Chapter 72

MAXWELL'S POV

As soon as I stepped out of Hannah’s room, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. That had been... a lot. She liked the gift, right? I think she did. Her smile was small, but it seemed genuine.

I shook my head, feeling my nerves still buzzing. It was ridiculous how nervous I had been handing her that sketchbook and fashion book. It wasn’t a big deal—it was just something I thought she’d appreciate, to smooth things over after everything that happened with Clarissa. But the way my heart raced when she opened the box? That was new. That was something I didn’t want to think about too much.

Why was I like this around her? She’d hugged me, and I’d stood there like an idiot, not even knowing how to respond. It was just a hug, for crying out loud. People hug all the time. But the second her arms wrapped around me, it was like my brain decided to shut down. Completely useless. My body froze, my thoughts scrambled, and I couldn’t even get a simple gesture like