Chapter 21 Hannah
HANNAH
“Wow,” I whisper, because surrounded by darkness with nothing but the view of Manhattan sprawled out before us, glittering against the night sky, so close yet just out of reach across the water reflecting the city lights like diamond dust, it feels like talking might ruin the moment.
“I didn’t even know this place existed.”
“Pretty cool, huh?”
I sigh. “It’s so beautiful.”
There’s an easy silence that’s followed by Happy’s low, murmured, “Yeah…”
I’m pulled from the breathtaking view by his slightly calloused fingers gently pinching my chin, coaxing me to look at him.
And when our eyes meet in the muted glow of the city lights, my heart skitters in my chest from his closeness, his intoxicating and heady scent wrapping around, ensnaring me like a silky web.
And I know he’s going to kiss me. And I want him to, more than anything.
But there’s something in the air between us, like whatever is happening right at this very second is so much more than anything either of us was prepared for.
This is… it. And I want it. All of it. Whatever it is.
Happy’s thumb drags along the curve of my bottom lip, his gaze dipping from mine and snagging on my mouth.
And my heart is thumping so loudly, I’m sure he can hear it, or see its pulse thrumming against my skin, but I don’t care.
I just want his lips on mine. I want him to claim me with one kiss. I’ve never been so desperate.
As he inches closer and closer, his hand moving from my chin and around the back of my head, urging me, I’m not even breathing, anticipation curling deep in my stomach.
But right before our mouths meet, nothing more than a hairsbreadth between our lips, something starts shuddering violently in the console between us, and I startle, pulling back, finding Happy’s phone lighting up.
“Shit,” Happy mutters under his breath. He picks up the phone, glancing at me warily, but then he pauses before sliding to answer. “It’s my mom. She’s at home with Luck.”
“Answer it,” I insist, nodding.
Licking his lips, Happy exhales hard, answering the call. “Mom?”
I can hear a woman’s voice on the other end, but I can’t make out the words, trying not to eavesdrop while looking out over the view again.
“Yeah, it’s the Prazosin.”
From the corner of my eye, I watch as Happy pinches the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes, and instead of sitting here and pretending like I don’t know what’s going on, I reach over and place my hand on his thigh, squeezing gently through his jeans in a show of support.
He opens his eyes, finding mine, and a small, somewhat relieved smile ghosts his lips, like he might have been worried that I wouldn’t understand or, worse, that I would be pissed at the interruption.
“Yeah. That’s the one. Crush it up and put it into some juice, and see if she’ll take it, and—” He glances at me again, trepidation flickering in his gaze as he says, “I’ll come home now.”
When he ends the call, he releases a heavy, racking breath, gripping the steering wheel and bowing his head. I smooth my hand over his back, comforting him while he takes the moment he needs, feeling the torment radiate off of him.
“I’m sorry,” he says, glancing at me. “Lucky’s not feeling good. She had a nightmare, and my mom can’t settle her. I’ve… I’ve gotta go home.”
“It’s fine,” I assure him. “I can just order an Uber.”
Happy blinks at me like I just said something in a different language. With a snort, he simply says, “No.”
“No?” I repeat, confused.
Starting the engine, he pulls out of the parking spot and onto the tree-lined street. “You’re coming home with me, Baby Draper.”
“Are you sure this is okay?” I ask for the fifth time as we pull into Happy’s garage. “I don’t want to impose, or… I don’t know, make anything more stressful for Lucky.”
“Hey, look at me.”
I turn as he shuts off the engine of his truck, silence settling around us, his dark gaze imploring mine through the dim light of the sleek garage.
“I want you here,” he says, reaching out and trailing the backs of his fingers over the curve of my cheek.
Uncertainty swirls in my chest, but I do my best to ignore it, nodding once and hopping out of the truck, following Happy to a door that opens to a set of stairs.
We walk up to the first floor, coming out behind the kitchen. The house is quiet and still, the lighting low save for the flicker of the huge television that’s playing scenes from an old black and white film on mute.
Happy places his keys onto the kitchen island and pads across to the spiral staircase that I know goes upstairs, the same stairs I watched Allie take Lucky up the last time I was here.
“I’ll wait here,” I whisper.
Happy pauses, looking at me over his shoulder. “No. Come up.”
Hesitating momentarily, I kick off my loafers and follow, letting him take my hand in a move that feels huge considering we’re in his house, with his mother somewhere around, on our way upstairs to his daughter.
The way I grip his hand, it’s like a lifesaver, holding me above water; I can’t remember a time I’ve ever been this nervous.
I take in the upstairs landing. There are three doors—one to the left, one to the right, and one ahead—the stairs leading up to the third floor continuing on behind us.
Happy tugs me with him, keeping me close as he leads the way to the door on the left, the one left slightly ajar with a dull glow brimming out through the opening.
I pause, forcing Happy to stop, and he turns, looking down at me, a knowing smile curling his lips when he sees my face which, I’m sure, is fraught with sheer panic.
“You go in,” I say. “I’ll wait here.”
“Baby Draper?” He ducks his chin, offering me a knowing look. “Don’t pussy out on me now.”
I narrow my eyes, and he chuckles lowly. “But… won’t this upset her more?” I shrug because I really don’t have any idea.
Happy shakes his head. “Trust me.”
And I release a stammering breath, because this isn’t the first time tonight that he’s told me to trust him. And I do. Trust him. More than I ever thought I could trust Happy Slater.
Turning, Happy leads me, gently pushing open the door and walking inside.
I’m met with the bedroom of every little girl’s dream: soft pink walls, a canopy bed, twinkling fairy lights hung from the ceiling, toys and dolls galore.
And there, in the center of the huge bed crowded with pillows and plushies, sits Lucky in the arms of Linda Estes in all her timeless beauty, both of them staring directly at me.
“Hey, Lucky Duck,” Happy says softly, letting go of my hand and rounding the bed, hopping onto the mattress and wrapping his arms around the little girl who looks so much like him it’s uncanny.
Lucky doesn’t speak, her big chocolate eyes still focused on me as she goes willingly into her daddy’s arms.
“I missed you,” Happy whispers, pressing a kiss to the top of her blonde curls.
Feeling more than a little awkward, I remain on the spot, legs crossed at the ankles, hands wringing together behind my back.
My eyes dart to Linda to find her quietly assessing me, the faintest hint of a smile barely grazing her lips.
And normally I would introduce myself, but I don’t want to interrupt the moment between Happy and Lucky, so I just stand here, like a fucking imbecile, doing all that I can not to look directly into Linda’s intense eyes that are so dark they’re almost black, like a bottomless ocean.
“Hannah.”
The whisper of my name makes me snap my head up, meeting Lucky’s curious gaze over Happy’s shoulder.
Happy turns his head, his eyes smiling as he murmurs into Lucky’s hair, “Yeah, that’s right. Hannah.” He waves me closer, and I go willingly, nervously, Lucky pulling away from her dad to get a better look at me.
“Hi, Lucky.” I wave.
“Hi…” she says so tentatively, her voice so sweet and fragile, it pulls at my heart.
“Well, now, since everyone knows each other, does someone want to introduce me?”
We all turn to see Linda sitting up a little straighter, an expectant look on her face as she holds a hand to her chest.
Happy chuckles. “Mom, this is Hannah Draper.” He glances back at me, winking secretly. “Hannah, this is my mother, and Lucky’s Grandma, Linda.”
Linda pushes herself up off the bed and walks around to me. God, she’s beautiful. So stunning and poised. At least six-foot something.
I hold my hand out, but she just stands there, looking me up and down for a long beat that makes me instinctively shrink. Glancing sideways at Happy, she offers him an arched brow, a wry smile curling her lips as she says, “Brand meeting, huh?”
My eyes flit between the two of them, noticing the sheepish smile Happy tries to hide, and confusion piques my anxiety.
I have no idea what she’s talking about, and I hate not being included in a joke because it immediately makes me think I’m the butt of it.
But, before I can overthink too much, Linda wraps her arms around me in an unexpected embrace that doesn’t feel as awkward or weird as it probably should. It feels, dare I say, perfect.
“Nice to meet you, honey,” Linda whispers to me before releasing me from her hold and walking away to where there is a sippy cup on the nightstand. She holds the empty cup up in Happy’s direction. “She just finished.”
Happy nods, smiling down at Lucky. “Wanna read a story, Lucky Duck?”
Lucky nods, still looking at me.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Linda says, winking at me before exiting the room.
I point at the door, nodding at Happy. “I’ll… I’ll go, too.”
“Read a book?” Lucky asks, her eyebrows climbing higher in hope as she continues looking at me.
I pause, flashing a questioning glance at Happy.
He grins. “Yeah, I think Hannah might like to read a book with us, huh, Luck?”
Oh. I smile at Lucky, nodding, and she flashes an adorably toothy grin.
“I think Hannah should choose the book, what do you think, Lucky Duck?”
Lucky nods excitedly, crawling across the bed and jumping off with a light thud, and I follow her to the big bookshelf full of books.
Surprisingly, she takes my hand in hers, causing my breath to catch in the back of my throat.
I try to play it cool, unaffected, watching on as Lucky points to one of the books with a little girl and a duck on the cover.
“This one?” I pull the book down from the shelf.
She nods and turns, tugging me back to the bed where I notice Happy relaxing back against the pillows, watching on with a wistful smile, looking unfairly hot and beautiful all at once.
Lucky climbs onto the bed, nestling onto the pillows next to where Happy has made himself comfortable.
She pats the space on the other side of her, silently inviting me.
And I try to act casual, but honestly, this moment right here might just go down as one of the best first dates in the history of dating.