Page 414 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
“Flint askedyouto come,” I say.
Hannah nods. “I’m sure it’s tough to get used to having security around all the time.”
“Yeah, it’s definitely different.”
“Audrey, it won’t always be like this. You’ll get used to some things, but people will get used to you, too. If I’ve learned anything watching Flint make his way in Hollywood, it’s that the internet has a very short attention span.”
I don’t know if it’s the warmth of her voice or the fact that I’ve been watching movies all day full of Flint in all his glory, but my heart suddenly feels like it’s going to burst. Instead, I start to cry. Which is justridiculous.Before Flint, I would go months without shedding a single tear. And now I’m a freaking water fountain.
“Oh, honey, come here,” Hannah says. She pulls me into a hug, rubbing my back while I hiccup and sniff and leak tears all over her shirt.
“Seriously. I have no idea what’s wrong with me.”
Hannah smiles as I pull away. “I’m pretty sure I have an idea.”
I laugh as I wipe away my tears. “But it’s worth it, right?”
“What, love?” she asks. “Or loving someone like Flint?”
I shrug. “Both?”
Her expression shifts into something soft and tender. “Audrey, that boy has been a ray of sunshine every day of his life. He’s worth everything. And love? Well, that’s just plain fun. Of course it’s worth it.”
Hannah makes me try an almond pillow cookie before she leaves, and she was right. It’s definitely my new favorite cookie.
I walk her out to the porch, watching as she walks down the stairs and toward her car. But there’s one more thing I need to ask her.
“Hannah, wait!” She turns, and I run down the stairs, stopping in the grass a few feet away. “Is he home?”
She smiles. “He’s home.”
He’s home.
And I need to see himright now.
Chapter Thirty-One
Flint
North Carolina has neverfelt more like home.
Maybe because Audrey is here. Maybe because the summer heat is finally yielding to something cooler. Maybe because the last week in Los Angeles has been so long.
Turns out Audrey was right, and Simon really did just act impulsively when he leaked the story. He claimed stress and mounting financial obligations made him irrational. I’m not sure what he meant by that, and I don’t really want to know. All I care about is it only took one conversation to make it clear that if he kept talking about me, I would be forced to let people know why Ireallyfired him. It’s generous that I don’t let people knowanyway.I can only hope he’ll learn from the situation and do better with future clients.
Either way, I have never been so happy to leave Los Angeles behind. My own house, in the mountains I love, is just the balm I need.
Well, that’s not entirely true. Audrey is the balm I need. But I still don’t know where we stand.
It’s just after eight when I get a text from Nate.
Nate:Your brothers are at the gate. You want me to let them in?
My brothers. All of them?
I send Nate a quick thumbs up.
Five minutes later, I swing my front door open to see them standing there in a cluster, Brody, Lennox, Perry, and Tyler, my brother-in-law.
