Page 11 of Unfinished

“I know who you are.”

“I’m sorry, what's your name?”

“Ashley, what do you want?” Her attitude was so similar to Hannah, they had to be close. Where Hannah seemed aloof, Ashley seemed more distrustful. I already liked the fact that she was protective over Hannah.

I spent the next ten minutes proving to Ashley my intentions were good and prying for information on Hannah, like what her favorite coffee order was and what her favorite flowers were. I was formulating a plan that would prove to Hannah that I was in this. Once I got her to agree to be with me, I'd never let her go.

I was up and chasing after Hannah before the sun had even fully risen. I didn’t remember the last time I was up before the sun, so this was unusual for me. I arrived at her house and was grateful I hadn't missed her when I saw the older Jeep, I assumed was hers, still in her driveway.

I questioned Rion last night to find out what he knew about Hannah and he laughed at me at first. When he realized I was serious he told me he met her at some diner in town a few years back. They haven’t really kept in touch but they always had a conversation when they saw each other. Rion told me that he had heard rumors about one of her exes being an asshole in high school. I asked a bit more about her ex but he didn’t have any additional information on it.

Standing there, I suddenly felt like my idea was stupid and that she was going to hate it. This would make me look like a stalker. I was not stalking her. I was actively pursuing a relationship with her. I’d even do stupid corny things like getting her coffee at the butt crack of dawn to win her over.

The door unlocked with a click. A confident grin spread across my face and I leaned against the post on her front porch. She opened the door and jumped a little when she saw me. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and the first thing I thought was how much I’d love to have it wrapped around my hand. She was in black leggings and a bright blue t-shirt that had the words "Joanne’s Diner" on it.

“What the fuck, Liam? You scared the shit out of me,” she whisper-shouted, coming out of the door and locking it behind her.

“Good Morning, beautiful.”

“What are you doing here?” She turned back to me with a hardened expression. I held out her coffee for her and she looked down at it, then back to me. A few freckles lined her cheeks and nose, showing that she wasn't wearing any makeup.

“It was a long night. I figured you could use a coffee.”

“How did you even know what I like?”

“I have my ways.” I shrugged as she took a sip and moaned. That moan was my new favorite sound. I wanted to pull it from her as much as possible.

“It was Ashley, wasn’t it?” She walked past me towards her Jeep.

“It was,” I admitted, following her and sipping on my own coffee. She opened the door and set her coffee in the cup holder and tossed her purse in. Hannah turned to me.

“Alright, well. Thank you for the coffee. I’m off to work now.”

“Okay.”

She gave me a hesitant look before turning to climb up into her Jeep. Walking down to the end of the drive, I got into my BMW. I started it and when she pulled out of her drive, I followed her to work. At a stoplight on the way, she saw me in her rear view mirror and gave me an irritated look.

I didn’t care how tired I was or how many energy drinks and coffees it took for me to make it through this day. I was going to find a way to make her agree to a date with me. We pulled into the parking lot of a diner and I got out of my car after parking next to her. She stopped when she got to the back of her Jeep and gave me an irritated look.

“What are you doing?” She hissed, suspicion dripping from her tone.

“I’m going to get breakfast at my favorite diner,” I explained.

“Joanne's is your favorite diner?” She placed her hand on her hip and gave me an incredulous stare.

“It is now.”

“Why?”

“Because you work here.” I stated like it was obvious, and she laughed while shaking her head.

“Go home, Liam. Get some sleep, you look like shit!” She yelled as she walked towards the back of the restaurant. I walked to the front and waited patiently for the diner to open.

At six on the dot, she came to the front door. She paused for a second when she saw me, but unlocked the door as she rolled her eyes. She swung the door open for me and I walked in with a grin on my face.

“Good morning, Hannah.”

“Good morning,” she grumbled.

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