Page 59 of The Forever After Bet

I take my baseball cap off, scratching my head. “Hannah, is that a good idea?”

“Probably not my best one, but I’m done letting Bree Chandler think she can walk all over me. Or you, for that matter.”

I just nod.

“Well, that was easier than I thought it would be.” Hannah gives me a cautious look.

“Let’s go eat some pancakes at the Lake Side Diner, and we’ll figure it out.” I sigh.

“Yeah, okay. Let me talk to Chanel and Landon and explain how the QR code works for people who want to donate and see if either of them has questions.”

“Do they serve milkshakes this early in the morning?” Hannah asks, looking over the menu. “I want a huckleberry milkshake to go with my pancakes.”

“I think they serve their entire menu all day. We’ll ask the waitress when she gets here.”

“Do you want your own stack, or can we share?”

I narrow my eyes at her.

“Fine, I’ll get a short stack,” she mutters.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Thank you for caring about me.” Hannah tilts her head, giving me a cheesy smile.

We order two Huckleberry milkshakes, a large stack of pancakes, and a short stack of pancakes, and I get a couple of slices of bacon. I take Hannah’s hand, playing with her promise ring. “I don’t think you should be alone with Bree.”

“I’m not going to be alone. There’s going to be hundreds of people around.” Hannah gives me a cheesy smile.

“You know what I mean,” I say.

“Yes, I do; and to that, I say, I don’t want you to be alone with Bree.” Hannah tilts her head at me.

I adjust my ballcap. “How about if we compromise? I’ll work an hour with Bree, and then I’ll say I have a family obligation and leave at one. I’ll have Jack come take over for me.”

“That’s a good plan, but if you leave, so will Bree, and that will leave Jack there by himself. What if we have Leah go with him?”

“That’s a great idea. Bree can’t stand Leah. It’s a suitable compromise. Just don’t let her kiss you.” Hannah huffs.

“I promise.”

“Cross your heart and hope to die? Stick a needle in your eye?” Hannah tries to act serious, but she can’t keep a straight face.

I make an X over my heart. “Cross my heart.”

“Okay then.” Hannah smiles.

“Come here.” I pull Hannah close and lean down, pressing my lips to hers.

“I love you,” she whispers.

“I love you.”

I call and talk to Jack, and he’s cool with showing up at one with Leah. Our food shows up, and we eat, making plans to meet at the bookstore tomorrow. I devour my food. Hannah drinks all of her milkshake and eats half the pancakes. “We have one more thing we need to talk about,” I say after the waitress has cleared our plates.

Hannah rubs her forehead. “I already know about the Instagram post.”

“You do? Did you get Instagram, and I don’t know about it?” I ask.

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