Page 14 of Hearts Don't Lie
Lost in their own thoughts, they didn’t speak as Hardin drove to their special place. He got a blanket from the back and spread it out, helping her sit, then lowered himself next to her. He slid his legs between Mac’s and pulled her close. The full moon illuminated her face, showing just how upset she was.
After a few moments, she untangled herself and began crying again. “I felt like an idiot. Your parents think the worst of me. The way your mom glared at me. Oh my god, Hardin. She hates me. And your dad’s face. I felt so dirty. I didn’t even do anything.Wedidn’t do anything.”
“My parents are difficult. And my decisions tonight”—he cupped her face tenderly, thumbs wiping gently over the tears on her cheeks—“well, I wasn’t thinking straight. I was stupid. I’m sorry for my role in making you feel bad, for making you look bad.”
“Dammit! God dammit! Making me look bad? You couldn’t have made me look any worse!” She smeared the tears away from her eyes as she seethed, angry and hurt to her very soul. “As far as how I feel? You made me feel… God, you made me feel so… dirty, Hardin. I’m not your dirty little secret!”
“Babe—”
“I’m not done. You don’t get it, do you? What you did? You went and got a ladder to have me climb out of a goddamned second-story window. Are you insane?” Mac shook her head and peered at him through her blurred vision, then untangled her limbs from his in jerky movements and stood. Shaking her head, she quietly said, “No. You’re ashamed of me.”
“Mac—”
“I don’t want to be with anyone who’s ashamed of me. Who doesn’t value me. Ever. I’ve been raised by a parent who doesn’t see my worth. I’m better than that. This would have happened sometime in the future. It’s better that it happened now. We’re all wrong for each other.” She took a deep breath and steeled herself. “I think it’s best that we end it. Please take me home.”
“Mac—”
“Now.”
Hardin scrambled to his feet and stared beseechingly into her eyes. “Please, no. I’m so sorry, babe. Please…” He cried, his shoulders shuddering. “Forgive me,” he whispered, taking her hands in his. “Please, baby.”
His tears broke through her anger and the humiliation she felt. “I do.” She whipped her arms around him and cried with him.
“I’m never ashamed of you. I’m ashamed of my parents. They’re… God… They’re miserable people, all about controlling me. Every move. Every fucking decision, including being with you. We are so right together,” Hardin murmured into her hair.
Mac felt him swallowing his tears. She swallowed hers too, trying to bring her emotions under control. All she was capable of was nodding.
“I’m sorry. This is on me. They found out you were on the ski trip with me after they had told me not to see you. I refuse to bow to their wishes of not seeing you, no matter what shit they try to rain down on me.” Hardin separated them gently and took her face in his hands, his wet eyes searching hers. “Go the distance with me. I see you, Mac. I’m crazy in love with you.”
“I see you too, Hardin. And I love you so much it hurts, but you’re going to have to do better than a fucking ladder.”
“Yeah.” His lips broke into a broad smile and he chuckled, wiping his eyes with the back of one hand while holding on to her with his other. “What a great story this will make for our kids.”
“Kids, huh?”
“Yeah. Mark my words, McKenna Rose Vesley. Someday. We’re going to have a whole team.”
