20. Hannah
20
Hannah
On Monday afternoon, Hannah led the way down the steps to their spot for lunch, talking animatedly about the relay races she’d competed in against the other staff.
“They thought they could smoke a PE teacher, but they were wrong. I dominated.”
He slowly followed her down the steps, so slowly she stopped on the bottom step so he could catch up.
“Is something up?” she asked.
He was staring straight at her, but he didn’t look mad or upset. More like he was a boy caught with his hand in the candy jar.
His lips turned up in a grin. “Everything’s great.”
“Okay,” she said, moving on to another subject as she reached for the door. “I can’t believe school is ending in three—”
Suddenly, Jason pulled her back into the stairwell and let the door close in front of them.
“Wha—”
He held a finger to her lips and backed into a wall.
Her eyebrows rose. “What are you doing?” she whispered as he leaned in. “We’re at work.”
“And I’ve been a man lost in the desert without water for years.” He sighed and leaned in so close his lips pressed against her cheek as he spoke. “Would it be crazy if we kissed right here? I... have been thinking of kissing you in a stairwell since last night.”
Her cheeks warmed. “Here?” she squeaked. His breath tickled her cheek, and when she turned to meet his eager eyes, she couldn’t tease him any longer. She grabbed his collar and urged him closer.
When their lips touched, she slipped her arms around his back and gently pulled him closer. She forced herself to stay calm instead of crushing herself against him like her burning desire screamed for her to do. She had waited this long.
His kisses were heartbreakingly tender and smooth and had her moaning for more when he backed away.
“Was that okay?” she said breathlessly. “Are you hurt?”
He shook his head and smiled as he lifted his hands to her cheeks. “You’re... intoxicating. I’m not sure starting this at work was such a good idea.”
She laughed and pressed a kiss to his lips. “You started it.”
He pressed his nose against hers and rubbed it a few times. “Yes, I did. But you’re probably right.” He backed away, creating a cool air pocket between them.
“No,” she moaned. “I wasn’t. Come back.”
He laughed as he took her hand and led her to the door. “Should we pick this up in a few hours?”
She bit back a smile, a thrill of excitement rolling through her. “Um... yes.”
“If only my practice with Sabum was as productive, life would be just about perfect.”
“I can’t believe we’re talking about my taekwondo instructor after kissing like that. ”
“You’re right. I’m crazy. Let’s talk more about kissing tonight... and tomorrow... and for the foreseeable future.”
She giggled and sidled up to him. “Maybe we should have kissed weeks ago. I like this new Jason.”
Things really did start to change in Jason’s mannerisms in the next few weeks. He was still hesitant with situations and people he wasn’t comfortable with, but with Hannah, all bets were off. A dam had broken, and years of pent-up emotions were freed.
Hannah and Jason grew closer than they had in weeks, able to connect in ways they hadn’t been able to before. They spent their evenings going on walks, going to the movies even, and each night ended with kisses, lots of them.
With school ending for the summer, Hannah spent even more time at the office, and for the first time in years, she started to consider a career.
“I think doing night school would be a great idea,” he said one day on the way to his car at the end of a work day. Since it was summer, they had been carpooling to work. “What do you think you’d like to do?”
“I mean, I love being a PE teacher, but I’ve never gone to school for it. Do you think it would be hard to get one? A job as one?”
“For you, not a bit. Might eat some of our time together, but I think it would be great in the long run. Instead of subbing classes where you can’t connect with much, you’ll see the same kids every day, every week, and I think you’ll make more of an impact.”
She nodded as the desire became clearer. “So that’s it then. I’m gonna start school in the fall and try not to die. ”
He laughed and took her hand. “I’ll help you study, clean, and make you dinner on nights you need a break.”
“This plan is sounding better already. I feel like I need to do something more for you.”
He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “You’ve done a ton for me already. Look at what I can do now.”
“The office staff is so impressed.”
“Well, if they saw me at taekwondo practice, they might think again. I still can’t attack defensively.”
“You attacked me.”
“That was different. I didn’t mind if it was you.”
He opened her door and smirked as she turned to him for a kiss instead of getting in the car. He pressed his lips to hers and shooed her into the car before anyone could see, though by now, the whole office knew they were dating. But other than stolen kisses in the stairwell and at their garden spot, they maintained a functional working relationship.
Once they were on the road, she brought up the subject again. “What if you just pretend Sabum is me and then attack him.”
He worried his lip. “It doesn’t work like that, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out. You saw me that night at the movie theater. Touch with anyone new is much harder, but someone who is aggressive... it’s like my brain shuts off and I’m frozen.”
“I’m sorry.”
He forced a smile. “There are plenty of things that have turned around for me in the last little while.” He winked, sending a wave of warmth through her. “I’ve gotten more than I could’ve ever asked for.”
She smiled. Yes, they both had.
“If anything, Sabum is patient with me.”
“Much more patient than he was with me,” she muttered.
“Oh, by the way, Rueben invited us for dinner.”
“When? ”
He laughed. “That part might be a problem. He just got back from Hawaii, and he’s spending a lot of the summer in Alaska on a fishing boat.”
“The retired life is where it’s at.”
“Must be. He’s really excited that things have worked out and takes all the credit for getting us together.”
“Of course he does.” She laughed to herself. “I’ll have to send him some macarons before he leaves.”
“He would love that.”
“Want to go walk the dogs with me?”
He looked at the clock and shook his head. “Can’t. I have practice tonight.”
“Speak of the devil. Well, maybe I could meet you there afterward.”
“And then?” he asked with a smile.
“And then, we’ll spend the rest of the night kissing since that’s what you love so much.”
He grinned and shook his head. “You’re wrong. Kissing is the cherry on top. You are the reason I love every day now.”
She looked over at him, amazed that this was her life. They’d worked through so many challenges that they deserved this little bit of reprieve.
Now if she could only help him move past his issues with making defensive moves with Sabum. As Jason drove her home, an idea came to her. It would be risky and would take time to plan, but if it worked... maybe he could prove to himself that in a pinch, he could do whatever it took to protect himself and those he cared about.