Page 45 of Why We Break

“I will. I’ll see you in the morning, Han,” she says, reaching out and wrapping her arm around my shoulders.

“See ya then,” I tell her, getting on the elevator just as the bus carrying the football team pulls up.

Once I get to our floor, I make sure all the girls are in their rooms and have everything they need before letting myself into the room number Caroline gave me.

After changing my clothes and getting ready for bed, I grab my Kindle and my cell before collapsing into bed. I was exhausted on the ride over, but now that I’m in bed I feel a little more restless than I expected. I scroll through my Kindle, figuring I can find something to read to help settle me down. I download a second chance romance about a football coach in a town called Baker Oaks and spend a few minutes getting lost in the story. I’m so absorbed in my screen, that the sound of my phone pinging almost makes me jump out of the bed. I turn it over and feel my eyes widen at the sight of Will’s name on my screen.

WILL: You feeling as wide awake as I am?

HANNAH: Yep. I don’t know what’s the matter with me. I was exhausted on the ride over, but now I can’t sleep.

WILL: Same. You end up with a room by yourself?

HANNAH: Yeah… you?

Instead of responding, my phone rings and I look down to see his name. Hitting to accept the call, I press my phone to my ear and answer. “Hello.”

“Hey, Han.” His low voice fills the empty room, and I snuggle under the covers, wishing I was with him.

“I take it you ended up without a roommate too, huh?”

“Yeah, a couple kids had parents that signed them out so all the coaches ended up getting their own.”

“Well, that worked out I guess. Congrats on the win.”

“Thanks, I really can’t believe we’re headed to the semifinals,” he admits, and I smile at the excitement in his voice.

“Yeah, it’s awesome. I’m so proud of you,” I say, and the phone goes quiet for a minute.

Finally, I’m about to check and make sure my phone didn’t die when I hear him whisper, “God, I wish I could be with you right now.”

“Sure, Will, that’d be a great example,” I say sarcastically, pausing before continuing, “but I kinda wish you could too.”

I swear I hear him smile through the phone at my admission, and I suddenly realize that probably didn’t fall under the “just sex” category. I open my mouth to make a comment that brings us back to safer territory just as he says, “I’ve missed you like crazy this week, Han. I know I’ve seen you at school, but it’s not the same. Now that I’ve touched you, I need you all the time.”

My heart speeds up at his admission, and I smile at the sincerity in his voice. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I guess I’ve kinda missed you too. Or at least, I’ve missed your cock.”

He laughs at that before saying, “Whatever you need to tell yourself. But tomorrow afternoon, you’re mine.”

“That sounds good. Good night, Will,” I tell him, afraid that if I don’t end this conversation soon, I’ll end up giving away how badly I want more than I should from him.

“Good night, Han. Sweet dreams,” he replies, and I pull the covers tighter around me, trying to convince myself that I don’t want more with Will Thompson.

CHAPTER 34

HANNAH

SEVEN SUMMERS AGO

“You know, I think this is becoming an addiction,” I tease as Will pulls out of me, shrugging back on my clothes and waiting for him to join me in the tailgate. Curling up in Will’s arms under the stars has become an almost nightly ritual since we finally had sex last week, and I still can’t get enough of him.

He crawls up beside me and drops a kiss on my lips, pulling me against him before responding, “You know, I was thinking the same thing, but fuck it. There’s worse things to be addicted to.”

“You’re right,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around him to pull him closer despite the heat of the humid late July air. I panicked when I looked at the date this week and realized we only have a little longer left in the bubble we’ve built around us. I feel like this summer’s slipping through my fingers, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t hold on to these moments. The thought of going more than a day or two away from Will makes me feel on edge, never mind the thought of not seeing him for weeks.

Shaking myself out of my spiral, I lay my head on his chest and remind myself to soak up every moment I get to have with him.

We don’t say anything for a while, content to just hold each other in the quiet night until Will finally asks, “So I know we’re ignoring reality for a little longer, but I just need you to know there’s no way I’m letting you go when the summer’s over. I only have a year left of school, and it’s only two hours between Southbrook and Tuscaloosa.”

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