Hannah looks almost pained, but it’s an emotion that’s gone as quickly as it appeared, shaking her head. “Actually, I’m not… I’m not feeling very well. I um… I got my period back at the game.”
My shoulders sag with relief because that explains the sudden shift in mood. I reach my hand across, gently cupping her cheek, ducking my head to get a better look into those pretty blue eyes that own my fucking soul. “Let me come up,” I say gently. “Let me take care of you.”
Her hand comes up to cover mine, and she leans into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed a moment. When she looks at me again, there’s a sadness in her gaze I wasn’t expecting, and the relief I felt seconds ago is gone, replaced by that same knot of dread low in my gut.
“Is it okay if I say no?” she asks, hopeful, like I might possibly tell her it’s not.
“It’s always okay for you to say no,” I assure her, looking deep into her eyes, searching. “But… I need to know you’re okay. I’m… I’m scared, baby.”
“I’m fine,” she says, but again, I’m not sure I believe her. “I’m just PMSing. I promise.”
I decide to drop it. Maybe she is just sick. I don’t know how these things work; I’ve never had a girlfriend, let alone a girlfriend who’s on her period. Nodding, I lean in and press a kiss to her lips, lingering a moment to breathe her in with a murmured, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she says, pulling back.
But then, as quick as the wind, she’s out of my truck and gone, and I’m left watching as she disappears inside her apartment building without even a final glance back at me.
With a heaving sigh, I let my head fall back against the seat, scrubbing my hands over my face with a muttered, “Fuck.”
The house is quiet and dark when I get home. Quiet, dark, and lonely.
I stop in the kitchen and grab a bottle of water before continuing upstairs. I place the water on the side table and head toward Lucky’s bedroom, peeking inside her door, surprised to see her still awake, perched up against her pillows with a big book resting on her bent legs. I should leave her while she’s quiet and happy, but the thing is, right now, I need a hug. So, I gently push the door open and step inside, Lucky’s sleepy eyes lighting up when they spot me.
“Daddy!” she exclaims softly.
“Hey, Lucky Duck,” I whisper, padding across the room and taking a seat on the side of her bed. “Why aren’t you asleep?”
“I’m not tired.” She shrugs her little shoulders, offering me a toothy grin and moving the book aside.
I scooch in a little closer, snaking an arm around her. “I need a hug, baby girl.”
Nestling into the nook under my arm, she cuddles me tight, a small crease burrowing between her eyebrows as she gazes up at me. “Are you okay, Daddy?”
“Yeah, I’m okay,” I say with a sigh, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the strawberries and cream scent that’s trapped in her hair. “Just a little sad.”
“You won,” she reminds me. “Why are you sad?”
And I know my five-year-old daughter is probably not the best person to be talking to about my girl problems, but the thing about Lucky is she’s actually a really good listener.
“I’m sad because Hannah was a bit sad tonight,” I admit. “And because I don’t know why she’s sad, I don’t know how to make her feel better.”
Lucky looks up at me again, and I see her little mind working overtime, her big brown eyes searching mine for a few beats. “Is Hannah sad because of what that mean man said to her?”
Lucky’s words hit me straight in my gut, my brows knitting together as I try to process exactly what she’s just said.
“Mean man?”
She nods.
“What mean man?” I press gently, the skin at the back of my neck burning.
Lucky’s forehead bunches, her lips twisting to the side as she looks up in thought before saying, “Chris…?”
Motherfucker.
CHAPTER 46
HANNAH
