If dogs could smirk, I just got one.
“Come in. You look beautiful.” Sliding my hand around her waist, I bend down and kiss her cheek.
She looks simultaneously adorable and completely edible wearing black leggings that hug her ass and a cream-coloured cable neck sweater that hangs slightly off her shoulder showing the hint of her lacy black bra. Slouchy socks peek above her suede pull on mini boots. I can’t help noticing the pink scrunchie secured around her wrist. I wonder how long it will take her to pull her loose curls up and away from her face.
“Thank you,” she says, tucking her hair behind her ear. She blushes, making her freckles pop.
“Whatcha got there?” Stepping away, I point to the gift bag in her hand.
“Oh, I got you a little something as a housewarming gift,” she says, pushing the bag into my hands.
“You didn’t have to do that.” I shouldn’t be surprised by the sweet gesture. Hannah has always been thoughtful.
Slipping off her boots, she drops her bag to the floor and follows me into the kitchen.
Leaning back on the counter, she smiles.
“I wanted to. Open it,” she encourages.
I place the gift on the island and remove the tissue and carefully pull out a – garden gnome.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I playfully glare at her. “There are more garden gnomes in my yard than there are people living on this entire street.”
“Oh, come on, it’s tradition. Everyone needs one that reflects their personality.” She giggles. The sound is music to my ears.
“And this is how you see me?” I ask, looking down with amusement at the little gnome wearing a leather jacket, boots and giving the universal sign for rock on with his chubby little hands, and snort out a laugh. He is kinda cute.
“Sorry, I couldn’t find one with a tattoo gun. Ben helped me pick this guy out earlier today. He was really excited to choose a little man to come for a sleepover with all your other little friends,” she says seriously, trying to hold back a laugh. Clearly, I’m not in on the joke.
“Okay…” I draw out. “Should I ask?” I have no idea what that means, but if it makes her happy, it makes me happy.
“You will have to ask Ben when you meet him. Wow, it looks great in here,” she says as she looks around the kitchen.
Over the past week, I have updated appliances and fixtures. There are new pendant lights hanging above the island that really brighten the room and I’m thinking about having Riot help me install a tile backsplash. Once I did one home improvement then I immediately wanted to start another.
“Thank you. I’m enjoying fixing it up and making it mine. I’m trying to bring it out of the 90’s.”
“Your mom always kept it nice, but I can imagine it needed a refresh after having so many renters.” She walks around the room, admiring the personal touches I have added.
Pausing across the island from me, she says,“I have a confession.”
“Oh yeah?” I tilt my head and run a hand over the scruff on my jaw.
“Yeah. This is embarrassing, but when the house went up for sale, I did a virtual tour, more than once. It was like going back in time.”
“How come?” I ask curiously.
“How come I stalked your house? I don’t know, just curious, I guess. It’s been a long time, and I have good memories here.” She shrugs. “I never dreamed that you would be the one who bought it.”
“Surprise!” I wave my hands in the air and chuckle as she rolls her eyes. “Dinner is ready. I made chicken parm and a salad. I hope that’s okay.”
“It smells amazing. And you made it?” she asks.
“I wasn’t kidding, I’m no longer hopeless in the kitchen.” Taking the salad out of the fridge, I move it to the table. Without hesitation, Hannah starts to set the table like she had just been here yesterday instead over a decade ago. We have missed so much time together.
“Come and sit down.”
Hannah joins me at the table, and I pull out a chair for her. “Can I get you a drink? I have wine.”
