Page 46 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

“Hannah, I’m sorry if I pushed it too far. I just want what’s best for you. That’s all, I swear. I thought you needed a supportive push.”

The anger left her face, only to be replaced with exasperation.

“What?”

“You really don’t know how to fight, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Moving past fights isn’t supposed to be this easy.”

“But that’s our thing, isn’t it? Fight and get over it so we can fight again.” He grinned. “And now maybe kiss a few times between battles?”

“Where’s the guilt trip for how I treated you? This is where you can act all wounded and draw out your hurt forever, you know.”

“Why?”

“It’s what…” She seemed at a loss for words, her frustration mounting.

“It’s what Calvin does when you call him on his crap?” She didn’t reply. “I’m not Calvin.”

“I know!”

“Then don’t expect me to act like him when we fight.”

“Fine. I’m sorry.”

“Let him have his own baggage. He doesn’t belong in our relationship.”

“We’re not—”

“We’ll have plenty enough between the two of us without carrying his, too. The reason you and I work is because we call each other out. And we let each other speak our thoughts. We don’t carry our wounds like some sort of earned badge for our sash. That’s what I love most about this gray zone we have, Hannah. We can be us.”

“Okay.” Her eyes were clear now, the sleep and frustration gone.

“And?” He could tell something was at the tip of her tongue, ready to be spoken.

“Don’t meddle.”

“Hmm.” He looked down at his feet with a frown. He wasn’t sure what her definition of meddling was, but he was fairly confident everything he said or did was some form of it.

He was good at meddling, but it almost always worked out. And sure, he’d gotten in a bit of hot water with his team captain Maverick Blades and the Dragons’ publicist, Nuvella, for his recent efforts. But, again, it was working. Maverick was gaining more publicity and the beautiful woman he loved was on his arm.

Hannah sighed loudly. “So maybe I could handle making some changes in my life. You’re right! Happy now?”

He peered up at her. Her shoulders had dropped and she looked like a kid who’d been caught eating all the cookies.

She groaned before admitting grudgingly, “School will be good. If I get in, I’ll go, even though it’ll cause a major mess.”

She watched him carefully. He was supposed to say something now, but wasn’t sure what. She was kind of admitting that his meddling was a good thing.

“So be happy you were right,” she said, “and take your win on this one. Go ahead and gloat.”

He resumed staring at his feet.

She sighed. “Oh, Louis. What did you do?”

He looked up. “How do you know I did something?”

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