This, probably, is when I really start to fall for him.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Grant
IN SILENCE, WE WATCHHannah walk to her porch, turn to wave, and disappear inside the kind of suburban cookie-cutter home I would never have pictured for her.
Once she’s in, I look at Rae. “Where to next?”
“Um. Got to backtrack. I’ll get my car.”
“You seem tired, Rae. Let me take you home. Please.”
“You’re right,” she says, literally yawning to prove my point. “I’m in Byrd Park.”
“Wow. Swank.”
“Meh. You’ll see.”
“Not so swank?” I set off toward the ritzy Richmond neighborhood.
“It’ssmaaah.” The word turns into another yawn, which in turn makes me yawn, and we both laugh, and then the silence is this soft, golden glow around us, part awkward and part easy.
“Pepe’s gonna be so mad I was out late.”
I go instantly taut. “Who?”
“My cat.”
Muscles loosen. “Ah, the angry Frenchman.”
“What?”
“You mentioned a Halloween costume. The first time we met.”
A giggle bursts out of her. “Oh, right. Forgot I told you about that.”
“You end up picking one?”
“No.” She throws me a look. “Been a little busy.”
After a few minutes, she guides me down a dark street. “This is it.” She points at a big Victorian, possibly painted blue, although it’s hard to tell in the dark.
“Nice.”
“Not really. I live in back.”
“Back?”
“Want to come see it?”
I really do. I want to fall into her world, arms wide open.
Which is precisely why I say, “Better not.”
Then a car drives slowly by, and no part of me is okay with her heading into that dark yard on her own. “I’ll walk you, though.”
“I’m fine.” She opens the door and turns back to say, “Good night,” before setting off across the grass.
