Chapter Eight
Hannah
"We're here," I say as Dean pulls up in front of my hotel. I hear the disappointment in my voice, but I don't care. I hate that the weekend has come to an end.
I glance over at Dean, who parks the car and turns to face me, his expression mirroring my own reluctance. The weekend we spent together at the cabin was perfect. We hiked, danced, talked, and shared moments that felt more intimate than anything I'd ever experienced. Every kiss, every touch, felt like it was etching itself into my memory. It was the best weekend of my life.
“Do you have to go?” Dean's voice breaks through my thoughts, and I look at him. He's pouting, a boyish expression that makes me laugh despite myself.
“I feel bad about not spending time with my friends since we came,” I explain. “Especially since the trip was planned mainly for me, and we'll be leaving in two days.”
“Have dinner with me tonight then,” he says, looking at me in that way that makes my insides melt and the butterflies in my stomach go crazy. The thought of being with him again, even just for dinner, is too tempting to resist.
“Yes,” I say, a smile spreading across my face. “I’ll have dinner with you.”
“Great,” he says, a big smile spreading across his face. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”
Then he leans in, and my heart skips a beat. His lips meet mine in a kiss that starts soft but quickly turns passionate. His hands cradle my face, and I wound my arms around his neck, losing myself in the sensation of his kiss. Every stroke of his tongue, every brush of his lips, sends a wave of wanting through my body. When he finally pulls away, I’m breathless and my cheeks are flushed. Then he turns on that sinful smile that never fails to make my knees go weak.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he says, his voice low and full of promise.
As soon as I step inside our hotel suite, Gabby and Nora pounce on me like prowling wolves. It's like they were standing by the door, just waiting for me to walk in before bombarding me with questions.
"Tell us everything!" Gabby practically demands, dragging me down beside her on the lush gray couch she's sitting on. "From how you met at the casino to how you ended up in a cozy mountain cabin with a freaking billionaire!"
"Don't be so dramatic, Gab," Nora says, rolling her eyes at Gabby. Then she turns to me with a gentle yet curious smile. "How was it really?"
“It was...amazing,” I say simply, clearing my throat awkwardly when Gabby and Nora just keep looking at me with identical expectant expressions, waiting for me to continue.
“Wait, that's all?” Nora asks, blinking at me in shock.
“Yeah, basically,” I mutter with an awkward shrug. “The cabin is serene, and the view is just…”
“Quit the BS, Hannah, did you finally lose your V-card?” Gaby asks bluntly.
Heat bursts across my skin and I barely resist myself from fanning my face with my hands.
“Gabby!” Nora cautions, though I can see the curiosity in her eyes as well.
"Look, she's all red!" Gabby squeals, undeterred. "I can see you did. Oh, that's amazing, Hannah!" Before I can say anything, she continues, "Oh, did you know? Dean upgraded our room to this super luxurious suite and even sent food and spa treats. And he even sent a limo to take us on a tour around Vegas! We had an amazing weekend, girl."
“What?” I ask, genuinely surprised. When they called to inform me that our hotel reservation had been upgraded to a suite, I never thought it had anything to do with Dean. “I didn’t know about that.”
Gabby grins. “Yeah, he really went all out. It was as if he was trying to make up for taking you away.”
I stare at them in shock, trying to wrap my head around their words. I can't believe Dean pulled all of that off when we were practically joined at the hip all weekend and I didn't suspect a thing.
How can one man be so hot, kind, and thoughtful all at once? How can one man be so… perfect?
“He's a good person, Hannah,” Nora says, her gentle voice cutting into my thoughts.
I nod, an unconscious smile tugging at my lips. “I know that. I…” I trail off when I notice Gabby, who's fallen unusually quiet, looking at me with a thoughtful expression. “W-why’re you looking at me like that?”
She shrugs. “I don't know… you just seem different. There's a subtle change around you,” she says, brows furrowed lightly. Then suddenly, she perks up with her signature hyper smile. “In a good way, though!”
“I guess I should thank you for the compliment?” I ask hesitantly, shaking my head at her in amusement.
“What happens after Vegas, though?” Gabby asks seriously, searching my face as if the answer to her question will suddenly appear on my forehead. “Have you thought about it?”
The room falls silent, the weight of her question hanging in the air. I hadn't really thought that far ahead. All I know is how I felt in the moments I spent with Dean. But what comes next? Do we have a future?
“I... I don’t know,” I admit, feeling a knot of uncertainty forming in my stomach.
Gabby and Nora exchange looks, their expressions softening. “Do you think you could have something real with him?” Nora asks gently.
I shrug, feeling overwhelmed by the possibilities. “I really like him,” I say honestly. “But I don't know what comes next. I guess we'll just have to see.”
Gabby gives me a sympathetic smile. “Well, whatever happens, we're here for you. And for what it's worth, I think he really likes you too.”
A feeling of unease settles in my chest despite Gabby's attempt at reassurance, but I push down the intrusive thoughts fighting to cloud my mind and return her smile. “Thanks, guys. Now, what did I miss?”
They fill me in on their wild Vegas weekend, and while I am sad I missed time with my besties, I don’t regret spending all of my time with Dean. Who knows if we’ll ever have that chance again?
***
Nora's question lingers in my mind even as I sit across from Dean in a fancy uptown restaurant eating the most delicious Le Coq au Vin, whatever that means. The young bright-eyed server had suggested it as the chef's special of the day and it'd have been an experience if my mind were on the meal.
What happens after Vegas?
The question spins round and round in my head, and yet, I can't seem to find a satisfactory answer. I try to focus on the present, the flickering candle between us, and the way Dean's eyes catch the light. But the uncertainty gnaws at me, refusing to let go.
Over the past few days, some of the best days I've ever had, I’ve been left wondering what my next step is. How do I build a life with someone so far ahead of me when I still have to finish school across the country?
I take a sip from my wineglass, watching Dean across the table. He's absorbed in his meal, but every so often, he glances up at me, and when our eyes meet, there's a warmth that spreads through me. I know that I can't stay much longer and that this fantasy has to end, and I also know that I'll come out of this with better priorities for myself. But still, it has to end. And when it ends, where will that leave me and Dean?
What’s this thing we have? Does it mean as much to him as it does to me?
Dean seems to notice me pushing the food around my plate because he looks up, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong, Hannah? Do you not like the food?"
“Of course, I do,” I reply, forcing a smile. “It's delicious.”
"So, what's wrong?" He asks, his brows furrowing in a concerned frown.
I hesitate for a moment, unsure of how to put my emotions into words. Dean waits patiently as I organize my thoughts, his eyes never leaving mine. It's as if he sees into my soul and can see everything going through my mind. I drop my gaze, shielding myself from the blazing intensity of his eyes, but I can only run away for so long… I need answers to the questions churning relentlessly in my head.
“It's just… I've been thinking about us,” I say finally, fisting my hands to stop myself from fiddling with the tablecloth. “About what happens after this, after. Vegas.”
Dean sets down his fork, his expression unreadable. It reminds me of how cool he was able to be the other night, kicking out that man who wouldn’t leave me alone. There are so many layers to him, and I want to explore each and every one of them.
“I've been thinking about that too,” he says, his deep voice cutting through my hazy thoughts.
“You have?” I ask, trying to keep the nervousness out of my voice. “And?”
He sighs, reaching across the table to take my hand in his. "I want more, Hannah… more of you, more of whatever this is that we share. I don't want it to end." I stare at him, unable to believe my ears, unable to believe the words coming out of his mouth. "I know we haven't known each other for very long," Dean continues, his voice calm, his gaze steady, "but I've never felt like this before. Being with you makes everything make sense. My world, my life… it feels complete with you in it."
A plethora of emotions surge through me all at once; relief, joy, nerves, excitement, and even anxiety. "I feel the same way, Dean," I say after a long time when I'm sure I can speak without fumbling over my words. "These past few days were the most amazing moments of my life, and I don't want to let go of this happiness, but our realities are so different. I have to go back to my life in New York and you to yours in Vegas."
"It doesn't mean we can't make this work, Honey," he says, giving me a gentle squeeze. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes. I can fly to New York every week to see you or move out there temporarily until your graduation if that's what it takes."
I stare at him in stunned silence. I cannot believe that a man like Dean Sterling is willing to go to such lengths for me. "Why?" I ask, barely pushing the word past the lump that's suddenly formed in my throat. "Why would you go through that length for me?"
“Because I love you.”
His words hit me like a bomb and for a full minute, I forgot how to breathe. “Dean…”
"I love you, Hannah," he says again, his hand tightening on mine. "I think I fell in love with you right from the moment you stepped into my casino… or maybe it was when I watched you on the dance floor? I don't know, I think you stole my heart four years ago on that flight. I love you, Hannah."
I want to tell him that I love him too because I do, but the words are stuck in my throat. My heart is beating too fast, and it seems like I'm going to pass out at any moment from holding my breath for too long.
“W-what about after I graduate?” I ask instead, trying to hang on to some sense of reality. “My parents are expecting me to move home after graduation to help them with revamping their grocery store.”
“Then I’ll move back to Seattle,” he says, completely deadpan.
I start to laugh at the joke, but then I see he's dead serious. He means it. “Dean, you can’t be serious.”
He nods, his gaze unwavering. “I am. If that’s what it takes to be with you, then I’ll do it. You mean that much to me, Hannah.”
Tears pool in my eyes, threatening to spill over, but I blink them away. How on earth did I get so lucky? It's like the universe is trying to make up for the dreary life that I've led in the past twenty-two years, and I can't afford to take that chance for granted.
“I won't be going back home after graduation,” I declare suddenly. The decision is impulsive, but it feels right.
“You’re not?” Dean asks, surprise flickering in his eyes.
I shake my head. “No. I'm going to open a dance studio and maybe start a group of my own. I've been thinking about it for a while, but I think I'll really go for it,” I say, giggling excitedly. “I love it here, so I'll open a studio right here in Vegas. Plus, I can fly up to Seattle whenever I need, or video call my parents whenever they need my help.”
Just the thought of my own studio sets my heart racing. I have substantial savings from competition prizes and my monthly allowance; enough to get things off the ground.
“I think that’s amazing, Hannah,” Dean says, a wide grin spreading across his face. “I’ll support your dream, whatever it is. I can even be the first client in your studio.” He winks, making me laugh.
“You? Dancing?” I say, laughing at the image.
I stop laughing when I see Dean looking at me with an indecipherable expression. There's something about his eyes at that moment, a different kind of intensity, one that makes me want to drown in their blue depths forever. “W-why are you looking at me like that?”
“Just because,” he says, his expression softening. “You have a beautiful laugh, Honey. It's a sound I hope to hear forever.”
“Forever?” I tease, trying to lighten the moment but my voice trembles slightly. “Is that a proposal, Mr. Sterling?”
He smiles, his eyes twinkling. "Say yes, and I'll buy you the most expensive diamond ring to seal the deal." His tone is light but the intensity in his eyes remained unchanged.
It's hard to tell if it's all jokes or if he's serious but I play along, returning his smile. “Yes, Dean. I'll fly with you forever.”
Because at the end of the day, I'd marry him in an instant.
He raises my hand to his lips, placing a tender kiss on the back of my hand without taking his eyes off me. “I love you, my beautiful Hannah.”
My heart stops and starts to beat again but this time, for him. “I love you too, Dean.”