Page 45 of Love Me

Not wanting her to get weird and pull away before I have the opportunity to get closer to her tonight, I act like nothing happened. Placing her foot on the ground, she accepts my outstretched hand and stands, getting familiar with walking in heels.

“Are you about ready? Have you eaten?”

“Yep, and yes, Dad, I ate. Also have a honey stick in my purse. I plan to watch the shit out of people, drink far too much free champagne, and go to the hotel room to watchScreamuntil I pass out.”

“Sounds like a plan, let’s hit the road.”

We say our goodbyes to Hailey and Charlie before getting on the road to Olympia. After a five-fucking-minute walk downhalf of the stairs because of her shoes, I bend over and scoop her into my arms, her squeal echoing through the backyard.

“Put me down!”

“Not a chance, beauty. I’d like to get there before tomorrow, and at the rate you’re walking, Charlie will have graduated from college by the time we get to the bottom. Stop squirming.”

She settles in my arms and there’s a chance I walk slightly slower than normal to prolong the feeling of her pressed against me. Once at my truck, she reaches over to open the passenger door, and I easily set her ass down on the bench seat. Reaching to pull the seatbelt down, I start to cross it over her chest when her eyes meet mine. I’m witness to the quick emotions that flash through her, first shock, then arousal, finally settling on denial.

“Give me that! Don’t baby me, bear, I’m a big girl.”

She’s gonna keep fighting this even though I know damn well she feels this heat between us. Chemistry like this doesn’t just happen. We’re made for each other, she just needs to wake up and see it. I release the seat belt once she has it firmly in her grasp, and watch as she pulls it across her body, hearing the click of it locking into place.

“Hey, look at me,” I say gently.

“I’m not babying you. You are more than capable of handling everything the world throws at you by yourself. But there is nothing wrong with leaning on me to handle shit with you. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, I’m not doing it because I don’t think you can do it on your own, I’m doing it because Iwantto. Because it makes me feel good to take care of you.”

She blinks at me a few times before nodding, her voice coming out slightly choked with emotion. “Okay.”

It’s a little more than an hour’s drive into Olympia, and we spend the time talking about the new movies releasing this year,summer plans, Charlie’s birthday party tomorrow, and then she shocks me by bringing up her parents.

“I told them about us.”

I nearly swerve off the road, snapping my attention back in front of me and putting both of my hands on the wheel. I thought we were waiting until after we got married.

“You what?”

“I told them that we are dating and things were getting serious quickly. I know I said I was going to wait, but Hailey told me to just rip the Band-Aid off.”

“Shit, Han, how did they react?”

She snaps her head in my direction, giving me a “really?” look.

“That well, huh?”

“Pretty sure I need hearing aids because of the way my mother screamed in joy. Nearly blew my fucking eardrum,” Hannah deadpans, her voice monotone and slightly annoyed.

I bark out a laugh.

“Sounds about right. Pretty sure both of our parents have been wanting this since we were kids and refused to be away from each other.”

“Yeah. Whatever.”

“Hey.” I reach over with my right hand, resting it on her thigh and shaking her slightly to get her attention. “You and me. Screw everyone else. We know what you’re capable of. You don’t need me or anyone else’s opinion or approval. This is just making things easier on your parents so they give you what you ultimately earned yourself and deserve. Bean Haven is going to be yours, beauty.”

“It’s just shitty. All this talk, for years, about how I need to settle down with Levi because he’s Charlie’s dad, and the moment I tell her that I’ve moved on and we’re dating, she’s overjoyed. Bear, my mom is happy with me because of the manI’m with. As if I have no worth at all besides that. It’s not the fucking 1800s.”

“Your parents are old school and out of touch, Han. They love you in their own way, but yeah, they’re assholes. Little do they know, I’m not doing jack shit. Sure, I help with Charlie here and there, but this is all you, beauty. How many people our age are running a full-time business on their own while also being a single parent? Fuck them.”

She smiles and nods her head in agreement before looking out the window. The rest of the trip is spent in silence, nothing but the highway in front of us, my mind reeling with how I can get this night back on track.

Once we arrive at the hotel where the event is being held, I say a quick thanks to the sky for not being it’s typical moody, temperamental self this time of year. No rain, no extremely late-season snow, just overcast skies and a decent temperature tonight. I pull up to the valet, grab our masks, and leave my truck, rounding the hood to get Hannah. This time, she waited for me to open her door and help her out. Before we enter, I pull her to the side and secure her mask over her eyes, tying the lace behind her head. Luckily, I went with all black for both of us, so it matches her dress perfectly. Hannah’s is adorned with tiny crystals around the edges and a bit of lace in a dainty pattern through the center. She’s gorgeous, and I have to mentally prepare for everyone to be eyeing her all night.

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