I was an engaged listener, laughing at all the right moments and politely sipping my coffee. To any outsiders who were listening, we were like old friends spending time together. Eventually, though, the curious bystanders seemed to lose interest. The restaurant began to thin out, and finally, our
Hannah As soon as I stepped through the front door, Noah was there waiting for me like a guard dog on duty, his arms crossed over his chest and a stern expression etched onto his face. “There you are,” he said, his tone clipped. “I trust you had a good time gallivanting around town with your new
Hannah With the ruined charm bracelet clenched in my fist, I stormed down the hallway toward Noah’s office, fury rising in my chest with every step. How dare he? How dare he rifle through my private belongings and defile that gift in such a callous, petty manner? “When did he even…?” I hissed to
Hannah Viona and I stepped out of the nail salon, freshly manicured and ready to take on the world—or at the very least, a tedious dinner engagement with my soon-to-be ex-husband and his would-be mistress. “That color looks perfect on you,” Viona said, admiring her glossy pink nails as we stroll
But no amount of fussing could disguise the truth. I knew deep down this wasn’t a question of an ill-fitting dress—it was my own body that was the problem, soft and ugly and— “Hannah? You okay?” “Fine!” I squeaked out, my head spinning as I hastily unzipped the dress and tore it off over my head
Hannah Dinner was every bit as awkward and tension-filled as I had anticipated—and then some. Zoe sat across from me, her posture rigid and her gaze fixed resolutely on her plate as she nibbled at her food in silence. It was clear from the tight purse of her lips and the furrow in her brow that
“Oh, but I am,” Drake said, leaning forward on his elbows. “It sounds exciting, and besides, you know what they say about a good scare—it gets the blood positively pumping.” At that last word, he slid his gaze over to Zoe. Her cheeks reddened and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. A beat of si
Hannah I stood there, frozen in Drake’s arms as the chaos around us dissolved into normalcy—or at least, something akin to it. The warm amber lights bathed the room, revealing the haunted house for what it truly was—nothing more than an intricate set, complete with masked actors and special effe