Chapter 52
HANNAH
Yesterday, I published the last entry on my healing journey series.
It was the best way to finish another chapter of my life.
For closure, I tried calling Alex. He disconnected his number.
I lost my friend, too. While I was checking my apartment’s listing, I noticed his apartment is for sale as well.
It’s time to move on to a new chapter. One thing I have to find urgently is a place to live.
I’m thirty and living with my parents. Don’t judge me, I’m searching for just the right apartment—or house.
On a positive note, since it’s my birthday, I get the special treatment.
Today is Hannah’s day at the Hades household.
Another great thing that’s happened to me, I have a part-time teaching position starting next Fall.
Chris Decker used his connection and got me an interview at his alma mater.
I’m going to teach a couple of classes next semester.
Also, I finally claimed one of the big offices in HANNETH communications.
Ethan is thrilled because I’m giving him more time to do what he likes with the company.
Everything is going great. Actually, it is a terrific day to turn thirty.
June called me earlier to wish me a happy birthday.
We’re back to normal. Like nothing ever happened between us.
Alex is just the guy we’ll never speak about.
My heart slows down every time I think of him.
It’s okay. I’m grieving his loss. Soon, he’ll just be a fond memory.
The guy who brought hope into my life.
There’s a light knock on my door, Ethan enters my office, holding the biggest bouquet of flowers I’ve seen.
“Happy Birthday,” he says.
“Thank you?” I raise an eyebrow. “What’s with the flowers?”
It’s a lovely gesture, but he already wished me a happy birthday and brought me a cupcake first thing this morning.
“Would you believe me if I say that the guys and I pitched in to get you this?”
I laugh and shake my head. Zeke and Rocco are still unable to communicate. Tucker called me earlier today. Also, they don’t send flowers. I’m the one who does that on their behalf.
“What’s the story?” I ask, crossing my arms and looking at him.
Ethan sets the vase on top of my desk. “Security called me. I had to go downstairs to sign for it.”
I clap excited. “Aww, who sent you flowers? Are we finally putting ourselves out there?”
He ignores me and hands me the card. I gasp when I recognize Alex’s handwriting.
Unicorn,
Happy Birthday.
UNT
Alex
“Thank you?”
He sets an envelope on the desk. I look at him, his blue eyes have a little humor in them, but also worry.
I push aside the envelope because I don’t want to read that letter. Maybe it’s good that Alex’s phone is disconnected. I’m not ready to talk to him. Yet, my heart pounds because I can feel him.
“He’s here,” I say.
Ethan nods.
“That’s why they called you downstairs. You had a visitor.”
He nods again. “Just listen to him.”
I sigh and reach for the letter.
Hannah,
I have a problem, and I hope you can help me. When you barged into my life, you changed the way I breathe, think, act, even what I watch. My entire life shifted because of you. Now, I need you near because oxygen isn’t enough for me to survive. I just need you.
Your smile, your voice, and that sassy mouth are the only things I need to be happy.
Remember when I told you what happened during the accident? That there was something missing in my life?
It’s you.
You’re the missing piece.
You light my entire universe.
You’re not my reason to live, but my reason to want to live.
Nothing else in this world matters, but you. I want to work hard to become your forever person.
Always and forever,
Alex
Attached is a printed picture of us from Instagram. The caption makes my heart skip.
Stop the bad press. She’s the love of my life. She’s the one who saved ME.
When I look up, Ethan is gone. Alex stands in his place. My breath catches at the sight of him. My pulse spikes erratically. He looks perfect. Handsome in a navy blue suit that highlights his eyes. Our gazes connect, and we don’t say a word for several seconds.
I hate that he’s here—on my birthday. That his familiar scent relaxes me. I dislike the way his warm eyes look at me, as if I were his entire universe.
“Hi,” I whisper.
“I’m impulsive,” he says, his expression becoming intense. “When I see a problem, I fix it. Obviously, I can’t do my own PR. I suck. The last time I tried, I was making an ass of myself while my girl was hurting and having a panic attack.”
I chew on my lip, studying him. He’s barely moving, and maybe not even breathing.
“If you’re thinking I’m doing this because of what you published yesterday, the answer is no.”
He places a business card on the table. It’s his business card, and the address makes me frown. “Redmond?” I gasp. “You’re moving to Redmond?”
“Well, it was down to Washington and Colorado,” he explains. “Part of the operation is moving to Colorado while the rest is moving here.”
He runs a hand through his hair, then checks his sleeve.
“You wrote what you’re supposed to tell me?”
He shows me his arms. “Only the keywords in case I forgot. I don’t want to mess it up. As I was saying, people swear I’m impulsive as fuck.”
I nod in agreement. “You are impulsive.”
“See, that’s what you think…but am I really?”
I nod and try to hide the laugh.
“Babe, we’ve been together for years,” he explains. “Our relationship has always been unorthodox.”
I try to protest, but he stops me. “Let’s not deny it anymore.”
I sigh, and he continues. “We don’t follow rules. It’s worked in the past. Well, kind of. We’ve changed, and it’s time to adjust the rules. Turn them around so we always win.”
Alex walks around my desk, and when he’s standing almost in front of me, he turns my chair, so I’m facing him. He suddenly drops to one knee, and my hand goes to my heart when I see the red box containing a huge marquise diamond set on a rose gold band.
“Alex—”
“Hannah Hades-Bell, you’re the part of me that makes me better.
The reason I want to continue living. If today was my last day on earth, I’d want to live it with you—just you.
I can tell you many things, like when we first kissed, you claimed me as yours.
Or that I’ve never understood the meaning of love until I met you—”
“You’re proposing,” I say, my lip quivering.
“Good, this means I’m doing it right because you’re getting the concept.”
I laugh, holding the tears. “But why, I mean…we’re a mess when we’re together.”
He shakes his head. “You’re a beautiful mess.
I’m in love with the brightness of your soul and those dark and twisty places you carry within you.
I’m just a fucked-up guy who is in love with you.
That’s us, you know. Maybe it’s time to stop trying to make sense of life.
Just live it with me, accept I’m broken, and just give me your pieces, so I can hold them close to my heart. ”
I try to clear my tears because this is what he does. He’ll do something stupid and then chase the stars to make it up to me.
“I hate you,” I say. “How can I be upset at you when you buy me the biggest bouquet of flowers I’ve ever seen? Or write me a letter where you tell me I’m your missing piece? It’s so not fair.”
He laughs. “So all this time, when you say, I hate you, you meant I love you in your own messy way.”
“No,” I state, exasperated and yet, laughing. “It’s true, you’re impulsive. And caring and bossy but loving. You make it impossible not to love you but—”
“No buts,” he orders. “You love me, and I love you, too.”
“You can’t uproot your life for me.”
“I’d follow you to the end of the world, Hannah. What I did was stupid, I know. I’m not saying I won’t fuck up because, most times, I jump before I think. But please, marry me.”
His voice is urgent, bordering on desperate. He pulls the ring out of the box, takes my hand, and says, “Please?”
“I will,” I say, sniffing. “Of course, I want to marry you. There’s no one I’d rather spend my life with than you.”
He slips the ring onto my finger, stands up, and pulls me into an embrace. His lips find mine, and I let him guide us into a deep, hot, searing kiss that heals the wounds of our last fight.