Page 78 of Second Chance Vacation

She pauses, visibly thinking through her reasoning. Hannah’s mascara is smudged below her eyes, but the bags in the same spot show far more than some rogue black pigment ever could. Hannah has always been a source of light, and I hate knowing that New York is draining her of that sparkle.

“I miss you. I miss Georgia—but mostly, it just sucks there. Everyone is trying to accomplish the same goal, and it’s weighing on me.”

“You could always move home.”

With that, Hannah breaks into hysterical laughter, as if I just told the funniest joke to ever be thought of in the history of the world. She’s been adamant that she won’t be moving back to Live Oak…ever.

“Hilarious. No. I need to stick it out in New York, at least for now. I have an audition next week—maybe this is the one.”

I really hope it is. I want this to work out for her. She’s worked far too hard for this than to let it go now.

“You know you’re always welcome in Atlanta, right? I mean—I’ll have a place soon. You’re more than welcome to stay with me.”

“Thanks, Jackson…but I’m good. I’ll be okay,” she attempts to reassure me, to no avail.

“Promise, bug?”

“I promise.”

With that, she stands and walks over to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. She buries her face in my chest for a moment before pulling away. I didn’t realize how much I needed that, but I would never tell her that.

“So you’re stuck sharing an office with Satan’s little helper, huh?” she says with a laugh, tilting her head to Liam’s side of the office. She walks over there, perusing the collection of figurines atop his filing cabinet. “Such a nerd.”

“He’s not that bad.” I chuckle, watching her stuff one of the resin figures into her purse. “Hannah…”

“He won’t miss it,” she says with a smile.

As if his ears are ringing, a keycard taps against the sensor of our office door as Liam reenters.

“What are you doing?”

He immediately zeros in on Hannah, who is still standing in front of his collection, an expression of mischief on her face.

“Admiring your…stuff.”

“Yeah—okay.” He scoffs, reaching into his desk and pulling out his phone charger. “Forgot this. And Hannah?”

“Hmm?”

“Touch my shit, and I’ll kill you in your sleep.” And I question if he may mean that.

“You couldn’t kill a garden lizard—”

With that, Liam flips Hannah the bird as he turns to me and nods his head in acknowledgment before leaving the office.

“Such a dick,” Hannah mumbles under her breath.

“Yeah yeah—let it go.” I chuckle, throwing my arm around her shoulder while securing my messenger bag on my other shoulder.

“Where are you staying?”

She doesn’t say anything but simply looks up at me with a grin. I know that look, and it is seldom followed with something good.

“You’re staying with me…aren’t you?”

“And people call you stupid.”

Hannah smacks my chest lightly.

---