Chapter 16 – Michael
Chapter Sixteen
MICHAEL
T he mainland is like a whole different world. Here, no one knows who I am—unless it’s one of the occasional instances when I’ll bump into someone from the island. People are doing their thing, rushing to work or their next errand, and not one of them gives a damn about who I am or what I’m doing.
I can just be. And tonight, I can do that with Hannah by my side.
The drive over the bridge and into town is upbeat, Katie dominating the conversation with news from school. If Hannah is bored, it doesn’t show; from all appearances, she’s hanging on every word about who might have put the graffiti in the girls’ bathroom and the argument over whether the next dance’s theme should be “Winter Wonderland” or “’90s Nostalgia.”
“I don’t know if this place has gluten-free pizza,” I say when there’s a break in the conversation.
Hannah shakes her head. “That doesn’t matter. Carol has a lot of…opinions about what I should and shouldn’t eat. I already know gluten isn’t a trigger for me.”
“Does she know that?” I cock an eyebrow.
Hannah looks out the window. “I’ve told her.”
Her voice is suddenly smaller, her shoulders hunched over. Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned her aunt.
It’s strange, though. Hannah seemed genuinely excited about Carol coming to visit. Watching them together, though, I sensed some tension.
Maybe that’s just the way it is with family, though. God knows my mom and I don’t have a perfect relationship by any means.
Parking on the street, we walk down the block to the pizza place Katie and I hit up every week. My hand aches to slip into Hannah’s, but I hold back. Is Katie ready for that?
I know I am.
In the short time since Hannah and I have started dating, my opinion on keeping things from my daughter has changed. Jenny was right; Katie can handle a lot more than I was giving her credit for.
I like this woman—a lot—and why not show Katie what healthy dating looks like? Plus, Katie seems to like Hannah.
I just need to make absolutely sure. I need to talk to Katie about it before I go any further, need to see where her head is at.
The two of them walk ahead of me, laughing over some knitting joke Hannah just shared. My lips pull into a smile, but at the same time, my chest aches.
My dad was right, as much as I hate to admit it. Aside from the annual visit to Pine Island, Katie didn’t have any female influences growing up. At eleven, it seems that I’ve robbed her of years of important interactions.
Is it too late? Have I fucked up that part of parenting completely?
We arrive at the pizza joint, and Katie slides into the booth next to Hannah, stealing any opportunity for my leg to rub against Hannah’s under the table.
Oh well. At least sitting across from her means I can look at her.
And, damn. She looks gorgeous tonight. Her blonde hair has a slight wave in it, highlighting the mix of white and light-blonde strands I hadn’t noticed before. Instead of the glasses she often wears at work, she’s opted for contacts, I assume, causing her blue eyes to really stand out. And the all-black outfit makes her look like a beat poet about to take the stage.
“Dad. You’re staring.”
“Huh?” I blink at Katie.
She snorts. “You were staring at Hannah.”
My face warms. Shit. How do I even answer that?
“It’s okay.” Katie leans back in the booth, a knowing look on her face. “You can stare at your girlfriend. It’s allowed. It’s just funny, is all. You had a goofy look. Like this.” She demonstrates, dropping her jaw and crossing her eyes.
Hannah presses her fingers to her lips, but it does little to stifle her laugh. Meanwhile, my mental gears are turning so fast they’re probably overheating.
I haven’t called Hannah my girlfriend. Ever. But hell yeah, I would love to give her that title… If she’ll take it.
I try to catch her gaze, but she’s looking at someone approaching the table.
“Hey, guys. How are you doing?” The waitress puts down some water glasses and then cocks her head at me. “Michael?”
Oh no. Someone from Pine Island works here?
I force a smile, trying to place her. Brunette…about thirty…green eyes…
Nope. It does nothing for me.
“Rochelle,” she supplies.
With that, the memory hits me. A dark bar on the mainland. Last call. Following Rochelle’s car back to her place. A frenzied, drunk couple of hours, followed by my leaving in the middle of the night without asking for her number.
That was, what? Four years ago?
Okay, yes. So, I’ve engaged in random hookups from time to time. They haven’t been my proudest moments, and there’s a reason I always left the island to find someone. I didn’t want to bring any part of that habit into my regular life.
But now it looks as if I’ve done exactly that.
“How…are you?” Something feels stuck in my throat—air?—and I cough.
“Good.” She gives me a quick eyebrow raise, the daggers from her eyes piercing me right in the face.
“You’re our waitress?” I ask, aware of Katie and Hannah looking at me.
“I’m the owner. I was just bringing your waters over. Your waitress will be here soon. Enjoy dinner.” She smiles at Hannah and Katie before turning on her heel and striding away.
I pick up the menu and hide my face behind it. “What are we having tonight?”
“Cheeseburger pizza. Of course. Why are you acting so weird?” Katie gets up. “Whatever. Tell me later. I need to go to the bathroom.”
“What do you mean?” I guffaw. “I’m not being weird.”
But she’s already gone. Which means it’s just Hannah and me, and for the first time, I’m not thrilled about it.
She frowns at me from across the table. “What’s wrong?”
“Uh…” I fiddle with my silverware. I could lie, brush off her concern.
But so far, I’ve been nothing but honest with her, and I’d really like to keep that habit going.
“The owner…Rochelle… We have a bit of a past.”
Her brow furrows slightly. “You dated?”
Shit. “Not…dated.” I rub the spot between my eyebrows, wishing my seat would open up and swallow me whole. “We had one night together. After meeting at a bar.”
“Oh. Okay. And you haven’t seen her in a while?”
“She wasn’t the only one,” I go on. Might as well get it all out there while we’re on the subject. “Not that I did it all the time, but when Katie and I came back to visit while we lived in Seattle, it would be my only time on my own, and I…”
“You found women to hook up with.”
I cringe. “Yeah.”
Shit. Is she going to hate me now? See me as some sort of sick, weird creep?
Or, even worse, think that I’m only using her for sex?
“I get it,” she says, taking me by surprise.
“You do?”
She shrugs once. “Yeah. It makes sense that you would use your few hours off from being a dad to have an…adult night with someone.”
“Yeah.” I nod, but the topic still feels incomplete. “I wanted more. I just…wouldn’t allow myself to go searching for it. Until you.”
“Oh. Really?” Her voice is silky, making me want to reach across the table and pull her into my lap.
“Yeah,” I breathe. “Hannah…”
“The pizza’s not here?” Katie interrupts, taking her seat next to Hannah.
“We haven’t even ordered it yet,” Hannah laughs.
The rest of the dinner is smooth—perfect. Katie and I share all the best sledding spots on the island come winter, and Hannah tells us all about the grant she’s applying for.
As we’re walking to my truck after dessert at the ice cream shop on the corner, Katie slips her hand into Hannah’s. “Can you stay over for a sleepover tonight?”
I suck in a sharp breath. One, it’s a school night. Two, Hannah is an adult who probably doesn’t want to make a fort and braid hair with an eleven-year-old. Three, her aunt is in town, and she needs to go home to her. And four…
I hope that Hannah says yes anyway.
Because I’d really like for her to sleep over—in my room.
But can Katie handle that? What will she think, knowing I have a woman in there? Will it make her too attached too quickly to Hannah?
“Ooh.” Hannah swings Katie’s hand back and forth. “That sounds like so much fun, but I have an early morning staff meeting with Flick.”
“Aw.” Katie pouts. “Can we do it soon?”
“Your dad and I can talk about it.”
Katie shoots me a look over her shoulder, a silent plea for me to agree.
“We’ll talk about it,” I echo.
We climb into the truck, and Katie puts on the latest pop hits to sing along to as we drive Hannah home.
“We’ll have a sleepover soon?” Katie asks as we pull into Hannah’s driveway.
“Soon,” she says with a smile.
“I’ll walk you to your door. Be right back, Katie.” I get out of the truck before Katie demands an explanation as to why Hannah can’t get inside herself—though maybe she understands I want a moment alone with her.
“Thank you for dinner.” Hannah steps to the side of the porch, where it curves around the house, out of Katie’s sight.
“Thank you for coming along.” I wrap my arms around her waist and tug her close. “Hey… I would love for you to come over for a sleepover.”
Her eyes search my face. “Yeah? In that case, it’s a promise. We’ll have a sleepover. Soon.”
Lowering my head, I kiss her gently. Shivers run down my spine, and my hands ache to explore her body, but I step back.
Another time. Soon.
A curtain moves in the front window, and I frown. Was Carol watching us?
“What?” Hannah follows my gaze to the window.
“Nothing.” I smooth my hand down her cheek. “I can’t wait to see you again.”
“Same,” she breathes.
“Good night.” I leave her house grinning and climb into my truck.
Did she really mean that? Is she comfortable enough to stay at my house? And with both me and Katie?
Am I comfortable with it?
As I back out of the driveway, I realize that I am. I’m more than comfortable with it. I’m craving it, and so much more, from Hannah. I’m ready for the next steps, and it doesn’t matter that I don’t know exactly what those are.
I’ll be taking them with her, and that’s enough for me.