Page 44 of Take the Bait

“Why’s that, hon?” Pop asked.

Hanna couldn’t help wringing her fingers together as nerves resurfaced. “Oh, you know. It’s just hard making friends as an adult. I mean, I try, of course. I put myself out there. That’s actually how I met Tucker. I was on thisterriblefirst date with this god-awful man who was just, like, rude and boring. He hadn’t asked me a single question about myself and still thought I would go home with him, which just…” Hanna scoffed. “Anyway, I laughed so hard I burped.”

“You… burped?” Angie asked.

Shut. Up.

She couldn’t stop herself.

“Burp is probably underselling it, actually.”

“And that was how you met Tuck?” Shawn failed to hide a smirk behind a can of beer, taking a seat next to Grams.

“That was the first time I met him,” Hanna said. “The second time I met him, I spilled coffee all over an old man. The third time, I had penises all over my face.”

Shawn spit out beer and guffawed. “I’m sorry, I thought I just heard you say you had penises on your face?”

Hanna groaned then buried her head in her hands. “Um. Yeah. Yeah, that’s what I said. I’m just going to be quiet and drink more wine now.”

“I’d rather hear the penis story,” Shawn said, laughter trickling through his voice.

“Me, too,” Grams said. Angie nodded in agreement, taking a sip of her wine.

“Penis story?” Tucker’s voice cut through the kitchen into the sitting room and Hanna sighed a breath of relief. “Can’t believe you’re willingly telling them that one, shortcake.”

“I wouldn’t say willingly so much as accidentally rambled myself into a corner,” Hanna said, taking a generous sip of wine.

Tucker smiled, sauntering over to her and taking a seat next to her.

“Sorry I was late,” he whispered in her ear before kissing her temple.

He smelled like a mix of spices, butter, and something sweet—like he’d been cooking Thanksgiving meals all day for everyone else’s family. That familiar smell ricocheted through Hanna like a siren song, but she couldn’t shake the apprehension she’d been struggling with all day.

She gave him a weak smile as his family oohed and ahhed at the casual display of affection. Hanna felt her body settle slightly now that Tucker was here, but she still felt pressure she couldn’t quite let go of.

Tucker was exhausted,but it was the best kind of exhaustion.

The restaurant had its best week to date—and it wasn’t even open for the full day on Thanksgiving. They offered catering and to-go options for families who didn’t want to cook the whole meal by themselves for the first time ever, and he was pleasantly surprised by how much interest they got. So much interest, in fact, that he’d spent a minimum fourteen hours at the restaurant every day this week.

And tonight couldn’t have gone better. Hanna was her usual awkward self, but his family loved her, just as he suspected. She was a little tipsy, so he offered to drive her home. Shawnwas driving behind them in his car to take him back afterward for their annual Thanksgiving trip to FloraBama—an equally mediocre and depressing experience they’d been committed to since they were teenagers.

Since Hanna had buckled into the passenger seat, she’d been quiet. He figured she was processing how everything went tonight and wanted to give her space, but with ten minutes left in the drive, he wanted to reaffirm her.

“Told you my family would love you,” Tucker said. “Tonight was perfect.”

“Tonight wasembarrassing,” Hanna said, her voice breaking.

“I mean, I know you didn’t love telling the penis story, but they thought it was hilarious,” Tucker said. “No need to be embarrassed.”

“It was more than just that. It was everything.” Hanna took a deep breath and looked at him with watery eyes. “I thought you were going to be there. I met them by myself, and I was awkward, and it was terrible. I couldn’t shut up. I mean, I know you like that, but do you know how mortifying it feels to just accidentally spill all your secrets as a nervous tick?”

“Hanna, I?—”

“I just… I get it. I knew the restaurant would be busy today. I just would’ve showed up later if I’d known I’d have to meet them by myself.” She sniffled, and his heart clenched.

He knew she would be nervous to meet his family by herself, but maybe he’d underestimated the levels of her social anxiety. And, to be fair, it’s not like she was a raging extrovert. For anyone, meeting their significant other’s family—on a holiday, no less—was a lot. But for Hanna? In this setting? Tucker could see how it’d be a lot for her.

He sighed. “You’re right, shortcake. I’m sorry. I should’ve communicated better when I knew I’d be late, or figured something out so you didn’t have to meet them alone.”

---