to
be good, for you . . . I want to be good for you, Tess.”

That I want you. More than I have ever wanted anyone or anything in my entire life.”

You are everything to me. I can’t lose you,”

“I love you, Tessa,” he says and my heart leaps out of my chest.

Don’t ever leave me, Tess,”

It may not seem that way, but you know me better than anyone else does.”

This feels like a dream. I somehow know it is the calm before the storm, but right now Hardin is my anchor. I just pray that he doesn’t pull me under

This has been me for so long, I have never wanted to be any other way. Until now, until you.”

until one of us admits we are wrong. I want to make you laugh, and listen to you ramble about classic novels. I just . . . I need you. I know I am cruel at times . . . well, all the time, but that’s only because I don’t know how else to be.

You aren’t my type, just the way that I am not yours. But that’s why we are good for each other—we are so different, yet we’re the same. You told me once that I bring out the worst in you. Well, you bring out the best in me. I know you feel it, too, Tessa. And yes, I didn’t date, until you. You make me want to date, you make me want to be better. I want you to think I am worthy of you; I want you to want me the way I do you. I want to fight with you, even scream at each other until