34. Hannah
CHAPTER 34
HANNAH
SEVEN SUMMERS AGO
“ Y ou know, I think this is becoming an addiction,” I tease as Will pulls out of me, shrugging back on my clothes and waiting for him to join me in the tailgate. Curling up in Will’s arms under the stars has become an almost nightly ritual since we finally had sex last week, and I still can’t get enough of him.
He crawls up beside me and drops a kiss on my lips, pulling me against him before responding, “You know, I was thinking the same thing, but fuck it. There’s worse things to be addicted to.”
“You’re right,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around him to pull him closer despite the heat of the humid late July air. I panicked when I looked at the date this week and realized we only have a little longer left in the bubble we’ve built around us. I feel like this summer’s slipping through my fingers, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t hold on to these moments. The thought of going more than a day or two away from Will makes me feel on edge, never mind the thought of not seeing him for weeks.
Shaking myself out of my spiral, I lay my head on his chest and remind myself to soak up every moment I get to have with him.
We don’t say anything for a while, content to just hold each other in the quiet night until Will finally asks, “So I know we’re ignoring reality for a little longer, but I just need you to know there’s no way I’m letting you go when the summer’s over. I only have a year left of school, and it’s only two hours between Southbrook and Tuscaloosa.”
I smile at him, shaking my head because I’m convinced the man’s a mind reader. “How in the hell did you know that’s what I was thinking about?”
“Because I know you, Han. And I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it either,” he admits, and I feel my heartbeat speed up a little at his admission.
“God, I’m obsessed with you,” I tease, trying to hide how true that statement is.
“Back at you,” he says, kissing the top of my head. “So, I know you’re getting your degree in education, but after that, what’s next?”
“Um, well. I’m not exactly sure,” I admit, feeling a little sheepish at my admission. “I’m probably going to go for my master’s as soon as I finish my bachelor’s degree since there’s such a pay difference. And after that, I’m thinking about moving back here. I didn’t ever see myself moving back home after school, but my gramps can’t run this place by himself, and this place means a lot to him, you know?”
Will nods in understanding and brushes his hands through my hair. “Yeah, I get that. I’m thinking about moving back too, to coach. I figure they’ll let me start at the bottom of the coaching staff and see what happens. My youngest three siblings will still have a couple years of school, and I want to be able to support them when I can.”
I nod in agreement, smiling at the thought of both of us teaching at our old high school. “So we both want to move back here?” I ask, not believing that we could actually want the same thing.
“Sounds like it. I told you, we’d find a way to be together,” he teases, brushing his hand softly over my lips.
I roll my eyes at him, ignoring the way that his admission makes me feel. “Okay, fine. But we can’t agree on everything. What else do you want?”
I feel his eyes on me, and I look up, expecting him to make some joke about the future, but instead, he looks more serious than I’ve ever seen him. After a moment, he whispers, “A family, Han. I want the family I didn’t get after my dad left. I want to have a house full of kids. A house full of chaos, laughter, and dirty clothes. I know it’s too fast but, God, is it really? We’ve known each other for a while. I just needed the time alone with you to realize how perfect we are together. I’ve thought a lot about where this might be going, and I’ve decided to just say fuck it. I can’t stop thinking about how much I want to do it all with you.”
My heart stops for a moment at the serious turn our conversation just took, but I can’t help the smile that spreads across my lips at his admission.
“Are you serious?” I whisper, waiting for him to act like it was all some big joke, but he doesn’t. He just nods, opening his mouth, probably to apologize or try to take back part of what he just admitted, but before he can, I throw myself at him, kissing him hard.
“You literally just described everything I’ve ever wanted, Will. I watched all of my friends growing up with these wild, fun families, but it’s always just been me. I mean, I want to finish school first, don’t get me wrong. I actually called and made an appointment to get on birth control later this week, but the idea of raising a family on this land just feels like everything I’ve ever wanted,” I admit quietly, realizing I’ve never even told Caroline all of this.
He smiles at me, kissing me again, before holding me tighter against him. “I’m glad we’re on the same page, Han, because it’s all I want, but I don’t want it with anyone else.”