Page 74 of Living for Truth
The conversation luckily changes from Hannah’s religious trauma to lighter topics, and before we know it, it’s time for me to get Aly home and to bed.
My mom sends Hannah home with a grocery bag of leftovers and makes her promise to come over again soon so they can get to know each other further.
Alice, Olivia, Asha, and Sarah coordinated a lunch date and shopping with my girl so they can get to know her without me or my mom around.
When Hannah runs to the restroom before we leave, Mom pulls me in for a hug and whispers, “I can see why you’re so smitten. She’s amazing, Morgan. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Kendall gives me a hug next, saying we need to grab lunch so we can catch up, and I make him promise to answer his damn phone next weekso we can.
Once we’re in the car, Aly talks our ears off the whole way to Hannah’s apartment, telling us all about the jewelry she helped Aunt Olivia make and how she made Bean and Bagel matching collars.
As badly as I want Hannah to spend the night again, I haven’t talked to Aly to see if she’s okay with us having sleepovers, so I’ll be patient and wait.
Aly agrees to wait in the car while I walk Hannah to her door. When we reach the top of the stairs, I double check to make sure Aly can’t see us before I push Hannah into the door and smash my lips against hers in a frantic kiss. It’s been too long without her lips on mine.
It’s messy, desperate, and over too quickly for my liking.
“Thank you for coming today, Butterfly. My family loves you already.” I trace the slope of her nose, the swell of her cheeks, the line of her jaw.
“They’re great, Morgan. Thank you for inviting me.”
I nod. “I don’t want to leave you,” I whisper.
“I know.” She cups my face. “But you and Aly need to have clear expectations and boundaries, and she deserves to have a say in whether or not I sleep over. So go spend time with your daughter, and call me tomorrow, okay?”
Fuck, this woman is amazing.
“God, I love you.”Oh shit.That was supposed to be an inside thought, but I don’t apologize for the outburst, waiting to see how she reacts.
Iwon’tapologize for loving her.
“I love you, too, Morgan,” she whispers, tears brimming behind her glasses. “It feels a little crazy to say it so soon, especially since we only made things official last night, but if you can be brave enough to tell me, I can be brave enough to say it back.”
“You love me?” My own voice is thick with emotion. I’m so relieved she didn’t go running.
“So much it scares me.”
I kiss her again, tenderly this time, and taste the salt of her happy tears on my lips as they trail down her face.
I reluctantly pull back. “Now I really don’t want to leave you.”
She smiles. “Go. Text me when you get home. I’ll talkto you tomorrow.”
I sigh. “Okay. I love you.”
“I love you, too, you big goof.”
Aly asks why I have a big grin on my face as I settle back into the car, and when I tell her it’s because Hannah loves me, she rolls her eyes and says, “Duh.”
I text Hannah when we get home, then call her once Aly’s in bed, promising myself that I’ll talk to Aly tomorrow after school about Hannah spending the night.
I can’t believe this is my life now.
Chapter 34
Hannah
