I reached over and squeezed her hand. “Whatever you need, I'll be there. Even if it's three a.m. feedings.”
Her hand tightened around mine, and I watched her face fight for control. “Thank you.”
Before either of us could say anything else, a familiar voice interrupted us.
“Hanna?”
I stiffened. I had to be hearing wrong. There was no way that voice belonged to the person I thought was standing behind me. It couldn't be him.
“Hanna Breckenridge?”
Fuck me.
I turned, feeling Juliette's eyes on me as I did so. She would've heard me talk about him, but she'd moved before we'd started dating, so she wouldn't have known him by sight.
Me, on the other hand...it'd been nearly five years since we'd last seen each other, but I would've recognized Tucker Flannagan anywhere.
Hair a richer, deeper shade of blond. China blue eyes. He'd topped out at six feet tall and had put a bit more muscle on his athletic build since I'd seen him last. He'd always been good-looking and was even more so now that he'd matured a bit.
Still, I couldn't help but think that no matter how handsome Tucker was, he wasn't even close to being as attractive as Cross. His name made my heart twist painfully, and I pushed thoughts of him away.
“It is you!” Tucker beamed as he came around the table. He engulfed me in a hug, leaving me wide-eyed and feeling awkward. Then he turned to Juliette. “You have to be Hanna's sister. I heard all about you. I'm Tucker.”
I saw the surprise flicker across Juliette's eyes and knew she recognized the name
“I hadn't realized you'd gotten back,” he said as he pulled up a chair.
Same old Tucker.
“Juliette and I are visiting for Thanksgiving.” My brain was spinning. “We're going home this weekend.”
“Really?” He leaned forward, his gaze intent on me. “Where's home? I always thought you'd be at the family business, but whenever I went by, you weren't there. Your mom said you were visiting your sister.”
I snorted. Leave it to my parents to call half a year a visit. “I went out to California after graduation to help Juliette out with her catering business, but I ended up loving it, so I took the job permanently.”
“California? Wow, that's amazing!” He glanced at Juliette, then turned his attention back to me. “What is it you do?”
“We run a catering business in LA,” Juliette said. “Hanna's my business manager.”
“That's great, Hanna,” he said with a brilliant smile. “I always knew you could do anything you set your mind to.”
I gaped at him. Was this really the same man who'd slept with me right before he went away to college, then again right before he broke up with me a few months later because he couldn't handle the “long distance thing,” and I hadn't wanted to transfer to Texas? He hadn't been ignorant about it, but he'd made it clear that he didn't think my degree was as important as his. Now he was acting like he'd been behind me one hundred percent.
“Look, Hanna,” his tone shifted, “I know things between us ended a bit...abruptly.”
I raised my eyebrows. “That's an understatement.”
He had the good grace to look embarrassed. “We were kids. Let's put all that behind us, start new.”
“I'm not angry, Tucker,” I assured him. “I moved on a long time ago, and I'm happy.”
The memory of Cross's cruel words cut through me and I pushed him from my mind. No need to bring up a relationship that I was currently pissed about.
“Besides, there's no need to be rehashing the past when we're not in town for long,” I continued.
“I'm not either, actually.” He moved his chair closer.
“So you don't live here?” I asked.
“I moved back after college. A lot of kids did. Finding a job isn't easy in this economy. I'm sure you understand.” He straightened. “I'm so excited to hear that you live in California now. It'll be great to know someone there. I'm moving to LA in a couple days.”
Chapter Seven
Cross
The moment I heard Juliette say that the test was hers, I felt like an idiot. It was the most logical explanation, and I hadn't even thought of it. Then again, neither had Hanna, and Juliette was her sister. It made sense that I'd forgotten about her, forgotten that she was sharing the bathroom with us, but this was Hanna's childhood home. She'd shared this bathroom with Juliette for years. All she'd needed to do was tell me that it was probably her sister's test, and it would've diffused the entire situation.
Instead, she'd acted like I was behaving irrationally. Like I hadn't had every reason in the world to be freaking out. She knew I didn't want kids now. Maybe ever. I wasn't thinking that far ahead. I liked things the way they were. Liked how the two of us were together.
But as much as I kept telling myself that Hanna should've stopped all of this from happening, I couldn't stop the guilt that came when I saw the hurt on her face. She wasn't just angry with me. She was upset, and when I thought of some of the things I'd said to her, I couldn't really blame her. I had been a little harsh.
“Hanna.”
She didn't even acknowledge me as she went to her sister. And then they were gone. It didn't hit me until they'd reached the stairs that I needed to go after Hanna. She couldn't just leave without us working it out. I couldn't have her upset with me the rest of the day.
I went after her then, but it was too late. Hanna had taken the car, and I had no idea where she and her sister had gone.
“Is something wrong?” The sister-in-law, Abbie, came up behind me.
I glanced over at her, my stomach twisting as I watched her run her hand over her stomach. Hanna said the baby was due next month. Maybe that was why I'd freaked out so badly. Seeing how Hanna's family had been about the upcoming baby, it must've made me think that was what she wanted. Once I explained that to Hanna, I was sure she'd understand.
“Hanna and Juliette left but didn't tell me where they were going.” I kept my voice even.
Abbie was nice enough. Sweet, cute. Chestnut curls. Hazel eyes. She looked like the stereotypical Midwestern housewife. She fit here, with the Breckenridge family, with their auto business and holiday traditions. I could see, though, why Juliette didn't. Hanna, I wasn't so sure of. While she wasn't quite jaded enough for Hollywood, she didn't quite seem to fit here either.
“Do you think they might've gone shopping?” Abbie asked. “There are always some good Black Friday deals at the shopping mall.”
“I don't think so,” I muttered.
I looked down the driveway. Hanna had taken the rental, so if I planned to go after her, I would need to borrow another vehicle. I looked with distaste at the pair of ancient cars sitting there. I was sure they ran well. After all, that wouldn't have been very good for business. It didn't make them any more appealing though.
“What's everyone looking at?” RJ was suddenly there, grinning that wide grin of his. His hair was the same color as Juliette's, but his eyes were blue rather than violet, and his features were a bit harsher, but the resemblance was there.