Page 80 of Stolen Kisses

"No, Blair. Why would you assume that?"

"Oh. Sorry, my bad. I don't know. Wait, just finish what you want to say before I jump to conclusions."

"He says he's my boyfriend," I said.

"You sound like you don't believe it."

I laughed nervously. "It almost feels too good to be true, you know?"

"Hannah." My sister's voice was soft. "Of course not. Why would you think that? You deserve the best in the world."

"Yeah, but I've had too much bad luck lately, and I'm starting to feel like it's following me around. Are you going to lecture me?"

Blair took in a deep breath and hesitated for a few seconds. "No, it's not my place to do that."

"But warning me was?"

"Honestly, that was more because of Josh. He's very adamant that it’s not a good idea for you and Chase to get together, but I'm not so sure."

"My mind is spinning right now. Why did you change gears so fast?"

Blair laughed softly. "I thought there was a real spark between the two of you already at the wedding. Mom agrees.”

“You two spoke about this?”

“Yep. Just a heads-up, but we talk about you alot. Especially about how we can help you with the inn. You know we both sold the apartments Gran left us.”

“Yes, and you both need that money. Mom could finally retire, and you want to set up your own business.”

Blair was working at an interior design company, and she’d dreamed about striking out on her own for years.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t help.”

“Yes, it does. Let’s drop this, okay?”

“Then let’s get back to you and Chase. Kudos to Knox and Finn for setting up the dance. And then the fact that he showed up at the inn worrying for you, that sort of painted a different picture than the one Josh had in mind. I don't know. I have a good feeling about it."

"I was not expecting that," I said.

"Sis, I just want you to be happy."

"I hope things turn around, but I feel like they're about to, you know?"

"You know, things have a way of working out when we least expect it," Blair replied.

"You only say that because you met Josh."

"I know. But honestly, if anyone told me I would meet and marry a guy within four months, I would’ve told them they were drunk, yet here I am. But sometimes things happen unexpectedly, you know?"

"I know," I murmured. "Thanks for your support, sis."

"You deserve love, Hannah. You know that, right?”

"You think I don’t?"

"Sometimes when the people who are supposed to love us treat us like shit, we end up thinking that's exactly what we deserve."

I bit my lower lip. "That's not the case."

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