“I agree with Tiff,” Grandma says, reaching across the table to take my hand.
“I’m so scared. What if he doesn’t want me anymore outside of the girl he knew at the cottage?”
“Stop that,” Julia says tersely. “He is one of the nicest people I’ve ever known. If things end, we will take that as it comes. And like I said before. Thomas really likes you, even loves you. Look at the lengths he went to to keep you safe, Han. That’s not a man who is going to drop you as soon as you get home. Give him a chance. You are the same girl you were at the cottage.”
She’s right. I know she is. Irritation with myself blooms in my chest, and I take a bite of my food to distract myself.
“I have therapy this afternoon, so hopefully that will help me feel more settled,” I say.
“You should still talk to him,” Julia says.
“I know, I will.”
She raises her brow questioningly.
“I will,” I say firmly.
“Good.”
The rest of breakfast feels like a normal day. Like I wasn’t gone for six weeks and am fake engaged to the man who I think I might love. It’s normal, and exactly what I needed.
I text Thomas after breakfast,letting him know I have therapy, and then he can come over. I want to see him. I miss him.
The day goes by slowly as I wait for my appointment, but thankfully, it’s finally time. I drive across town to Kimberly’s office, registering with Laura and taking a seat in the waiting room.
Even though I’ve been seeing Kimberly for years now, I still get nervous before each appointment. I shouldn’t, the woman knows everything about me and has never judged me, but I still do. It’s annoying.
“Hannah?” Kimberly calls my name from her office door, and I stand and head over to her. “It is so good to see you, Hannah. I’ve been worried about you.”
“Thanks,” I say with an awkward smile. I sit down on the couch where I’ve spent many hours, immediately getting comfortable and sinking in.
“Now, I know you might not be able to tell me everything yet, but tell me what you can,” she starts.
I take a deep breath. “It’s been a long few weeks,” I say, bursting into tears. I grab a tissue from the table beside the couch, wiping at my face. “Sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Hannah. Are you able to give me a little insight as to what's going on inside your head?”
Nodding, I start. “Thomas Cunningham asked me out on a date, and together we witnessed a detective get shot. The person who shot him made threats on Thomas’s and my life, so we were sent to a safe house, only after Thomastold them we were engaged so that I could go with him. I’m pretty sure that now I’m in love with my fake fiancé, and I’m scared he’s going to get sick of me and let me go.”
I exhale heavily, wiping tears from my cheeks.
“Wow,” Kimberly says. “Sounds like you’ve had an eventful few weeks.”
“You could say that,” I huff. “I had my first kiss and lost my virginity.”
Kimberly doesn’t say anything, simply waits for me to continue.
I tell her about my fears of him leaving me now that we’re home, and the more I say it out loud, the more I realize how ridiculous it is.
“Has he given you any indication that he’s going to pull away? Or that he’s going to end things with you?”
I choke out a watery laugh. “No. I’m so ridiculous.”
“No, you’re not, Hannah. We’ve been over this. You have come so far since we first met, and I am so proud of you. This is a bump in the road. We have to change your goals, because you’ve accomplished most of your old ones. New goals are scary, but good. Now, what are some new goals you’d like to add to your list?”
I take a steadying breath and say the first thing that comes to mind.
“I want to tell Thomas I love him.” The words fly off my tongue.
