32. Chapter 32
Chapter 32
There’s one last thing I absolutely need to help Hannah cross off her list before the pre-season starts and I can’t spend most of my time with her. I also need to tell her that she’s it for me—that I want to make things officially official between us. I want to see her wearing my jersey in a crowd, I want to be able to let the world know that she’s mine. I want to answer ‘ she’s mine’ when people ask me who she is.
It needs to be something from her Bucket List; this list is how it all started. From the notes on my phone, she’s accomplished quite a few things this summer, but I know exactly what I need to do. With a plan forming in my head, I send a quick text asking if she’s free this afternoon, to which she quickly responds, “Yes.”
An hour later, I have her sitting in the passenger seat of my truck, bugging to know where I’m taking her, but I won’t give in this time. She’s bested me every time I’ve planned a surprise for her so far, but not this time.
“Are we picking some stuff up for Hagrid?” she asks, confused, not understanding why I just parked in front of the PetSmart.
“No, not for Hagrid,” I simply answer without any explanation while getting out of the truck, knowing I’m driving her crazy. It doesn’t take her long to join me outside, but before she can question me any further, we’re interrupted the minute we walk into the store.
“Ian! Already that time of the month again I see! And who did you bring with you today?” Susan, the black-haired, fifty-year-old manager says, seeing me pull up with our cart of cat food.
“Hi, Susan. Yeah, it’s already been a month!” I say as she starts scanning our carts. “And this is Hannah,” I introduce her, just waiting for the day I can call her mine. “Hannah, this lovely lady is Susan. Not only doesn’t she work here, but she also volunteers at the rescue we’re going to and even fosters baby kittens with no moms. The lady is a saint.”
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Hannah says, passing her another box of canned food.
“You as well, young lady. Now, how did you two meet?”
“I recently moved in with my best friend’s younger brother, Levi, Ian’s teammate,” Hannah answers politely, even though Susan is being noisy and knows it.
“Is that the devilishly handsome young man that accompanies you from time to time?”
“Yeah, that’s Levi,” I answer.
“Are you heading to the shelter right after this?” Susan continues with her usual twenty-thousand questions, making me smile.
“Yes, Hannah, here, is actually looking to adopt a cat.” Shit. I got bested again. She now knows why I picked her up. I swear this girl . . .
“I’m getting a cat?” she almost squeals, looking at me with her hands clasped in front of her.
“Or whatever animal you fall in love with. I already spoke to Levi, and he’s okay with whatever you want to bring home.”
“This is so great! Thank you!” she says before throwing her arms around me. “But what are we doing here, should I know what I’m adopting before I shop?”
“You definitely should, but this is something I do every month,” I start, ushering her to the carts so we can each grab one. “I stop here, grab a bunch of pet supplies, and bring them down to the local shelter where I got Hagrid.”
“You are just full of surprises aren’t you, Mr. Morrison?” she asks, making me blush at the awe I see in her eyes.
“This is so much stuff! I can’t believe you do this every month!” Hannah says, closing the tailgate of my truck once we’ve loaded all the supplies, which includes eleven assorted bags of food, fourteen boxes of cat litter and a bunch of treats. “I mean, this is amazing! You really are a stand up guy!” she says, landing a soft kiss on my blushing cheek. “Now, off to the shelter we go!” she says, with a bounce in her step to the passenger door.
A short, ten minute drive later, with Hannah barely containing her excitement, we pull into the rescue’s parking lot, and I make my way to the back where they take larger donations. Parking the truck by the door, I make my way to the donation door with Hannah right behind me. Before I can even knock, Beth opens the door. And before I can even ask how she knew I was there, she says, “Hiya Ian! Susan called, telling me you were on your way with your monthly donation, and to let me know that you have a lovely sidekick with you on this run.” Not letting me answer, she turns to Hannah. “You must be Hannah! It’s so nice to meet you. I hear you’re interested in adopting a new best friend! I think I might have the perfect little ball of fur for you if you’re interested in kittens! How about we let the men do what the men do,” she says as her husband Ron joins us outside to help me unpack all this stuff. “And us women will go see that little one-eyed beauty out back!”
Looking back at me with a giggle, I give Hannah a nod and a hand wave, telling her that Ron and I have it all covered.