Chapter 41 Hannah #2
Tapping on my throat I pick up my phone and type out, Your class was amazing.
I turn the phone screen toward her and she smiles wide. “Thank you. I’m so glad you came. Will you be able to come regularly?”
I nod, because I actually bought a class pack and had every intention of making this a regular thing even before I found out how great Mimi is.
“Great!” she says excitedly. “Oh, here.” She grabs my phone and types in her name and number. “Text me sometime and we can hang out.”
Smiling wider, I nod again. I don’t have many girlfriends.
Frankly speaking, I don’t have many friends at all.
I don’t get to have normal conversations and because I can’t speak, people can’t get to know me.
It’s easier to walk away and not work on a friendship with someone unless they also speak ASL.
“Actually, you should come by the stadium today and hang out with all of us.”
My eyebrows raise and I look over at Dane.
“Yeah, you and Ethan both. You guys are more than welcome.” His words are reserved as if he knows that we would automatically say no.
And in most cases that would be my normal response.
But after how I’ve felt this week about how things ended in his office and how hurt Dane was by Ethan’s sharp accusation, I’m tired of feeling guilty and holding back.
I think we all are and if I need to push Ethan over the ledge with me, I will.
Plus, game seven of the World Series at the stadium? Ethan will secretly love every single minute of that.
“If you’re sure. We’d love to come.”
His eyes widen with a smile as he mouths, yeah?
“Yay! I’m so excited,” Mimi celebrates. “I’ll text you all the details.”
“Sounds good,” I sign and glance at Dane to gesture to him to tell her as I step backward, waving.
Exiting the studio, I get in my car and before I even put it in Drive Mimi has added me into a group text with Dane providing me all the details for the game, what time to be there, and shared a screenshot of the location pinpointed on a map.
I don’t know if it was meeting Mimi, the class, or seeing Dane but my mood is lifted and I can’t help but smile as I walk through the door of our apartment.
It’s a small one-bedroom but in a nice area and close to campus. There are a lot of college students that live here purely for the convenience and location.
Closing the door, I kick off my shoes and make my way to the living room. There’s a kitchen island that separates the living space from the kitchen and I tend to always make my way there first.
Ethan pads barefoot and shirtless in the kitchen, his joggers sit low on his waist showing off the V-line at his hips and the view is absolutely mouthwatering.
“Hey baby, how was class?” he asks.
“Good. You’ll never guess who I saw.”
“Ooh, let me guess.” He rounds the island, grabbing my waist as he lifts me on top of it.
He fits perfectly between my legs as he leans in kissing my neck.
“Big-boobed Jodi from class came to yoga class in a mini skirt and heels,” he says because she dresses inappropriately for every place we’ve ever seen her.
I toss my head back and smile, shaking my head.
“Dane.”
The playful look on his face falls away instantly and he steps back, running his hands through his hair.
“At yoga huh?” he replies, rounding the island as he pours himself a cup of coffee. “How is one-date Dane?” His question is snarky and I narrow my eyes at him.
His eyes look up at me and I know even he’s ashamed of the way he’s talking. I swear to god these two men and their overly complicated feelings for each other will be the death of me.
“You know just as well as I do that he is not what his reputation says.”
He remains silent as he sips his coffee.
I know he’s felt bad about what happened.
What was supposed to be a playful revenge joke turned into something that brought out the real emotions we’ve all been suppressing.
This week has weighed on him just as much as it weighed on me, but when you look at the bones of it, Dane’s right.
The most complicated factor is that we’re his students. But that’s not a permanent situation.
“We need to talk about this.” I push my hands into the marble island and shimmy my butt over to the other side to meet him.
“Will you just admit you like him?”
He doesn’t say anything, just takes another sip of his coffee.
“Okay fine. You don’t have to admit it because I know you do.
And I know you’re just as curious about what a relationship with him could look like.
He’s been clear about what he wants and if we just lay low through the school year and see where things go, I think that’s a fair thing to try… for all of us.”
“There are so many factors that don’t make sense, Hannah,” he replies, using my name as a note of seriousness.
“That’s just what you’re telling yourself because you don’t know how to handle your feelings. And you’re worried about what your dad and other people will think.”
“Geez, don’t sugarcoat anything for me,” he says sarcastically.
“But, I’m right.” I lift my chin, because I know I am.
“Yeah, yeah. You just like the attention of two really hot dudes who are totally fucking desperate for you.” He pulls me flush with his body.
I shrug with a smile. “Glad you’re finally admitting he’s hot.”
“Oh, you shut it, woman.” He kisses me again and I know he’s feeling calmer now than he was before.
“Let’s see where this can go? Tell him how we feel?”
He glances down at his bare feet then looks back up at me and nods, slowly.
“Good. Because we’re meeting him at Ford Field for the game in an hour so we should probably get dressed.”