Page 83 of Love Marks

I pull two glasses out of the cabinet and Hannah passes me the wine bottle to pour. I pour and wave her to the living room, where we settle in the couch with the bottle between us.

“Chugging contest?” She asks, lifting her glass.

I chuckle. “Not with wine, please.”

She shrugs and takes a large gulp of hers. “Okay, just spill, would you? I took the train here to hear all about your drama just to hopefully feel better about my own weird situationship.”

I sip my wine and lean forward. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, just my ex who wants to get back together all of a sudden. It’s weird and I’m not sure how I feel about it.” She frowns, twisting her necklace. “Laura is…I don’t know, I just don’t know if she’s changed.”

I consider her words. “Well, I guess you can’t know if she’s changed until you find out, right?”

She nods. “The last time we dated, she was so insecure that it made her jealous and just mad all the time. No matter how much I’d tell her we were good, she was always so anxious that I would leave. It started to make me think she didn’t love me like I loved her, if she could believe that I’d just fuck off and disappear.”

I’m quiet at her words, thoughtful. She shakes her head and chuckles. “Anyway, why are we talking about me? We came here to talk about you.”

“You came here to hang out with me, actually,” I correct her, raising my eyebrows. “And that really sucks. I’m sorry you felt that way, but maybe she’s worked on it. I don’t know a lot about the situation, but I think people deserve a second chance.”

She smiles softly. “I guess you’re right. I just don’t know if I’m trying to get hurt again right now, getting back into all that.”

“Yeah.” I nod, looking down at my mug. “But you know what they say…better to have loved and lost than never loved at all.”

“Oh my god. You’re not like, a romantic, are you?” She groans and I hide a smile, which just makes her groan further.

“What do you mean? I thought you were the most smiley person I’d ever met when we first met.” I tell her with a smirk.

She shrugs. “That’s my work persona, obviously. I’m all smiles there. But I’ve always been a hater deep down.”

“Wow.” I shake my head at this revelation. “Can I admit something you might get mad at me for? I thought you were so annoying when we first met. I called you Miss Perky in my head.”

It’s quiet for a moment that I think I’ve offended her, but she surprises me by bursting into laughter.

When she finally stops laughing, she shrugs. “That doesn’t surprise me. I’m pretty different at work. I guess I’m a people pleaser in that way.”

She lifts the bottle and tops off our mugs. “Now. Okay. Can I please hear the drama? Please?”

I pause, unsure where to start. How to even explain our whole situation and how much I should explain.

“Hello. Anytime now?” She waves her hand at me.

“I’m trying to figure out where to start! There’s a lot. Don’t rush me.”

“Start at the beginning.”

* * *

Two hours and bottles of wine later, I’m finished telling Hannah everything. Afterwards, she just leans backwards and exhales, her eyes wide.

“Wow. That is some story. Very Fifty Shades.” She shakes her head. “Well, okay. Alright. So, what’s the problem?”

“I’m sorry, did you not just hear everything I just said?”

“Right.” She nods. “I do see your point.”

At that, I start giggling, and so does she. I’m starting to think we’re a little too drunk to be dissecting this right now, but it feels good to gush a little bit.

“Here’s what I think. Never trust a man.” Her words are slurred, and she points towards me.

---