“When I leave work or wherever, I can check the camera app and make sure I don’t see his stupid truck.”
“How do you know what he’ll be driving?”
“Trust me, there is no way he got rid of it. That truck is the only thing he truly loves.”
“Okay, well, I guess that is something.” Brandee sighed and then she brightened. “But we can help too.”
“What do you mean?” Hannah asked.
“Yes, I want to know too,” Zaina said.
“We’ll make sure people are keeping an eye on you.”
“I’m not a basket case.”
“Listen, I’m not saying we set up an armed guard. I just mean we’ll check in on you more. Make sure we don’t see Chad around, and if we do…”
“Yes, if you do, then what?” Hannah interrupted.
“Step one will be to tell him to stay away from you and let him know he isn’t welcome in Marley Creek.”
“God, I hope he is just full of shit and has no intention of really coming here.”
Zania patted Hannah’s knee. “We do too. Seriously. And I’m going to start rotating the temp employees out to the market to work with you. I’m not leaving you alone.”
“I hate that you’ll have to spend all that money on staff.”
Zaina held up a finger, “One, it’s just money, and it’s a business expense. Two, I’m sure everyone will be happy for the extra hours, and three, you mean the world to me, and if you won’t let me wrap you up in bubble wrap to keep you safe, this is what I need to do. Got it?”
Hannah bit her lip to stop from smiling. Warmth filled her chest. Her friends had her back, more than her own damn parents. She was so freaking lucky. “Group hug?”
The women stood up and hugged. Then they pulled apart.
Zaina held her arms across her chest. “I need to go; my boobs are killing me. Time to go feed Lily.”
Brandee yawned, and seconds later Hannah caught it. “No worries. I’m exhausted, I do feel better though,” Hannah said.
Brandee and Zaina got their boots on. “I’ll text you as soon as I have someone to work with you tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
“And post in the group chat to let us know when you are out and about. Just to be safe.”
“I will.”
Brandee and Zaina gave Hannah final hugs and then they left.
Hannah threw out their plates and put away the few pieces of pizza that were left. “I hope I get lucky, and the jerk doesn’t show up. But if he does, at least I’ve got people looking out for me,” she told herself.
Feeling calmer than she had in days, Hannah double-checked that the door was locked, and then she headed to bed. If only Kate were here. She sighed and climbed into bed.
Chapter Thirty-one
Kate had just finished putting on her Grinch face. Underneath the thick green stage makeup, the skin on her face had started to dry out. She needed to do an internet search and figure out the best lotion she could put on at night. If she hadn’t broken things off with Hannah, she would have already asked her for a lotion recommendation. Kate knew Hannah would know exactly what she needed. Hannah’s skin was always dewy. She sighed, and her shoulders dropped. She was doing it again. ReverseWonderful Life-ing. In her mind’s eye, she pictured herself listening to Hannah tell her about a concoction of essential oils she’d used to make a lotion that would take off every trace of the green makeup.
With every day that passed, she thought more and more about what life with Hannah could be like. As she did the pet portraits, she started imagining having a dog again. The constant parade of people bringing their beloved pets to her for a picture might start an annual tradition. A lump formed in her throat. Shewanted it; she longed for a connection that would last a lifetime. Maybe she had been the fool Cathy thought she was. Now, all she had to do was muster up the courage to tell Hannah. Kate mumbled to herself. “This might have been avoided if I had called her instead of breaking up over a text.” Kate cringed. What had she been thinking? Oh, yeah, that she didn’t know if she would have been able to say the words.
The temperature had gone up, and instead of snow, today there was steady cold rain. Kate shivered in her hut as appointment after appointment rescheduled. She spent the morning at the market, sipping on a smoothie; it was too hard to eat and keep her makeup looking picture perfect.
