Page 10 of The Pink House

His gaze caught Hannah’s when the next set began, but he only smiled and shifted his focus. Charlie didn’t think Jordan would return to hassle her, but he would stay close just in case.

For Brian’s sake, he would make sure no one bothered Hannah.

* * *

The band played until midnight, then, much like Cinderella’s coach, they and their instruments disappeared. Since the food trucks and drink vendors were still open, Hannah and her friends stayed. Slowly, they began drifting off, one by one.

“How did you get here?” Mackenna lived downtown in one of the renovated buildings. For her, it was a short walk home.

“I got an Uber.” Hannah pulled out her phone. “I knew finding a parking space down here would be crazy.”

“Ubers are going to be in short supply right now.”

Hannah turned, and there was Charlie. She’d seen him off and on this evening, but other than at the beginning of the festival and for a while when they’d been dancing, their paths hadn’t crossed. Which had been fine with her.

This night had been about reconnecting with girlfriends and having fun with them.

“You think getting an Uber will be difficult?” Hannah’s finger poised above the app.

“I know it will.” His tone remained matter-of-fact. “GraceTown is seriously understaffed when it comes to any ride-sharing options. Events like these, well, that’s when that lack of staffing is most pronounced.”

“It’s true,” Mackenna told her. “Come with me to my place. I’ll get my car and take you home.”

“Or…” Charlie lifted a hand. “You could ride home with me. I’m headed in your direction anyway.”

“That’s right.” Mackenna flashed a smile. “I’d forgotten you and your mom moved last year.”

It appeared that Hannah riding home with Charlie was a done deal. After all, it would be silly to ask Mackenna to drive her when Charlie was already headed in that direction.

Mackenna flung her arms around Hannah and squeezed tight. “I’m so glad you came tonight. We’ll talk soon.”

“Hey,” Charlie protested. “Don’t I get a hug and a ‘glad you came tonight, Charlie’?”

With a laugh, Mackenna gave Charlie not only a hug, but a big, smacking kiss on the cheek. “I’m glad you came tonight, Charlie.”

With a wave, Mackenna hurried to catch up with a couple who’d called out a greeting to her.

Hannah considered her options. She really didn’t like being put in a situation that—

“If you’d prefer to call an Uber, I’ll wait with you until it arrives.”

The offer had her inclining her head.

“It’s obvious you’re not keen on riding with me. That’s cool.” He gestured to the thinning crowd. “But it’s late. I don’t like the idea of you waiting alone for a ride.”

“Are you rescinding your ride offer?”

Surprise skittered across his face. “My offer stands.”

“Then I accept.”

“You were right about close parking places being difficult to find,” he told her as they started walking. “My truck is about a mile from here.”

She slanted a look in his direction. “I don’t mind walking.”

They strolled for a couple of blocks in companionable silence before he spoke. “How do you like being back?”

It was a variation of a question she’d been asked all evening, usually accompanied by an expectant smile, as if the person asking waited for her to say it was good to be home, or something to that effect.

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