Page 33 of Hannah.

“Do you mind sitting in the back? Johan is coming with us,” she asks, her smile warm.

My anger flares anew. Johan's blatant attempt to make me jealous is as transparent as glass. Sweet and clueless Astrid is being used as a pawn in his silent chess match, but I refuse to be part of his game.

“That's okay,” I reply, an idea suddenly popping into my mind. “I'll ride with Conrad.”

Johan shoots me a sharp look, a mixture of surprise and annoyance etched on his face. I smirk back, relishing the fact that he’s finally getting a taste of his own medicine. He despises Conrad's interest in me, and as much as I don’t like using anyone as a tactic of manipulation, I tell myself that I’ll be good company for Conrad this time around, not rude like I was upstairs a little bit ago.

“Sounds great to me!” Conrad exclaims, going to move his bag out of the passenger seat.

Visibly delighted, he welcomes me into his car. His enthusiasm is infectious, but as soon as we hit the road,regret washes over me. Anything is better than being the silent witness to Astrid and Johan's love story, but Conrad's excitement quickly becomes overwhelming. I wish I could trade my company, but enduring his enthusiasm seems like a small price to pay for escaping the love nest that is now Astrid’s car.

It’s another beautiful day, and I slip on a pair of sunglasses as we hit the open road. Leaning back in the leather seat, I suggest that he take the convertible top down, but Conrad says we won’t be able to chat if he does. I can’t tell him that’s exactly why I want it open, though…I need to be a good passenger. None of this is Conrad’s fault.

“So,” he starts, looking over at me behind his sunglasses. “what’s your life like back in the Netherlands?”

This is an easy enough subject. Maybe this won’t be so bad. “It’s lovely. My family is really close; we always have been.”

“Oh that’s nice. Do you have any siblings?”

I nod, relaxing. My family is easy to talk about. “A lot. Two older and three younger.”

He lets out a low whistle. “Oh, so your parents are likein lovein love, huh? Because that’s a lot of kids.”

Unexpectedly, I laugh and then shudder. “Yes, but ew. Let’s not go there.”

Conrad chuckles, all easygoing and friendly. “Since we’re on the subject, what’s your surname again? I can’t remember if you told me already or not.”

Ah. Here we are. The question that Johan fears so much. Conrad’s query hangs in the air, and I can see him looking at me a few times as I mull my response.

I surprise myself by realizing I don’t care if I upset Johan. He apparently wants to make me uncomfortable with all the public affection between him and Astrid, so why in the hell should I hide my identity to save him? No…I won’t do that.

My last name slips off my tongue, and I catch the subtle quirk of his eyebrow, a silent acknowledgment of recognition. “Van den Bosch,” I say, my voice steady, but my fingers fidget with the hem of my shirt. “Hannah van den Bosch.”

His nod is thoughtful, and I can almost see the mental cogs turning in his head. “Wait…I think I know of a Van den Bosch. Do you know an Elise by any chance?” he inquires, eyes still on the road but every bit of attention on me.

I can't help but smile at his perceptiveness. Johan was right; he put that together instantly. Conrad is keener than he lets on. I try to keep my tone light, even though my heart beats a little faster. “She is my older sister, yeah. Why do you ask?”

The realization hits Conrad, and I notice how his grip on the steering wheel tightens. “Oh, wow, the world is so small,” he mutters, his eyes widening in surprise. “I remember Johan flying to Capri to meet her and her brother two years ago. He dropped me like an old sock in Saint Tropez to fly there. That’s not something you easily forget.”

I wince. Ouch. That must have been disappointing for Conrad, and I don’t love remembering how quickly Johan jetted over to see Elise. But that’s all in the past now.

“Yeah, Elise and Andries, my brother, are friends with Johan,” I respond, emphasizing the wordfriend. I want Conrad to understand that there is nothing romantic left between my sister and Johan. “That’s the trip my sister got with her boyfriend, Dan, actually.”

The next question is as sharp as an arrow, and I feel my stomach churn with nervous energy. “So, you already knew Johan before Astrid introduced you?” Conrad asks, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

I shift in my seat, attempting to find a comfortable position, my eyes flitting to the passing scenery outside. “Yeah, vaguely,” I admit, my fingers tracing invisible patterns on my thigh. “Heknows Elise and Andries a lot better than he knows me. I didn't remember who he was until a few days after Astrid introduced us. I...don't think he remembers me either. I was younger then, still in high school.”

Conrad seems to accept my explanation, although a shadow of doubt lingers in his gaze. His fingers resume tapping on the steering wheel, the rhythmic sound filling the car's interior as we continue our journey. Finally, I feel the weird tension in the car lift, and Conrad is back to his old, easygoing self.

“We should hang out soon.” His voice is lighter, attempting to ease the tension between us. “I’m pretty sure there’s still a lot for you to see around Cambridge. I just so happen to be a stellar tour guide.”

I offer a small, appreciative smile. His eyes flicker with anticipation, hoping I will agree. Oh well, what is there for me to lose at this point? No harm in making a friend….just a friend.

“Yeah, that sounds great,” I reply, my voice a touch too cheerful. “I’m up for exploring new places.”

Conrad's grin widens. “Awesome! There's this cool café downtown and a bunch of other places worth checking out. I'll text you the details later. Why don’t you go ahead and put your number in my phone?”

I nod, accepting the invitation while wrestling with the unease gnawing at my stomach. As the conversation shifts to lighter topics, Conrad’s fingers find a new rhythm on the steering wheel—a subtle indication of his renewed enthusiasm. I, too, attempt to distract myself, focusing on the passing scenery outside and letting the engine's hum lull me into a temporary sense of calm.

---