Page 9 of Love Like This

Something that gives me no small measure of relief. She’s got my insides twisted, and I like it. It’s a new feeling.

In the past, I dated every now and then, but the period between each grew longer until a year had gone by, then another. After the third, I quit paying attention. That number has probably tripled at this time in my life and I was content with the status quo. Then Hannah happened and I realized life could be so much better.

That’s why I call her Hani. She makes me happy. Doesn’t hurt that it’s pretty darn close to the endearment honey either.

“See?” I finally quip. “The noise itself gets the point across better, doesn’t it?”

“I plead the fifth.”

“On what grounds?”

“If I admit that you’re right, it’ll go to your head, won’t it?”

“I plead the fifth for the same reason.”

“Call it a tie?” She asks as a compromise.

“Deal. You almost here?”

“Pulling in now. The grands behaving?”

“I’m going to assume that’s a rhetorical question and instead say, see you in a bit.” She laughs as we disconnect, and because I can’t handle waiting the few minutes it’ll take her to park and walk inside, I decide to meet her out there instead. Hannah must’ve seen me exiting the building because she stops near the front entrance, then rolls down the passenger window. “It’s dangerous to pick up hitchhikers,” I mock scold her.

“Meh,” she replies with a shrug. “Your grandpa vouches for you.”

“He’s biased.”

“This is true. However, you’d both have to face the wrath of Enola Champion, and that is not a war you want to wage,” Hannah warns me as she finds a spot and takes it.

Oddly enough, I can picture her being a ballbuster all too easily. “Gulp.” She giggles, her hand landing on my thigh.

“I guess we have a thing, huh?” Glancing at my suddenly tight in a certain area shorts, I readily agree. I do indeed have a thing, but I know that’s not what she’s alluding to. I am a grown ass man and can control myself…just not with her.

Seeming to realize where she’s touching me, her gaze darts to my groin and she blushes. Interesting development. Her reaction to my excitement, not the excitement itself. That’s been a given since she entered my world.

I’ll behave, but I need her to know, “We do have a thing.”

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There’s a minimal amount of furniture to deal with, the grands’ apartments coming furnished to some degree. With the bigger pieces being sent to our new house yesterday via a moving company, and the smaller stuff easily fitting in my truck and Hannah’s SUV, we’re on the road two hours later without needing to come back for anything.

Grandpa, of course, is making the trip with me as Enola is doing with Hannah, and he is smiling ear to ear. He’s like a little kid going on an adventure, almost bouncing in his seat.

“I enjoyed being there,” he says a few minutes in, “don’t doubt that.”

“Especially after discovering one Mrs. Enola Champion was your neighbor.”

“This is true,” he agrees. “But I’m thrilled as can be about living with you and the ladies.” He waggles his brows as he says the last word.

“What’s the story with the two of you?”

“Girl and boy meet and date for a bit. Life happens. We parted as friends, no hard feelings on either side. I joined the military and eventually met your grandma.” Shrug. “I liked it so I put a ring on it.” I snort at the Beyoncé reference. “What? I’m hip.”

“Broke a hip, you mean.”

He chuckles. “Mind your sass, son.”

“I learned it from you.”

Now he looks proud. “That you did.”

“How’d you know Hannah’s grandpa? Did he go to the same school?”

“Nah. He moved here for something after I enlisted. Our paths crossed when I was here on leave, visiting your great-grandparents. He and Enola were smitten, which was good since they were engaged, at the time.”

“Do you ever regret how things turned out?”

“Never,” he replies with no hesitation. “Things turned out exactly how they were supposed to. I loved your grandma with my whole heart as Enola did with her husband, Julian. Rhonda and I went on to have your mom, who then had you. Julian and Enola had their son, who then had Hannah. If we hadn’t gone our separate ways, none of that would have transpired. That would’ve been a tragedy. We are who we are because of the lives we led and I wouldn’t change that for anything in the world.”

“Good answer,” I mutter, trying not to sound as choked up as I feel. Knowing he loves me is one thing, hearing him, essentially, say it, reminds me how lucky I am to have him.

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