Page 12 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

“Hannah doesn’t want to go,” Cass said, sitting again.

“I said I’ll go to France,” Hannah protested.

“But you never said youwantto go.”

“Let’s change the subject, please.”

Cass’s voice grew slightly dreamy. “Isn’t Louis lovely? He’s that perfect blend of strong but not bulky, you know?”

“Not my type. I’m looking for a nerdy professor.” Athena turned to Hannah. “I brought you this from the store’s latest shipment.” She handed her a book. “It made me think of you. It’s an autobiography about a woman who changes her entire life after divorce, and basically goes out and kicks butt.”

“Inspiration, perhaps?” Cassandra asked, snagging the book to read the dust jacket. “Did she move to Paris to follow her ex? Because that doesn’t sound like butt kicking.” She gave Hannah a meaningful look.

Hannah sighed. “I’m notfollowinghim. It’ll be an enriching experience for all of us.” She stole the book back.

“So have you told Louis how awful he is?” Athena asked, a devilish smile peeking above the rim of her cup.

“Of course I have.” She tucked a strand of her shoulder-length hair back into its bun.

Athena said to Cassandra, pointing at Hannah with her thumb, “This crazy woman used to pick on himeverydayin school.”

“He always started it,” she mumbled.

Her cousin gave her a smug, knowing smile. “I figured you had a crush on him or something. I kept wondering when you’d give up the fight and kiss him. I mean, every girl in town was crushing on him when he moved here.”

“Not me!”

“So? Has he asked you out yet?” Athena asked.

“Why would he?” Hannah asked, crossing her arms. “And I don’t know why you’re both so interested in this. He was awful in high school and I never had a crush on him. And I never will.”

“He’s always had this protective vibe around you,” Athena stated, “like he was some sort of Neanderthal who wanted to drag you back to his cave and kiss you.”

“You need to get out more,” Hannah said, trying to ignore the shivers that zipped through her body at the thought of Louis kissing her. She’d bet his kisses were divine.

Except for the whole it-being-Louis thing.

“Maybe try reading fewer caveman romance novels,” Cassandra suggested to Athena.

“That’s not a genre,” she protested. She grinned. “But it should be.”

“I bet it is,” Cass said. “You should look it up.”

“Remind me if I forget. I’ll stock a few in the new store and recommend them to Mrs. Fisher. I bet she’d get a kick out of them.”

While they talked books, Hannah tried to imagine finding love again—with someone other than Louis. She adored Hallmark movies, where the characters always got swept up in sweet love, and the complications in their lives just sort of resolved and fell away without much pain. Was real love like that? Kind of like what she and Calvin had started out with, but with some staying power and a lot more kick?

Hannah sighed. She and Calvin had never seemed to quite find that spark she saw in the movies, and when they’d separated he’d questioned if they’d ever truly been in love.

It had felt like love to her.

Was it because they’d been so young that it had felt not quite real to him? Or had he truly not fallen for her? If she’d been more adventurous would he have stayed interested? Or was she simply comparing real life to the fictional, feel-good dreams that were sold by movie companies?

“The only thing that Louis has ever done,” Hannah said firmly, hoping to put the subject to bed once and for all, “is pick apart my life and make me feel like I’m not living up to my potential. He acts like his life goals are superior and that wanting a family is boring.”

The heat of anger had returned. He’d really managed to get under her skin all those years ago, and then had stirred it all up again the day before yesterday, as though she’d never been able to grow up and move past it.

Athena waved away Hannah’s argument. “You’re single. And from what I’ve heard, Louis is, too.”

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