Chapter 6
HANNAH
My favorite time of the day is getting home, changing into a pair of yoga pants, an oversized sweatshirt, and socks.
Today, I pour myself a glass of cabernet. I open the box of snickerdoodles and break one in half. This evening feels like a Jennifer Aniston kind of night. I’ll start with that old movie she made with Paul Rudd and end up with a few Friends re-runs.
I go to the pantry to grab a can of cat food for Draco, when someone knocks on my front door. Draco runs to the door, nose pressed against the edge. He’s ready to bolt. Like I’m going to let him.
I wonder why my doorman didn’t announce I have a visitor. Then I remember Sadie was sending me Chinese food.
Grabbing my wallet, I walk to the door. Before picking up Draco, I check the peephole just to make sure I’m not handing a twenty-dollar bill to a neighbor. It’s happened to me before.
I groan when I see Alex. Didn’t I just tell him that I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him? Not today or ever. I should leave him outside. But Alex Spearman isn’t a normal person. If you challenge him, he won’t back off. Ignoring him will only feed the beast.
“What do you want?” I ask, opening the door.
He shows me the basket. At that moment, the delivery guy appears with my food. Alex takes the paper bag, shifts the basket around, while simultaneously pulling out his wallet, giving the guy money.
“It’s paid for.”
“Keep it,” Alex responds and doesn’t wait for my invitation, he just bulldozes his way into my apartment.
“Yoga pants and a sweatshirt,” he says with a seductive grin. “My favorite outfit.”
“Out,” I order, because I see his intentions in those dark eyes.
Plus, his favorite outfit is no clothing. Me bare on my bed, tied up. Not going to happen. Not today or ever. We’re done. He places the food on the counter, eats the other half of the cookie I left, and takes off his jacket.
“Why are you wearing a suit?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Whatever, I’m not playing your game.”
Alex glances around, picks up Draco’s canned food, and serves it on his bowl. I hate that he knows the routine. Even how Draco likes to be petted a few times before he starts eating.
“You love when we play,” he says, standing up and looking down at me. “Releasing endorphins might help lighten your mood.”
I cross my arms and clamp my lips. Alex always plays a two-player game. If I’m not on board, it’s over.
“As I said, use a courier next time. Please leave.”
“Is it about your New Year’s resolution? Because it sounded like a challenge to me.”
I refuse to answer. He’s teasing me, poking and prodding, trying to figure out a way to make me lose my mind, so I’ll give in. Since we met, he’s always used the same technique. Provoking the fuck out of me. The anger blinds my common sense and… we sleep together.
“In no way was I thinking of you when I wrote it,” I say with conviction. “You’re not the only man in my life.”
He ignores me, walking to where the forks are and opening the takeout.
“We got curry chicken or shrimp fried rice, and my favorite, Mongolian beef. Do you have beers from the last time I came?” he asks, handing me a pair of chopsticks and pouring more wine in my glass.
“Alexander,” I warn him.
“I like your house. The floor plan is homey.”
He glances around and makes a production of setting everything on the coffee table. “Sometimes, I wonder if I should sell my studio and buy June’s apartment. Wouldn’t it be wonderful?”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I say, my voice is sharp, edged with suppressed fury.
What am I supposed to do? Sell my place and…fly to Seattle with my family and away from him. No, I won’t let him win.
Alex takes a seat on the couch, grabs his chopsticks, and starts eating. “Beef?”
My phone rings. Alex leans to see it and announces, “It’s June.”
I grunt and reach out to pick it up. He’s right, it’s his sister.
“Why did you send your brother?” I snap, as soon as she says hey.
“Hello to you, too,” she answers. “Seriously, I think it’s time for you to get laid. When was the last time…around Thanksgiving?”
“Not what I asked,” I respond, avoiding her question because it was Thanksgiving. I slept with her brother. “I thought we agreed—no more using him as your courier.”
She sighs. I knew it, and it better not be something like “I was hoping you two would reconcile your differences.” Because if that’s the case, I’d jump on a plane and go to Colorado to slap her a couple of times. She knows better.
“It’s competition season,” she explains. “It’s my turn to distract him. Why do you think I asked him to fill up two mason jars with purple and pink Skittles?”
I laugh as she explains to me what she’s made him do. I look at the basket he brought me. It has wine, small cakes, cookies, and two jars. Though, they’re filled with purple and pink jellybeans. Which he knows I love. I glare at Alex.
He shrugs, giving me an innocent smile.
“Have I ever told you that you’re crazy?”
She is, Alex mouths, sitting back and relaxing as he watches me talk to his sister.
“Takes one to know one,” she answers.
“So, what is he doing after this?” I ask curiously, because he’s wearing a suit.
“He should’ve come from a fundraiser lunch. Did he wear a suit?”
“Yeah,” I answer, looking at him. “That’s Tuesday, what’s happening the rest of the week.”
“I gave him a long list. His last task is this Friday. That’s when Jason takes over. They’re going skiing in Switzerland.”
“Wait, which one is Jason?” I always confuse her two older brothers.
“Second oldest. The goofy one who pretends to be an asshole. He’s a shorter, less buffed version of Alex.”
“So, Jason is hotter than Alex?” I ask out loud.
He’s married, Alex mouths.
“When is competition season over?”
Alex perks up, and his eyes darken. In the meantime, June gives me a rundown of events. His favorite—after the Olympics, of course—is the X-Games. The Games happened last weekend. June continues to list all the competitions happening all around the northern hemisphere.
“What’s happening after Switzerland?” They need to fill too many dates, and knowing June, she has a plan.
“Next month, we’ll be in France. He’s Sterling’s best man. We just haven’t told him yet.”
“Wait, you’re getting married?”
When? Alex mouths, frowning.
“He didn’t give you the invitation?”
I take every item out of the basket and find a cream color envelope at the bottom. The invitation is classy, simple, and beautiful. The back of it is perfect. Alex stands up and looks at it, shaking his head.
“What happened to we’re going to wait until the babies are born?” I ask, as I look at the back in detail. It has a beautiful wintery landscape of the mountains.
“France,” she answers with a swoony voice. “Sterling has to be there for an exhibition, and we decided to spend the month. Then, we found this charming chateau. It’s beautiful and perfect for a weekend wedding. We’re going to spend most of the month in Paris…”
“I’m judging you hard,” I say.
God, I want to gag, she’s sickly in love.
“It’s Paris in February,” she repeats.
“Cold and really, Valentine’s Day weekend?”
So cliché.
Alex rolls his eyes and pretends to gag.
“Well, I was hoping that since the Monday after is a holiday, my best friend might be able to join us.”
“Don’t use me as your excuse to be corny and romantic,” I say, knowing she’s doing it because the woman lives in a fairy tale. “Though, I do appreciate the sentiment...Kind of.”
Alex makes more gagging noises; I can’t help but chuckle.
“Come, please,” she begs me. “I want you to be my maid of honor.”
“What happened to your sister?” Her twin sister should be the maid of honor.
If I was getting married, which I never will, I’d ask my sister, Tess, to be my matron of honor.
“She gets to be a bridesmaid, just like my sisters-in-law.”
“Are you still mad at Jeannette?”
“No, I just really want you as my MOH. You’re the one who pushed me to take a leap and make things happen for me. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have met Sterling.”
My eyes go to Alex because this trip implies spending time with him—in Paris. “Look, the semester just started.”
“You can ask for a couple of days, please. It’s my wedding, Hannah. We thought this was never going to happen.”
“Can I think about it?”
“Sterling promises to fly you on a private yet.”
I laugh. “It’s not about transportation.”
“Please, I’ll do anything for you when it’s your turn.”
“June…”
“It’ll happen.”
“See, the thing is, I don’t want it to happen. I’m okay being the crazy aunt and cat lady.”
“I wish—”
“Let me stop you right there. Your happiness is important to me. Leave mine alone, okay?”
“At least come to be with me on the most important day of my life.”
I don’t burst her bubble because a wedding is important, but never the most important day of a person’s life.
When her kids are born, that’ll trump everything else.
I bet that meeting Sterling was, indeed, the most important because that led her down the path of happiness.
She’s right, though, I should be there for her.
“Fine, I’ll try to find someone to cover for me.”
“Thank you,” she says, all giddy. I swear someone switched my best friend for this ball of happiness and sweetness.
“I haven’t said yes.”
“You will eventually,” she says and yawns. “These children are leeching all my energy.”
“Go take a nap,” I suggest.
“How was today?” she asks.
“Same as usual,” I answer and proceed to tell my best friend about the entire day…except I stop my story at the point when I saw her brother at the liquor store.
The biggest problem with Alex is I can never share anything about him with my best friend.
“You should go out, meet someone,” she offers.
“Remember my embargo?”
“Oh, right, one year, no men,” she says, laughing. “Are you writing more articles about it?”
“I will. Right after I write your love story.”
I hear her speaking to someone in the background.
“Sterling agrees, as long as you don’t disclose his name. Also, he wants you to describe him as hotter than Brad Pitt and Chris Pine,” she says, laughing.
“Goodbye, June. Thank you for always being there for me,” I say.
“That’s what best friends are for,” she reminds me.
When I hang up, Alex asks with an annoyed voice, “Did she send me to distract me and not you?”
His jaw sets.
“There’s a wedding coming up,” I answer, diverting the conversation.
“I’m not a kid, you know. When are you going to understand that I’m fine? There’re competitions all year long!” he yells.
His fists clench at his sides. The vein over his eyebrow throbs. And the asshole is making his appearance.
“You don’t have to babysit me.”
“I told you to stay away,” I say, matching the tone of his voice.
He saunters toward the chair where he hung his jacket. “I just don’t fucking learn.”
“If you’re upset with your family, take that up with them. Don’t take it out on me.”
His gaze turns toward me, calculating, as his eyes flare. “Why the embargo?”
“None of your fucking business,” I reply, anger beginning to brew in my gut.
“You know how that whole stupid article sounded to me?” He leans forward, our noses almost touching. I can practically hear his teeth grinding. “I’m done with losers like you, Alex.”
I take a deep breath and step back.
“Why would I want to be with an asshole like you?” I retort.
It’s not like we’re together, but I shouldn’t be around him. I just can’t keep myself away from him. I don’t get why, though. He comes around looking for his sister and ends up spending half of the night with me. Only half, because I’m just like all the other women he sleeps with—a hookup.
“You agree, then. It was about me.” He looks triumphant and angry.
I snort. “Aren’t we a little too full of ourselves? Like I would spend the time or the energy to write something about you.”
“I don’t give a fuck.” He shoots me a furious glance. “We aren’t exclusive. I’m sure the other guys aren’t hate fucks, are they?”
I ignore the painful stab in my chest. It’s not the words ‘hate fuck.’ It’s him reminding me that there are no other guys. While he has a line of women waiting for him. We know who we are—he doesn’t commit to anyone.
Not that I need him to commit to me. A shimmering wave of pulsing fury clouds everything.
“Out,” I snap at him, picking up Draco and heading to the door. “If I don’t see you ever again, it’d be too soon.”
He stomps toward the door, yet stops right in front of me. His gaze holds mine for a moment. I hold my breath.
Is he going to kiss me?
I take a step back, shaking my head. We’re done. I have to stop the cycle.
“See you at the wedding,” he says, with a frigid voice—one that leaves me shivering.
His words sound like a warning. I shut the door behind me. There’s no way I’m going to that wedding.
We’re over.