“Fine,” she says shortly, already reaching for her phone.
“And work?”
“Busy.”
She scrolls, ignoring me. The knot in my stomach tightens. “Are you mad at me about Liev?”
She looks up immediately. “No, of course not.” Then she sighs and sets the phone aside. “I’ve just gotten protective of you, that’s all.” Her voice softens. “Fine. Tell me about him. Since you’re going to be spending so much time with him.”
“We’re sharing a room.”
Her eyes bulge. “What?”
“Yup. Clients rarely want to pay for two rooms for security.” I can’t keep the grin off my face.
Her eyes round. “Youlikehim.”
My smile widens. I’m dying to share with her what’s been happening.
“Oh my God,” she breathes. “Youdo.”
“Remember when I said I got close to being able to… you know…” She nods. “It was with him.”
“Holy shit,” she says, then does an unmistakable excited shimmy. “And you’re sharing a room.”
“It’s not like that,” I say automatically. “We kissed. That’s it. And honestly, I don’t even know if he’s interested, or if he just feels sorry for me. Since we started working together, he’s really backed off.”
Hannah frowns. “That’s… confusing.”
“Tell me about it,” I mutter.
She studies me for a beat, then her mouth curves, mischief creeping back in. “Okay, but counterpoint—maybe he’s backing off because he’s tryingnotto fuck this up.”
Hope soars. “Maybe.”
“I’m just saying,” she continues, cheerfully ignoring me. “You’re sharing a room. Towels fall. Shirts get misplaced. These things happen.”
I choke on a laugh. “I am not dropping a towel on purpose.”
“Coward,” she teases. “You could trip. Naked. Into his arms.”
Before I can respond, her elbow catches her coffee cup.
“Oh—shit!”
The cup tips, dark liquid sloshing across the table and straight toward my lap. I jump back with a yelp.
“Napkins,” Hannah says quickly. “Go—before it ruins everything.”
I’m already on my feet, darting toward the counter. By the time I get back with an armful of napkins, she’s blotting frantically, cheeks flushed.
“I’m so sorry,” she says. “I think I soaked your phone. I grabbed it before it drowned.” She sets it down between us. “I don’t think it’s damaged though.”
I glance at it, relieved.Hannah checks her watch. “We should head out.”
She hesitates, then reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “You’re going to be busy, but… text me sometimes? Just to check in. I’ll miss you.”
“Of course,” I say without hesitation.
