Page 31 of Stick With Me
“Of course we are,” I say quickly, doing my best to reassure her, wanting more than anything for it to be the truth.
“Okay, good.” She doesn’t sound convinced.
Trying to ease her into conversation, I keep things light, and after a few more exchanges, she finally starts to warm up, the pauses becoming less uncomfortable. Hopefully, when she gets here, I’ll be able to ease some of the worry she’s clearly feeling.
“So, moving boxes?” I ask.
“I’m sorting through the stuff Jace shipped to me,” she admits, her voice a bit more relaxed now. “I guess two weeks was his limit for holding on to my things. He was supposed to send them to my new place once I got settled, but honestly, it’s better this way. Now he won’t know I’m in Chicago.”
“Yeah, probably for the best. Did you start packing yet?”
“I’m trying to figure out what to pack and what to store at my parents’ house. I don’t want to overwhelm your space with all my stuff.”
“Don’t worry about that. We have more than enough space for all your things,” I reassure her, glancing around the kitchen, which has more cabinets and drawers than I’ve ever seen in one place.
“Oh, guess what I found? Remember all those paper airplanes you used to throw at me in calculus? And all the others you made me over the years? I forgot where I hid them, but while repacking my life, I’ve unearthed them.”
She kept them.The thought makes my chest tight. I can guarantee she’s never opened them, though. Had she known what was written inside, I’d like to think we’d be in a different place now. “Yeah, I remember. I didn’t know you kept them.”
“You know me, I never throw anything away. Before I forget, what’s your new address? I’m going to ship most of my things there.”
A smile breaks across my face at the reminder that she’ll be here soon. “I’ll send it to you. I’m putting in an offer on this place. I’m actually here now, checking it out. You’re gonna love it.”
“Oh, when you said you were moving, I thought you meant you already had the place. This isn’t about me moving in, is it?”
“Pfft, no,” I say, convincing absolutely no one.
“Ryan.”
“Hannah.”
“I really hope you’re not doing this just to make space for me. I’d feel terrible if that’s the case.”
“No, it’s for me. The apartment doesn’t feel like home anymore.” Which is true. When I signed with the Saints, it didn’t feel permanent. Hell, it still doesn’t feel permanent. But I really want all this to work out. Manifestation and all that shit. “I can’t wait for you to get here. I know we just left each other, but I miss you.”
There’s a pause, and for a moment, I think she’s not going to return the sentiment. “I miss you too,” she finally says, barely above a whisper.
The front door opens and shuts. “Honey, I’m home!” Fox’s voice echoes through the space.
“Oh God, is Dominic going to be our roommate?” Hannah asks in my ear.
I can’t help but laugh at that. “Hell no, but it sounds like he may be our neighbor.”
“Lovely.”
“I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Okay, bye, Ry.”
I end the call right as Fox barrels into the space with the realtor on his heels. He slings his arm over my shoulders. “Was that your girl? Hope you told her the good news, neighbor.”
God help me.
FOURTEEN
It doesn’t haveto mean anything.
Ryan’s words afterthe kisskeep replaying in my mind. The kiss I told him to forget… Now, if only I could follow my own instructions.
