Hardin watches as Tessa drives away with Zed, reflecting on the bet that led to the end of their romantic relationship. The bet was about who could take Tessa's virginity first, and Hardin won. However, he realizes that he is in love with Tessa and fears that he has lost the most important thing in his life.
Zed explains the details of the bet to Tessa, revealing that Hardin kept postponing the deadline and lowering the amount of the winnings. Hardin also asked Zed and Jace to keep the bet a secret and even offered Jace a significant sum of money to not tell Tessa about it. Tessa shares this information with her best friend Landon when she arrives at his house. Meanwhile, Hardin shows up and pleads with Tessa to let him explain. When Tessa asks him to leave, he becomes angry and punches the wall. Hardin's father and stepmother, Ken and Karen, tell him to leave, and eventually, he does.
Tessa has a paid internship at Vance Publishing, which Ken and Hardin helped her secure. Her boss's secretary, Kimberly, expresses concern about Tessa's appearance, as she looks sickly. Later, Christian Vance, Tessa's boss, visits her and invites her to a publishing conference in Seattle over the weekend. Tessa calls her mother to inform her about the breakup with Hardin. Although her mother is distant and unsympathetic, she allows Tessa to come home.
Tessa assumes that the woman is someone Hardin intends to sleep with and tries to leave, but Hardin stops her. He explains that the woman is just a colleaguewho might sublet the apartment since he can't stay there without Tessa. Hardin confesses his love for Tessa and acknowledges his mistake. However, Tessa cannot be with someone she doesn't trust. Hardin insists that he never told his friends the truth about their sex life and admits that he made up stories to impress them. While expressing his regret, he becomes angry when he learns that Tessa went to see Noah. Hardin wants her to stay not only to work things out but also because she has nowhere else to go. Tessa lies, saying that her mother and Noah are waiting for her, and leaves.
Tessa calls her mother to ask if she can return to the dorms, but her mother hasn't arranged it yet. Unable to find a place to stay, Tessa checks into a local motel. To her surprise, she encounters Trevor, a member of the financial team at Vance Publishing, who is also staying at the motel due to plumbing issues at his house. Tessa informs Trevor that she and Hardin have broken up. Trevoris also attending the publishing conference in Seattle that weekend because Christian wants him to help evaluate potential buildings for a new office.
Hardin goes to his father Ken and stepmother Karen's place, but when Ken suggests that he should give Tessa some space, Hardin becomes angry and leaves. He tries calling Tessa, but her voicemail box is full. Hardin experiences a nightmare about the night his mother was raped by men who his father had gotten into a fight with earlier. These traumatic events occurred when Hardin was a young child. Sleeping next to Tessa used to alleviate his nightmares, but now that she's gone, they have returned.
Tessa gets ready for work, but her car won't start. Trevor offers her a
ride, and she accepts. Her day at work goes smoothly, except for the fact that her mother still hasn't arranged for her to move back into the dorms. At work, Kimberly informs Tessa that she, Trevor, Christian, and Tessa will be going to Seattle in Christian's chauffeured car. After work, when Tessa goes downstairs to meet Trevor, she finds Hardin instead. Hardin becomes jealous at the thought of Trevor driving Tessa, and he threatens him with physical violence. Tessa manages to calm Hardin down.
Hardin offers to have Tessa's car fixed, butshe refuses. They argue about Hardin's deceit, and eventually, Hardin agrees to back off. Trevor drives Tessa back to the motel. The following morning, Tessa prepares for the trip to Seattle and then calls a mechanic to come and pick up her car. However, she discovers from the front desk that Hardin had the car towed away himself.
During the drive to Seattle, Tessa and Kimberly discuss Hardin. Kimberly suggests that they should all go to a club that night. Tessa is only 18 and can't legally enter a club, but Kimberly assures her that Christian's connections can get them in anywhere.
Jace persuades Hardin to go to Zed's place. While driving, Hardin admits that sleeping around gets tiresome quickly. Jace taunts him, saying that Tessa "really did a number on you." He also points out that Tessa is single again, causing Hardin to get angry.
Tessa and her coworkers arrive at the hotel and complete the check-in process. They gather in Christian and Kimberly's suite to discuss their itinerary for the conference. After a quick lunch, they head to the
conference, where Christian introduces Tessa to many people present, aiming to promote her career.
Hardin and Jace visit Zed's place, where they encounter Molly, a woman from Hardin's past fling. Hardin starts drinking and becomes obsessed with the thought of Tessa spending the weekend with Trevor.
After the day's conference events, Tessa and the others return to their rooms to get ready for a night out. Tessa and Trevor end up in the lobby together, and Trevor is visibly impressed by Tessa's dress. They have dinner before heading to a local club. Thanks to Christian's influence, they easily gain admission to the club's VIP section. Despite Tessa's reluctance to drink, Kimberly orders a drink called Sex on the Beach for her.
An intoxicated Molly makes advances towards Hardin, promising to help him forget about Tessa. Hardin rejects her, which angers Molly. She starts insulting Tessa, claiming that Hardin has changed since meeting her. Molly reveals that Jace encouraged her to expose the bet to Tessa, as Jace wanted to be with Tessa himself. Hardin loses control and physically attacks Jace until Logan intervenes, pulling him away. Hardin warns them not to say anything else about Tessa and storms out.
Feeling drunk, Tessa dances with Kimberlyat the club. When she receives a call from her mother, she ignores it, but it reminds her that Hardin hasn't tried to contact her all day. Tessa decides to call Hardin, but he doesn't answer initially. He eventually calls her back, and she admits that she's drunk. Hardin asks where she is, but Tessa refuses to disclose her location. When Hardin becomes jealous upon learning that
Trevor is at the club with Tessa, she abruptly hangs up on him. Tessa proceeds to dance with a stranger and kisses him before leaving the club with Kimberly and the rest of the group. Tessa returns to her room and falls asleep.
Trevor visits Tessa's room because they accidentally switched phones. While they talk, there's a knock at the door, and it's Hardin. He instantly becomes jealous upon seeing Trevor, but Tessa assures him that there's nothing between them. After Trevor leaves, Tessa and Hardin argue. Being drunk gives Tessa confidence, and she straddles Hardin's lap, seducing him. Hardin tries to resist, knowing that she's intoxicated, but she persists.
Hardin continues his attempts to stop Tessa, but she performs oral sex on him. Then she lies down on the bed and insists that he reciprocate. Hardin can't resist the opportunity to be with her again. Tessa asks if he has a condom, and although he does, she feels a slight annoyance at the expectation. They have sex, and during the encounter, Hardin confesses his love for her. Tessa silences him and falls asleep. Hardin lies next to her, realizing that she has transformed him into a man he never wanted to become - one completely under the control of a woman.
Tessa wakes up early the next morning, horrified by her actions. She quickly jumps into the shower while Hardin contemplates the state of their relationship. Tessa still hasn't forgiven him. He insists that they need to talk things out, but she refuses. They argue, and Tessa admits to kissing a stranger at the club. Hurt by this revelation, Hardin announces that he slept with Molly.
After the conference, Tessa returns to her room to get ready for dinner with Trevor. She calls her mother and learns that she won't be able to move back into the dorms until after Christmas break. Reluctantly, Tessa agrees to spend the break at her mother's house. Shechecks her phone for any missed calls from Hardin, but there are none.
Hardin goes to Ken and Karen's home, hoping to speak to his father about Tessa. Instead, he talks to Landon and admits that telling Tessa he had slept with Molly was a jealous lie. He acknowledges that everything he did was unforgivable, but he still believes that Tessa loves him. Ken appears, and Hardin informs him that he has changed his Christmas plans. Instead of going to England with Tessa, he will take his mother to Washington.
Tessa goes on a pleasant date with Trevor, but when he tries to kiss her, she refuses. The next day, Tessa and Kimberly go shopping while the men attend to business. When Tessa returns to the motel, she pays for two more days. To her surprise, she finds her car parked in the lot, and even more surprising, she discovers that Hardin has left a birthday gift in the car - a loaded e-reader with books they have previously discussed.
On her birthday, Tessa wakes up late in the afternoon and finds birthday wishes from many friends on her phone. She calls her mother and feigns illness. She spends her day reading with the e-reader and ordering Chinese takeout. Hardin doesn't contact her, which leads her to compare him to Trevor. Landon visits and tells Tessa that Hardin loves her but admits that love doesn't always align with common sense. Landon reveals that Hardin sought his advice about their relationship and shares that Hardin didn't actually sleep with Molly. Learning that Tessa plans to stay at the motel for Christmas, Landon suggests that she
come to his home, as his mother likely bought her a gift. Tessa considers going to the apartment she shares with Hardin since he is supposed to be in London.
Trish, Hardin's mother, arrives with him at the apartment. It becomes clear that Trish is unaware of Tessa and Hardin's breakup. In private, Hardin confesses to Tessa that he hasn't told his mother the truth because he doesn't want to ruin Trish's excitement about him finally finding someone to love. Reluctantly, Tessa agrees to play along. Later, Trish convinces Tessa to spend the night, and Hardin promises to tell his mother the truth the following day.
Tessa, Hardin, and Trish watch a movie together and thencook dinner. Tessa notices that Hardin is unusually nice and quiet, trying not to say anything wrong. Tessa no longer wants to fight and after they clean up, she discovers Hardin crying in the bedroom. He apologizes again and asks Tessa not to leave.
Both Tessa and Hardin struggle to sleep. Hardin suggests turning on the television and eventually confesses to Tessa that he didn't sleep with Molly. Hardin starts asking about the man Tessa kissed, pushing her until she tells him that he has no right to pry so forcefully.
Hardin reflects on a dinner he had with another girl while he was apart from Tessa and realizes how disinterested he felt in her. He acknowledges that he has been too intense with his jealousy towards Tessa and recognizes the need to give her some space. Hardin decides that he will work on fixing what has gone wrong between them.
Tessa arrives at her mother's house. Her mother suggests inviting Noah and his family to dinner so they can see how well Tessa is doing. Tessa takes a nap until her mother wakes her up to inform her that Noah is there. Noah reveals to Tessa that her estranged father, who has a history of substance abuse and volatile behavior, is back in town. Tessa confronts her mother, who confirms the truth. Upset by the news, Tessa leaves. She calls Hardin and tells him that she is coming back.
Hardin meets Tessa in the parking lot and escorts her back to the apartment. Tessa shares what happened with her father, expressing anger towards her mother for not informing her about his return. Tessa asks to stay at the apartment for a while, and Hardin agrees.
After Hardin brings Tessa's belongings back to the apartment, she convinces him to go to the mall with his mother, Trish. While they are out, Tessa tidies up the apartment and prepares dinner. It is late when Hardin and Trish return. That night, Hardin has a nightmare, and Tessa wakes him up, settles him on the bed, and gets him a glass of water. Trish inquires about what happened, and Tessa reveals that Hardin had a nightmare. Tessa returns to the bedroom and joins Hardin in bed.
Hardin leaves early in the morning, claiming to have work to do. Tessa and Trishhave coffee and discuss Hardin's nightmare. Tessa admits that she is aware of the attack on Trish when Hardin was young. Trish expresses gratitude for Tessa being there for Hardin, revealing that she had attempted to get him therapy, but he refused to speak to anyone. Tessa then confesses that she and Hardin broke up because he told a significant lie. Trish assures Tessa that she shouldn't feel obligated to forgive Hardin but acknowledges that she sees a change in him since he
started seeing Tessa.
Trish and Tessa go out to get their hair done and do some shopping. When they return to the apartment, they find Hardin working on the couch. In the bedroom, Hardin confesses to Tessa that he went to speak to Landon that morning about her. They have a quarrel, but ultimately decide to move forward with their relationship.
Landon invites Tessa, Hardin, and Trish to his house for Christmas, but Hardin declines the invitation. Tessa realizes that she doesn't have any gifts for Landon and his family, so she and Hardin go shopping at the mall. While there, they unexpectedly encounter Stephanie, Tessa's former roommate, and Tristan, Stephanie's boyfriend and a friend of Hardin's. Tessa still holds a grudge against Stephanie for not telling her about the bet between Hardin and Zed. Stephanie points out that what Hardin did was worse, but Tessa forgave him. Tessa acknowledges the truth in Stephanie's statement. Stephanie also reveals that Hardin beat up Jace for his involvement in exposing the truth about the bet to Tessa.
Hardin promises never to hurt Tessa again. Tessa expresses her fear of being used and mistreated by people who are supposed to care about her. They both express their love for each other, and Tessa asks Hardin to take things slow. Hardin agrees.
Tessa and Hardin kiss and cuddle onthe bed. Tessa feels guilty for not having a Christmas present for Hardin, but he reassures her that it's okay. Tessa asks Hardin to promise to be kinder to his mom, and they settle down to watch a movie with Trish. While making cookies, Tessa mentions Karen, Ken's new wife. Trish reveals that Hardin has been spending time with Ken, which was the reason Trish sent him to university in Washington State. Trish also mentions that she has a new boyfriend, Mike, who happens to be their long-time neighbor.
Hardin finds it challenging to sleep beside Tessa without touching her, constantly reminding himself that she wants to take things slow. Tessa also struggles to keep her hands off him, and they end up having sex.
Tessa's mother calls, insisting that Tessa come home for the holiday, but Tessa refuses. Tessa, Hardin, and Trish discuss the idea of opening their presents on Christmas Eve since they won't be together on Christmas Day. However, Tessa accidentally reveals that Landon invited Trish and Hardin to Ken and Karen's house. Surprisingly, Trish expresses her desire to go. The three of them proceed to open their presents. Tessa is pleasantly surprised when she receives a charm bracelet from Hardin, with each charm symbolizing something meaningful in their relationship, including a customized infinity symbol resembling one of Hardin's tattoos.
Tessa expresses her gratitude to Hardin with a passionate kiss. Hardin takes a nap, and Tessa settles down with her e-reader. Suddenly, she hears her mother's voice as her mother bursts through the door, intending to take Tessa home. Trish tries to block her, but Tessa's mother reveals that Hardin made a bet with his friend about taking Tessa's virginity first. Trish immediately backs off, confronting Hardin and reminding him of what happened the last time. Tessa is shocked by Trish's comment and outraged that her mother shared such personal information given in confidence.
Tessa is shocked by Trish's comment and equally outraged by her mother's breach of trust. Hardin confronts Tessa's mother for invading their home, while Trish argues that although Hardin was wrong, Tessa's mother is also wrong for trying to control her daughter. Tessa reaches
her breaking point and refuses to go with her mother. She yells at her for pushing Noah on her and is about to express her hatred, but Hardin pulls her backand covers her mouth, preventing her from saying things she might regret.
Hardin takes Tessa into the bedroom, not wanting her to say things she won't be able to take back. He tells her to calm down and then returns to the living room to escort Tessa's mother out of the apartment. Tessa's mother blames Hardin for everything, and in response, Hardin makes a vulgar comment about their sexual connection.
Hardin confronts his mother and she expresses her concerns, not wanting Tessa to end up like a girl named Natalie. Hardin confesses that he can't live without Tessa. Unbeknownst to him, Tessa overhears this conversation and is touched by his words. Tessa asks Hardin to tell her about what he did and who Natalie is. Hardin agrees but insists that he is not the same person anymore.
Hardin explains that back in London, he and his friends had a bet where each guy would choose a girl for the others, and they would compete to see who could sleep with their chosen girl first. On the fifth round of this game, Hardin recorded himself having sex with a girl named Natalie as proof of their encounter. One of the other guys tried to sleep with Natalie, but she rejected him. In retaliation, he released the video as revenge porn, causing Natalie to be shamed by her neighbors and church. Her parents ended up throwing her out of the house. Natalie sought help from Hardin, but he turned her away and doesn't know what happened to her. Tessa is deeply upset by Hardin's past actions and asks him to leave for the night.
Tessa reflects on her experiences with Hardin and compares them to what he did to Natalie, worrying that he might continue to hurt her. However, she realizes that she loves him too much to leave him. Tessa confides in Trish about Hardin's behavior, and Trish assures her that Hardin has changed. Tessa plans to forgive him but decides to let him suffer for a while. When Hardin finally returns home, he gives Tessa a letter he wrote.
Tessa and Hardin discuss Natalie and Tessa's mother, and they agree to be open and honest with each other, promising not to keep any more secrets. Tessa playfully suggests moving back into the dorms, but ultimately agrees to stay at the apartment with Hardin.
Hardin goes to have coffee with his mother while Tessa prepares for the day. Hardin and Trish exchange apologies, and Hardin tells his mom that he loves her for the first time in years. Hardin admits to himself that Trish was a good mother, but his anger prevented him from seeing it before.
Tessa, Trish, and Hardin go to Ken and Karen's house for Christmas. The atmosphere is polite but awkward, and Karen offers them wine. During the gathering, Ken casually mentions the night when Trish was attacked, and Hardin responds with rude comments about Ken's past struggles with alcohol addiction.
Everyone reprimands Hardin for his remarks, but Ken encourages him to let out some of his anger. Hardin accuses Ken of abandoning him and his mother, never providing any financial support. Trish reveals that Ken did send money, which she saved for Hardin's education. Hardin
provokes his father until they get into a physical fight, accidentally knocking Tessa over with his elbow.
After cleaning up Hardin's hand, he suggests they shower together. They engage in sexual activity in the shower. Afterwards, Hardin gathers some clothes for Tessa before joining his mother in the living room.
Early the next morning, Hardin takes Trish to the airport. When he returns, Tessa encourages him to reach out to Ken and suggests inviting him, Karen, and Landon to the apartment for dinner. Hardin playfully teases Tessa about being embarrassed to tell him that she needs to go to the store to buy tampons.This is the first time in their relationship that she has her period while around him.
Hardin calls Ken and convinces him to come over. As Tessa gets dressed, she expresses her longing for Stephanie and asks if Hardin misses his friends. They discuss their plans for New Year's Eve, with Hardin mentioning a potential party at his old fraternity house. They decide to attend the party together. Hardin prepares a meal for their guests, and during the preparations, Tessa addresses Hardin as "babe" for the first time, which Hardin finds alluring.
Ken, Karen, and Landon arrive at the apartment for dinner. Ken compliments Hardin on the food he prepared. As they open their gifts, Hardin becomes furious when he sees that Ken and Karen also bought Tessa a charm bracelet, just like the one he gave her. However, they got Hardin a watch, even though he doesn't wear watches.
Landon invites Hardin to a hockey game with the tickets Tessa got for him, but Hardin initially declines the invitation. Tessa convinces him to go, and he eventually agrees. Hardin apologizes to Ken for the fight they had earlier, and Ken takes some responsibility for his past struggles with alcoholism and for abandoning Hardin and Trish. After Ken, Karen, and Landon leave, Tessa praises Hardin for being nice. Hardin asks about her new bracelet, and Tessa admits that she prefers the gift he gave her.
Tessa wakes up early to prepare for work. While she is getting dressed, Hardin goes to start her car so it won't be too cold. Hardin insists on driving Tessa to work, but he becomes jealous when Trevor approaches Tessa as soon as she gets out of the car.
At work, Kimberly shares details about her Christmas with Christian and Smith. Tessa's morning goes by quickly, and at lunchtime, she plans to walk to a nearby restaurant. However, Trevor invites her to have lunch with him, and she agrees. They discuss the new Seattle office and the promotion that Christian has offered Trevor. When Tessa returns to the office, she finds Hardin waiting for her.
Hardin is angry that Tessa went to lunch with Trevor, but he calms down after Tessa explains that Trevor is moving to Seattle. Tessa starts to seduce Hardin.
Tessa and Hardin engage in sexual activity in her office.
Three dayslater, Hardin picks Tessa up late from work, and they go to the mall to buy a gold dress for the frat party they will be attending that night. Back at the apartment, Tessa gets ready nervously while Hardin impatiently waits for her.
Tessa and Hardin arrive at the party, and they are immediately handed cups of alcohol. Hardin suggests that they shouldn't drink, but Tessa convinces him to let her have one drink. Molly flirts with Hardin, despite his lack of interest. Tessa and Hardin find Stephanie, and Hardin leaves to talk to Logan, instructing Tessa to stay where she is. Tessa finishes her first drink, and Stephanie gets her another one. They move into the living room, where Tristan informs Tessa that Jace was arrested for possession. Tessa, Stephanie, and Tristan decide to play beer pong, and Tristan convinces Zed to partner with Tessa. Instead of using beer, they fill the cups with cherry vodka sours.
Tessa and Zed win the game twice, but Tessa becomes very drunk. Zed suggests going outside, and Tessa follows him. Outside, Zed shows Tessa his new tattoo, which symbolizes society controlling him like a robot. Tessa mentions the idea of getting a tattoo herself. She asks Zed why he was avoiding her earlier, and he explains it was to avoid trouble with Hardin. Tessa comments that Hardin is getting better with his anger, just as Hardin appears, clearly annoyed.
Hardin urges Tessa to go inside with him when he sees how intoxicated she is. Tessa tells him about Zed's tattoo and expresses her desire to get one. Hardin examines Zed's tattoo and listens to Tessa's account of the beer pong game. When Zed leaves, Hardin becomes angry at Tessa for being alone with Zed. Tessa warns Hardin to be nicer or she will hang out with someone else. She initially tries to seduce Hardin, but then insists they find Stephanie, so they return to the living room. Tessa suggests playing Truth or Dare, despite her previous dislike for the game.
Stephanie targets Nate and he chooses to take a dare. She sends him
off to kiss a random girl. Nate then dares Tristan to drink a cup filled with old beer and cigarette ash. After some time, Tessa is dared to take a shot. Tessa then selects Molly, who opts for a truth. Tessaasks if Molly is promiscuous, but Molly denies it and chooses Tessa in return. Tessa chooses a dare, and Molly suggests she kiss Zed, but Hardin intervenes and doesn't allow it to happen. They switch back to truth, and Molly asks Tessa if she was "stupid" for taking Hardin back. Tessa attacks Molly, prompting Hardin to pull Tessa away and give her some water. Tessa then tries to seduce Hardin again, and he takes her to an empty bedroom where they have sex.
After celebrating the New Year with a kiss, Tessa goes to the bathroom. When she returns, she finds Hardin talking to a young woman who returns his phone to him. Hardin asks the girl not to say anything about their time alone in the room. Angry and hurt, Tessa rushes past him down the stairs.
Tessa rushes past Hardin and kisses another guy in her anger. Hardin grabs the guy and punches him. Tessa intervenes, pulling Hardin off the guy. Hardin, filled with rage, storms out to his car. Tessa accuses Hardin of sleeping with the girl who had his phone. Hardin explains that the girl was Dan's sister, and he was apologizing to her for taking a video of a sexual encounter between him and the girl and sending screenshots to Dan. Tessa apologizes, but Hardin is still furious and leaves her there.
Feeling abandoned by Hardin, Tessa tells Zed what happened, and he offers her a ride home. However, when they are almost at the apartment, Tessa realizes that Hardin has her phone and keys. Zed's phone battery is dead, so he insists on walking Tessa to her door. When Hardin finally opens the door, he is drunk. Hardin invites them in and pours drinks for everyone. Hardin accuses Zed of trying to seduce Tessa
based on some things Zed told Molly. Tessa asks Zed to leave, and he reluctantly does so. Hardin accuses Tessa of being promiscuous, and she retreats to the bedroom. From there, she hears Hardin breaking glasses and a liquor bottle in the living room.
Hardin continues to destroy the living room, while Tessa begs him to stop. He yells at her, claiming that her actions have hurt him and that everyone in a relationship hurts their significant other. Hardin accuses Tessa of dating him only to hurt her mother, and Tessa throwsaccusations about Molly back at Hardin. He attempts to leave, but Tessa takes his keys, leading to a struggle. Tessa briefly fears that Hardin might hurt her, but he sobers up and realizes the gravity of the situation. Tessa accuses him of being like his father, and he accuses her of being like her mother. Tessa locks herself in the bedroom and reads Hardin's letter, holding onto her belief in the better side of him. In the middle of the night, she discovers Hardin sleeping in the hallway.
When Tessa wakes up the next morning, Hardin is gone, but the living room has been cleaned. He returns later with a new lamp to replace the one he broke. They apologize to each other for their actions. Hardin expresses frustration with Tessa bringing Zed to their apartment, and she defends their friendship despite Hardin's reservations due to Zed's involvement in the bet over Tessa. Tessa asks Hardin to stop drinking, and he agrees.
Hardin takes Tessa into the bedroom and teaches her how to pleasure herself. The new semester begins on Monday, and Tessa and Landon have several classes together, while Tessa and Hardin do not. Hardin complains about their schedule differences. Tessa and Hardin take a shower together as she tells him about her new schedule.
Hardin drives Tessa to school, and Landon joins them. Tessa says goodbye to Hardin and heads to her first class, World Religion. In the class, they learn that a significant portion of their grade will be based on keeping a journal. After her classes, Tessa goes to the gym for a yoga session. As she walks to her next class, a boy stops her and tries to flirt with her until Hardin shows up and chases him away.
Surprisingly, Hardin has also signed up for the yoga class. They practice yoga together, but Hardin is easily distracted by Tessa's presence, even distracting the other students with his good looks.
Hardin playfully teases Tessa about being attracted to one of the girls in the yoga class. When they return to the apartment, they discover that the heat is not working. Hardin calls maintenance to fix the issue. Taking advantage of the 15-minute window before the maintenance arrives, they engage in a sexual encounter.
After their intimate moment in the living room, Hardin becomesannoyed when the maintenance man leers at Tessa. He sends Tessa to the bedroom, where she receives a call from Kimberly. Kimberly asks if Tessa and Hardin can babysit Smith while she takes an ill Christian to the hospital. Hardin refuses, but Tessa agrees to babysit anyway.
They have dinner together, and while Tessa cleans up, Smith, the child they are babysitting, asks if his father is going to die from his illness like
his mother did. Hardin assures Smith that Christian will be fine and tries to comfort him.
Tessa is upset to learn that Hardin has no desire to get married or have children. She questions the purpose of their relationship if they don't share these fundamental desires. During their conversation, Kimberly, Smith's mother, calls to check on him and is surprised to hear that Smith has connected so well with Hardin. As Smith and Hardin bond over a television show, Tessa excuses herself and goes to bed. Hardin comes to say goodnight but assumes Tessa is upset because Smith didn't want to spend time with her.
At work the next day, Tessa reads a manuscript that deeply affects her emotions. She decides to go home and finds Hardin complaining about his fatigue, jokingly suggesting he might skip the hockey game with Landon. However, he admits that he is still planning to attend. Landon arrives, and Tessa wishes him luck before he leaves.
Hardin and Landon attend the hockey game together, enjoying the experience despite their initial awkwardness. After the game, Landon accidentally bumps into a drunk man who provokes a confrontation. Hardin steps in to protect Landon and defuse the situation.
During the drive home, Hardin and Landon discuss Landon's plan to move to New York to be closer to his girlfriend, as her career will keep her there for the foreseeable future. Landonexpresses caution about Hardin assuming that Tessa will automatically want to move to London with him, as it is known that Tessa desires to move to Seattle. When they return home, Hardin watches Tessa sleep on the couch.
Hardin carries Tessa to bed and is shocked to hear her say Zed's name in her sleep. Disturbed by this, Hardin writes a note for Tessa and decides to leave for a local bar.
Tessa wakes up to find Hardin gone but discovers a note saying he went to have breakfast with Ken. However, when she meets Landon for coffee, she realizes that Hardin's note was a lie because Landon has no knowledge of the breakfast plan. In her World Religion class, Tessa is assigned to write in her journal about faith. Throughout the day, Hardin fails to respond to Tessa's texts, leading her to wonder if he is cheating on her with Molly.
Hardin had too much to drink the previous night, and Carly, an old acquaintance, took him home to sleep it off. Carly drives Hardin back to his car while he checks Tessa's text messages. He senses something is wrong and witnesses a car accident. Hardin realizes it's Tessa's car that was involved in the accident. He finds Tessa in the back of an ambulance with minor injuries. It is revealed that Tessa ran into the other car. Hardin tries to take her away, but they encounter Carly, who unintentionally reveals that Hardin spent the day at the bar and at Carly's. Tessa becomes angry and decides to go to the hospital in the ambulance.
Landon arrives at Hardin's apartment and finds him drinking. Landon accuses Hardin of causing Tessa's accident, as his text message distracted her while driving. Hardin admits to drinking because Tessa mentioned Zed's name in her sleep. Tessa arrives at the apartment with Zed, which triggers Hardin's anger. Tessa goes to the bedroom to pack her things, accusing Hardin of cheating on her. Hardin insists that he didn't cheat, but Tessa is not interested in listening and leaves.
Tessa moves into Hardin's old room at Ken and Karen's house, spending the first week crying and feeling devastated. Hardin does not call or text her, and when Tessa calls him twice, he does not answer or return her calls. Slowly, Tessa starts to return to herregular routine and begins eating a little. Karen reminds Tessa about a party that Christian is throwing before he moves to Seattle. Tessa agrees to go with Ken and Karen, but Landon will be in New York helping his girlfriend, Dakota, move into her new apartment. Tessa is hesitant about her new journal topic in her World Religion class: pain. Before attending yoga class, she seeks out Zed in the environmental sciences building.
Hardin flies to London and starts drinking excessively again, experiencing nightmares where Tessa is being attacked instead of his mother. He intentionally ignores Tessa's first phone call, misses the second one because he is passed out from drinking, and then breaks his phone after looking at pictures of Tessa. At the grocery store, Hardin runs into Natalie, who is doing well and has found happiness in a new church, a new relationship, and is now engaged and pregnant. Hardin realizes the pain he feels must be similar to what Tessa experiences when he hurts her. Trish informs Hardin about Christian's move to Seattle and the party he is throwing, but despite knowing Tessa will be there, Hardin rejects his mother's suggestion to go.
Tessa has a conversation with Ken, who tells her that he and Trish have found new partners after their tumultuous relationship ended. Ken assures Tessa that she will find someone else, and he believes that Hardin will also find happiness. Later, Tessa goes to Zed's apartment to pick him up. She expresses her disapproval of his smoking, and he stops in response.
Trish advises Hardin to apologize to Tessa, assuring him that she would
forgive him. However, Hardin believes that Tessa deserves to find happiness with someone else because he feels he cannot provide it for her. Trish disagrees with his perspective, which angers Hardin.
Tessa and Zed have lunch together. During their conversation, Tessa asks Zed what he would have done if he had won the bet instead of Hardin. Zed claims that he would have been honest with Tessa before things went too far, treating her with kindness. Tessa kisses him.
After kissing Zed, Tessa compares his kiss to Hardin's and finds Zed lacking. She pulls away and apologizes, explaining that it has only been nine days since her breakup with Hardin. Zed expresses concern that he might be a rebound forTessa. Tessa insists that he isn't, but when Zed asks if she could see herself being in a relationship with him in the future, Tessa cannot make a definite promise. Zed decides to leave.
Hardin continues to struggle with sleep. Upon waking up early, he finds Mike, Trish's boyfriend, at the kitchen table. Mike reveals his plan to propose to Trish. Trish wakes up and questions when Hardin plans to go home, but he insists that he is already home, indicating his attachment to the apartment.
Feeling confused and heartbroken, Tessa calls Hardin and leaves a desperate voicemail, begging him to call her and explain the sudden change in their relationship. She wants Hardin to fight for her. Tessa then goes back to Zed's apartment and knocks on his door. She tells him that she wants to give their relationship a try, but she wants to take it slow. Zed invites her inside and allows her to sleep on the couch. Tessa wakes up late the next afternoon and spends the day with Zed.
Tessa gets dressed up for Christian's party and wears Hardin's charm bracelet. She is impressed by Christian's large and modern home. Tessa has a conversation with Trevor, discussing Seattle, his new office, and his new apartment there. As they talk, Tessa daydreams about moving to Seattle with Hardin.
Hardin arrives at Christian's party straight from London. He is nervous, and Kimberly, Christian's sister, is visibly shocked to see him. Hardin storms into the dining room and is upset to see Tessa with Trevor, but he also understands that Trevor is the type of person Tessa should be with. He contemplates sneaking out, but Tessa notices him and accidentally drops her wine glass in surprise. Hardin finds himself seated directly across from Tessa as dinner is served. At the end of dinner, Christian proposes to Kimberly. Tessa is caught off guard and leaves the room.
Tessa is devastated to witness Christian's proposal to Kimberly because it makes her feel like she will never have the chance to marry the man she loves. Overwhelmed by her emotions, she goes to the bathroom to compose herself. When she returns, she overhears Hardin telling Smith that Kimberly will not suffer the same fate as his mother. Tessa goes outside to wait for Zed to pick her up, and Hardin followsher. She asks him why he never called her, and he claims to have been busy.
Hardin finds it difficult to watch Tessa cry, but he believes that keeping his distance is for her own good. However, when Zed arrives to pick up Tessa, Hardin's jealousy takes over. He confronts Zed and a fight ensues between them. In the midst of the fight, when Tessa tries to intervene, Hardin pushes her to the ground. Zed then picks Tessa up and takes her away from the chaotic scene.
Zed takes Tessa to his apartment, where she tends to his wounds from the fight. He offers her some clean clothes since her dress is ruined, and she changes into his t-shirt and boxers. Tessa then settles down on the couch and asks Zed to stay with her until she falls asleep.
Christian notices that Tessa hasn't accepted Hardin's apology. Hardin, however, denies needing to apologize. Christian leads Hardin back inside the house, where Ken and Karen are preparing to leave.
Struggling to sleep, Tessa decides to go into Zed's room. He allows her to crawl into bed with him, and she finds comfort in his presence.
Hardin volunteers to pick Landon up from the airport, as his flight arrives in the middle of the night. However, Landon is not happy to see Hardin. Landon informs Hardin that Tessa spent the night with Zed a few days earlier, commenting that she has chosen someone who is similar to Hardin instead of someone like Noah. Hardin asks Jace about Zed and Tessa, but Jace is unaware of any details. Hardin drives to Zed's place and aggressively pounds on the door. When Zed's roommate opens the door, Hardin rushes to Zed's bedroom and finds Tessa and Zed asleep together on the bed. Hardin insists that Tessa leave with him, and she agrees to avoid a confrontation.
In the car, Hardin explains to Tessa that he broke his phone and went back to England. Tessa accuses Hardin of treating her poorly due to his own insecurities. Hardin initially responds with anger, but then calms
down and asks her to work things out with him.
Hardin confesses to Tessa that he saw Natalie and realized that she deserves someone who treats her better than he ever could. Landon arrives, providing a distraction forTessa as she asks him about his trip. Tessa decides to talk to Christian about the possibility of moving to Seattle. She goes into the bathroom to change her clothes, and while doing so, Hardin enters and kisses her.
Hardin removes Zed's boxers from Tessa. He expresses that he can't live without her but acknowledges that their relationship will always be challenging. Hardin promises to take things slow and show Tessa how deeply he loves her. Landon suggests that Hardin give Tessa space and advises him to take her on a proper date.
The next morning, Zed contacts Tessa as she arrives on campus for her classes. He asks if they are still meeting for lunch, and she agrees without seeing any reason not to.
During lunch, Tessa and Zed spend time together. Meanwhile, Hardin is attending his yoga class when Tessa arrives. He asks her out on a date, and she agrees.
Hardin informs Landon about the date he has planned with Tessa. Landon reveals that he is applying to transfer to New York University(NYU) to be closer to his girlfriend. Hardin goes in search of
Tessa and finds her asleep in his old room at Ken's house. He returns to the apartment, even though he dislikes being there without Tessa, acknowledging the need for personal change.
Hardin arrives to pick up Tessa for their date, surprising her by having removed his piercings. He insists that he did it for himself, not to please her. They head to a fancy restaurant, where Hardin becomes irritated when Tessa doesn't wait for him to open the car door for her.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, they discover that their reservation has been lost. They decide to go ice skating instead and stop by a store to get appropriate clothing for Tessa. Hardin admits that he has never skated before and falls multiple times. Afterward, they indulge in funnel cake and revisit the topic of Hardin's piercings. Tessa emphasizes that he shouldn't change for her, but Hardin feels that the piercings were a way for him to hide. Tessa asks about his plans for his upcoming birthday, and Hardin reveals that Logan and Nate are throwing him a party. He invites Tessa to go with him, but she claims to be busy.
Hardin confides in Tessa that hisnightmares have returned. Tessa invites him to sleep in her room, initially receiving a refusal before Hardin changes his mind. He falls asleep quickly, and Tessa wakes up the next morning to find him gone. She sends him a text message wishing him a happy birthday.
Hardin discusses the upcoming party with Nate, assuring him that Tessa won't be attending. Nate mentions seeing Tessa going to the environmental science building and wonders if she's seeing someone else. Hardin is annoyed but insists that nothing is going on. At the party
that night, Stephanie and Molly tease Hardin about his decision to remove his piercings.
Tessa receives texts from Hardin expressing boredom at the party and a desire to come over. She agrees and goes downstairs to quickly bake a cake for him. Tessa, Karen, and Ken decorate the cake and place candles in the shape of a "1" and "3" on top. Tessa settles in to wait for Hardin, anticipating his arrival.
Under Nate's influence, Hardin decides to have a drink. Zed returns Hardin's phone, claiming that he left it behind.
Tessa gives up waiting for Hardin after he is two hours late. Feeling disappointed, she goes upstairs and listens to music until she falls asleep. Hardin calls her, waking her up, but she decides to turn off her phone and ignore him.
Hardin becomes frustrated when Tessa doesn't answer his calls. He decides to leave the party, coinciding with the entrance of a group of strippers into the frat house. Hardin checks his phone for any messages from Tessa, but she hasn't responded to an earlier text he sent to her.
Tessa visits Vance Publishing and speaks to Christian about transferring to their new office in Seattle. Christian readily agrees and gives her two weeks to settle her affairs and start the paperwork for the university transfer.
Tessa goes to Zed's apartment and learns about the presence of strippers at the party. She shares with Zed how Hardin had planned to visit Ken and Karen's place but didn't show up. Zed points out that Hardin chose a party over her and advises Tessa not to waste any more time on Hardin.
Hardin goes to Ken and Karen's house in search of Tessa. Karen informs him that Tessa made the cake that is stillon the counter for him. Hardin decides to stay for dinner, and while they are eating, Tessa returns. After the meal, Tessa questions Hardin about why he didn't show up the previous night. Confused, Hardin asks for clarification, prompting Tessa to show him text messages on her phone. He realizes that he didn't send those texts and speculates that Zed might be behind it. Tessa confronts Hardin about the presence of strippers at the party, and he assures her that he left when they arrived. Hardin also inquires about Tessa's relationship with Zed. Finally, they both agree to share the truth with each other.
Tessa and Hardin make a pact to stay away from Zed. Reluctantly, Tessa admits to Hardin that she kissed Zed.
Tessa reveals that she kissed Zed while Hardin was in London because she felt that he no longer wanted her. Hardin insists on knowing all the details, so Tessa explains the entire situation. Afterward, Hardin asks Tessa to leave him alone. He becomes furious and starts destroying the room, breaking a chair and emptying drawers. Tessa returns and manages to calm him down, but initially, he refuses to forgive her. However, he promises to make an effort. They share a passionate kiss.
Hardin and Tessa have sex. Afterward, Hardin admits to himself that he won't be able to keep his promise of not hurting Zed.
Tessa and Hardin get dressed. Tessa takes the initiative to clean up the room, and Hardin offers to help. He notices a couple of gifts with his name on them in Tessa's closet.
Tessa feels embarrassed about the presents she got for Hardin, but he insists on opening them. She gives him a copy of Pride and Prejudice with highlighted passages that are meaningful to her. She also gives him a new binder for work and kickboxing, as well as a Fray CD.
Hardin and Tessa spend the night together. The next morning, Hardin suggests skipping classes, but Tessa insists on going to her own. On the way to campus, Hardin's phone rings, but he refuses to answer it, knowing it's his mother calling. He asks Tessa to check his voicemail and discovers he has seven messages. The first one is the message Tessa left him on the day she kissed Zed. Hardin is surprised to hear the messagebut declares that he doesn't want to discuss it further. He drops Tessa off on campus and she goes to her classes.
Hardin listens to Tessa's voicemail repeatedly and becomes angrier at Zed. He goes to the environmental sciences building to find Zed. Hardin confronts him and ends up breaking Zed's nose. In retaliation, Zed hits Hardin over the head with a pot and claims that he slept with Tessa. They cause some damage to the room, knocking over shelves and
plants. A professor enters the room, and Zed starts crying and denying any wrongdoing. The professor instructs Hardin to stand against the wall and wait for the police.
Tessa is in her World Religion class when Ken arrives to inform her about Hardin's arrest. Landon insists on accompanying her. They go to the campus security building, where they find Hardin locked in a cell, behaving disrespectfully towards the security officers. Tessa tries to calm him down but struggles to make him understand the seriousness of the situation.
Hardin gives Tessa a brief explanation of what happened, and she is annoyed that he went looking for trouble. Landon informs her that Hardin might face expulsion for the property damage and assault on the professor. If Zed decides to press charges, the legal consequences will be out of Ken's control. Tessa decides to visit Zed at the hospital. She is shocked by the extent of his injuries. Zed points out that she always makes excuses for Hardin and takes the blame for his actions. Tessa reflects on all that she has lost since meeting Hardin - her friends, Noah, and her mother - but she loves Hardin enough to overlook it. She asks Zed if he wrote the text messages about Hardin coming to Ken and Karen's on his birthday, but he denies it. Tessa promises Zed that Hardin will be moving to Seattle with her in a few weeks and assures him that he won't be harmed again. Zed agrees not to press charges.
After being released by the campus police, Tessa goes home to the apartment with Hardin. As she falls asleep, Hardin looks through the copy of Pride and Prejudice that Tessa gave him. He starts to decipher the meaning behind the passages she marked and connects them to their own relationship. One passage in particular alludes to marriage, resonatingwith Hardin's deep feelings.
Hardin expresses his concern about the possibility of being expelled from school, which would force him to return to England. He asks Tessa to go with him if that happens, unaware of her decision to move to Seattle. Tessa and Hardin visit a tattoo shop where they meet Stephanie and Tristan. While Stephanie gets a tattoo on her belly, Tessa and Hardin discuss their own tattoo plans. Hardin wants a quote on his back that symbolizes eternal love, but Tessa objects, fearing the consequences of revealing her plans about Seattle.
Tessa watches as Hardin gets his tattoo done. Once it's finished, they set out to find Stephanie and Tristan. Along the way, they encounter a man who is drunk and appears to be homeless. Hardin is annoyed by his presence, but Tessa pulls away from Hardin and approaches the man. She calls him "dad," indicating a personal connection between them.