She stands a few feet away. With Hannah.
Heat rises up my face as I tuck my chin, jaw clenched. I’ve no idea how much she overheard or saw, and this isn’t my finest moment.
My mother walks over and cups my cheek. “Can we talk about this another time? Your father and I need to get back to the celebration.”
A wave of guilt hits me. I’d hoped to just casually bring up the trust fund thing, not turn it into a full-blown argument. And at their anniversary party, no less. I take a deep breath and lift my head. “Of course. I’m sorry I brought it up. Happy anniversary.”
I hug them both, then watch them as they trek back to the house. Maybe a phone call would have been better after all. But I really thought if I explained in person they might understand, and it wouldn’t be a big deal. Guess I called that one wrong.
Hannah slips her hand into mine and leans against me. “You okay?”
I blow out a noisy breath, ready to say I’m fine, but that would be a lie. “That didn’t go the way I’d hoped.”
She tilts her face up. “Parents always want the best for their kids. Sometimes they can get a little over-involved, but it’s usually out of love.”
I simply nod. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”
Hannah continues to hold onto me as we walk to the house and say our goodbyes. I don’t know what that means, and right now, I’m too tired to figure it out.
So I’ll hold onto her for as long as I can. She even lets me clasp her hand the entire ride back to her apartment. I can’t tell you how many times I resisted the urge to lift her hand to my lips and kiss the soft skin I stroked beneath my thumb.
When we reach her door, she slips off my jacket and hands it back to me. “Thank you.”
I slip it on, relishing her residual warmth. That’s Hannah—compassion, kindness, and goodness. “Anytime.”
She tugs her keys out of the small purse she left in the car during the party but lingers, as if she’s not ready to say goodbye yet. “You know, you’re different than you used to be.”
“How so?” I lean on the door by her, my hand just to the side of her head. The scent of her perfume reminds me of our closeness at my parents’ house. The longing to be close to her hits me all over again. And it runs deep. Like air to my lungs, and I can’t breathe her in deep enough.
She shrugs and drops her gaze, revealing a sudden shyness. “More settled in who you are. And I don’t see you running around with a bunch of women like Graham seems to think you do.” She finished with a nervous laugh.
I sigh. “I can’t catch a break tonight.”
Her light expression shifts to concern. She cups my cheek with her hand. “No, don’t do that.”
The feel of her hand about does me in. I want to tell her everything and be vulnerable because I know I can trust her. Not something I do easily, but she makes it easy. But I don’t have the words yet. “Do what?”
Her eyes dart back and forth as if she’s searching for deeper access into my soul. “Doubt yourself. There must be another way to get those cameras you need.”
And there it is—confirmation that she overheard my conversation with my father. “How much did you overhear?”
She drops her hand, making me wish I could hit rewind. “Most of it. I’m sorry your parents don’t understand.”
I’m kind of glad she knows. It’s like a shared burden in some ways. And a relief. “Zane and Graham are the only ones who know about my true involvement in the Turtle Patrol program. I’d prefer to keep it that way.”
Her eyes widen slightly, but there’s that impish grin she takes on when her sense of humor peeks out. “Oh, of course. I won’t tell anyone.”
This is one of my favorite sides of Hannah. She has a way of making heavy things lighter. And I can’t help but smile and dive in. “Not even Madi?”
She lifts her chin as she pushes away from her door. “Nope. I’m a locked vault. But I still think there has to be another way to get the funding you need.”
Her strength—her belief in me is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The only other person who’s come close is Zane. And even Graham, despite his inability to see how I’ve changed at the moment. But this, from Hannah, surpasses all that by miles. And it feeds a deep place in me I didn’t know was starving for it.
I touch one of the soft curls by her cheek. “Thank you for believing in me, Hannah.”
Her lips part, then she shrugs. “Hey, anything for the turtles.”
The longing I’m feeling is reflected in her eyes, and I’d like nothing better than to kiss her good night. But something in my gut is saying to wait because I want our first kiss to be special…meaningful.
