Chapter 28
To: Hannah
From: Ethan
Subject: Golden Boy
Do us a solid, we need an interview with him for the November issue. We’ve tried to contact his PR, but as you know, she’s on maternity leave.
Did I tell you those babies are cute?
Tucker scored a painting from Sterling Ahern for his grandparents and one for his mother. I knew someday it’d pay to know you (kidding).
Spearman isn’t answering the magazine’s calls. I don’t want to ask him directly because he’s going to bargain for your phone number. And I’ll give it to him.
How’s Halifax? We can come and visit if you want us around. We miss you.
Ethan
Tucker: Be careful with those articles. The guys think you’re ready to go back on stage.
Hannah: SS is dead.
Tucker: We’re not dead. You’re stalling.
Hannah: No.
Tucker: No doesn’t mean exactly no. It means there’s something going on.
Hannah: I’m still finding myself, don’t text me questions I can’t answer.
Tucker: Send me the lyrics.
Hannah: Leave me alone!
Tucker: You do have lyrics, don’t you? We knew it. Send them over, I’ll start working on the music.
Hannah: I’m not going back to SS.
Tucker: You’re impossible. Do you want us to drop by Halifax? We can bring our instruments.
Hannah: No, you’re going to try to persuade me.
Tucker: You can’t blame a guy for trying. Come on, babe, you know you want us to put some music to them.
Hannah: No!
Tucker: Send the lyrics, or we’ll be there this weekend.
Hannah: Fine, I’ll email them to you.
Tucker: Call or text if you need us. We love you.
Hannah: I love your kids, send me more pictures.
June: If you love them so much, you should visit them. Where are you?
Hannah: Halifax, Canada.
June: What’s going on between you and my brother? You keep quoting him.
Hannah: He’s writing me letters (I refuse to give him my number) and he has nice quotes.
June: I think he has a girlfriend.
Hannah: You think, there’s no confirmation? Are you feeling alright?
June: Dad mentioned Alex is seeing a girl, but he won’t say more. Alex just smirks when I ask. I’m too busy with these three to dig deeper. If you find out, can you text me about it?
Hannah: Talking about Alex, can you get us an interview for the sports section?
June: I’m on maternity leave.
Hannah: Just order him to do it. I’ll have my guy reach out to him and say that you granted the interview.
June: That works. Why don’t you ask him?
Hannah: I’d rather not give him a reason to ask for my phone number.
June: Are you sure there’s nothing going on between you two? I know about the kiss.
Hannah: It was just a kiss, June.
June: Was it good?
June: Eww, don’t answer that, he’s my brother. Why did I even ask?
June: I’m sleep deprived. That’s why…he has a girlfriend and he hasn’t told me yet.
Hannah: Go tend to your children, and don’t forget the interview.
Hannah,
Was that article an indirect way to tell me we’re seeing other people?
We’re not!
Also, stop quoting me. People are asking if I’m giving interviews.
I don’t do interviews.
I HATE THEM.
Which reminds me, your magazine was granted an interview. You owe me big. June showed me your text messages. By the way, I don’t have a girlfriend. Just don’t tell her, it’s amusing to see her suffer because she doesn’t know everything.
What’s my wanderer Unicorn doing during her exploration of Halifax?
I should be heading back to San Francisco with the kids. Commuting every week to check on the business has been hell.
How’s the snowboarding business going?
It pays the bills and more. I like the designing part of it.
Every board and snowboard we make has a prototype before we send it to production.
I’m the one who handmakes the original. It’s an art.
I had no idea I like to build things from scratch until my physical therapist had me sanding wood as part of my exercises.
Until next time,
Alex
P.S. What’s your phone number?
Alex,
I rented an apartment close to the waterfront. It’s lovely this time of the year. I love the seventy-degree weather we have most of the day. According to the locals, it will stay like that for most of my stay.
I’ve been eating like a queen. There’s an Italian restaurant called Bicycle Thief, Amano, which is delicious.
If you ever visit, try to spend a weekend at Pier 21, where they set the big farmers market. I buy most of my food there. I’m going to miss living here.
This place is gorgeous.
Next week, I’m going to the vineyard. I can do apple picking and enjoy some wine. I wish June was here. I miss my wine buddy.
You build stuff or just the boards? That explains the calluses on your hands.
Why don’t you have a girlfriend?
It’s okay to see other people (we’re not seeing each other).
Still doing the playboy stunt. It gets old. I got bored and stopped sleeping around a long time ago. Maybe that’s why I miss sex. Your doodle doesn’t make sense. You’ll have to explain it to me when I get home.
Until next time,
Hannah
P.S. You’ll never get my phone number.
Dear you,
I’m intrigued by your sex life, mostly because it involves my sex life. You haven’t slept with anyone but me? Have we been going steady? Confession time, I’ve known all along. You’ve never slept with anyone in between our ‘sleepovers’.
I haven’t been sleeping around for a couple of years.
The last person I slept with before you was Sam.
That was around the time of the accident.
It’s about appearances. Just because I go to events with a plus one, it doesn’t mean I’m fucking the woman.
I just let June believe I do because it takes away the scent of what I’ve been doing—sleeping with her best friend.
To have a girlfriend, I need time. Currently, my life is divided between work, my sponsorships, and the kids. Bruno is growing more than I expected (picture attached). Draco still sees him as a little pup who needs his guidance, they’re cute together.
Back to me…I’m too old to just be dating for the sake of dating.
I found the courage to believe that my future can be different.
The next time I am with a woman, it’ll be because she changed my world.
I’m willing to wait for her, to climb mountains to find her, and be worthy of her.
When this rare love finally arrives in my life, I’m going to hold on to it.
The next time I fall, it’ll be without reservations. Because I know I’ve found my forever person.
Sounds like you’re enjoying this picturesque town, I googled it, and I’m intrigued. Maybe next year, you can take me on a tour?
Unless you want me to join you now?
We could take care of your needs while I’m there.
Sorry, this is a short letter. I have a lot of work and a few photoshoots to attend. It’s that time of the year when my sponsors need new headshots for their media. I hate it.
UNT,
Alex
P.S. The doodle is a scribble, really, how can you have sex through doodles? I was hoping you’d have pity on me and send me your phone number.
P.S. 2 Thank you for changing my world.