Hannah and Emily exchanged doe-eyed looks. “No, I think we’re good.”
Alys looked between their guests. They were supposed to be Emily’s friend, and yet they never really could be, could they? At least they could still cook for her. That had to make the betrayal go down smoother. They forced a grin. “Fantastic. Now we can eat.”
Chapter Six
“I can’t believe we’re not gonna be able to do this much longer,” April cried, sipping her mojito and wiping away a few tears. The three of them were commiserating over the end of the school year at the Cheerful Tortoise. It was the main bar on campus and had discount Jell-O shots every day, though after the last time April had taken advantage of it, they’d all but sworn off that particular deal.
“It’s not like we’re vanishing off the planet,” Megan insisted.
“Hell, we’re not even leaving Portland,” Hannah added.
“Yeah, but we won’t all come here,” April said. “I mean, think about it. You two won’t be living downtown anymore, and you’re certainly not going to want to come up to PSU to get a shitty steak.”
“You take that back. This steak is amazing.” Hannah stabbed the teriyaki steak appetizer with her fork, glaring daggers. “I would come back here for their New York strip any day.”
April rolled her eyes. “Hannah, honey—”
“Yeah, no, I heard it. I’m sorry. Don’t praise the meat, you’re vegan again.”
“It’s okay.” Her eyes crinkling in a jovial smile, she drained the rest of her drink and rose. “This is my round. What do you two want?”
“Jack and Coke,” Megan said.
Hannah indicated the mostly empty glass of stout. “Another of this thing.” It was dollar beer night, and she intended to get more than her fair share of drinks from it.
“You sure? It’s my treat.”
“Then get me three. It’s still cheaper than hers.”
Holding up her hands in surrender, April retreated to the bar to give their orders. Hannah took a bite of the celery from April’s plate and washed it down with the last of her beer. A moment later, April returned, somehow managing to balance five drinks in her arms without spilling them.
“I was joking.”
“You never joke about beer.”
Hannah opened her mouth to reply but instead tilted her head, conceding the point. She was almost certainly going to go through at least that much that night, and having it already at the table wouldn’t hurt her at all. “I feel like we should be doing something crazier. This is our last night together.”
“Don’t say that. Besides, if you want to get really crazy, we could see if they’re doing karaoke tonight,” April said.
“I’m good. Sane sounds fine.”
“I’ve heard you sing. You have a lovely voice.” April stared incredulously at Hannah, and fiddled with the straw of her daiquiri. “I think you should do it.”
Megan glanced toward the stage. “They don’t have it tonight, anyway.”
Hannah gave an incredibly forced smile as she reveled in her victory. Emily seemed to like her voice all right too, but she had no intention of singing in front of everyone, at least not without a lot more alcohol. “How’d your talk with the office go, anyway?”
April sighed, a look of relief washing over her. “I’d been so worried about it. I didn’t want to have to find a new place to live so soon. But they managed to arrange it with the building’s owner so that I could stay there when I’m staying on as an adviser. It’s such a relief. Especially since as busy as I’ll be with grad school, I wasn’t too keen on not having a chef anymore.”
“But you’re the chef,” Megan insisted.
“No, I just always cook for you.”
“I think I’ve eaten your cooking more than I have the actual chef’s, so I’m not entirely convinced that we have one.”
“That would be because you don’t come down to dinner until seven, after everything has already been eaten.”
Hannah finished off her steak. She was only marginally better about actually making it to dinner on time. “How exactly are you going to manage when you start work? You have to be the least punctual person I’ve ever met, Megan.”
“It’s a lot easier to want to show up when you get to carry a gun,” she said, grinning madly. “All I get for showing up now is more food or more accounting.”
“I like accounting. And I love food.”
“Have you two figured out where you’re going to be living yet?” April asked.
Megan shook her head. “I’ve found a couple places I wanted to check out, but Ms. ‘I just got a new girlfriend’ over here has been a little too busy enjoying that to actually check any of them out with me.”
Hannah let out a worried squeak. She’d should’ve told Megan ages ago. Megan was going to end up homeless, and it would all be her fault. “Um…About that.”
Megan stared at her.
“I’m…” She could say this. It wasn’t difficult. She just had to get the words out. “Um.” That was not closer.
“You’re…” Megan said, motioning for her to continue.
“MovinginwithEmily!” She spluttered it out as a single word.
They both stared at her.
“You’re what?” Megan asked.
“Hannah, you’ve known her for less than a week.”
“More than a week now.”
“Okay, a week and a day,” Megan said. “That’s not better. And you’ve just been standing me up this whole time without a word? When did you decide that you were moving in together?”
Lying would be so much easier. “Almost immediately. But I knew it was probably dumb, so I didn’t want to say anything in case…” In case she came to her senses? In case they broke up like people who barely knew each other were prone to do?
“In case what?”
She shrugged. “In case it changed. I’m sorry.”
Megan sighed. “They’re not throwing me out of the sorority house for at least another week. You know how lax they are with that shit. Katie had a boyfriend living there for most of a month before anyone even noticed.”
“I noticed,” April said. “She just wasn’t willing to do shit about it until I started talking to higher-ups.”
“Such a narc,” Megan grumbled.
“You’re a cop.”
“Not yet.” She flashed a playful grin.
April crossed her arms, glaring at Megan.
“Hey, Hannah’s the one we’re upset with right now.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Oh, I have plenty of reasons to be mad at you too.”
“Yeah, but she’s moving in with a girl she just met.” Megan jerked her head toward Hannah.
“I am well aware.” April turned her authoritative gaze on Hannah, prompting an involuntary shudder. “What are you even thinking? You barely know this girl.”
Obviously, that was true. No one with any sense would do this. Even by lesbian standards, this had to be a little fast. “I know. But it’s almost like I’ve known her for forever.”
“Yeah, that’s called the honeymoon period.”
Hannah shrugged. She was trying so hard not to take this personally. They had reasons to be worried, but they didn’t understand. “Maybe. I haven’t been in many relationships, so I guess I don’t really know. But it doesn’t feel like that to me. It’s more like we’ve been together for years. I just know that I can trust her. And I…” She wanted to say it. That one simple word could explain her feelings. But it would only make her sound crazier. “I can trust her. And besides, Megan will totally still let me move in with her if things fall apart.”
“The hell I will. I’m getting a one-bedroom now.”
Hannah stared, trying not to look too hurt. It wasn’t unreasonable. Hell, it was smart. “You really wouldn’t?”
Megan crossed her arms as well. This was starting to look more like an intervention than a fond farewell. “Hannah, this is a really bad idea.”
“It’s not
.”
April sighed. “It kinda is.”
“You’ve met her,” Hannah cried. “She’s amazing. We’re gonna stay together. I know we will. And her place is nice and super cheap. And she’s gonna let me use her car to get to work, so it’ll be even faster than if I moved closer and had to rely on the bus.”
“Hannah…” Megan said.
“I’m doing it,” she said firmly, glaring. It didn’t matter how crazy it was, her friends should support her. “Please don’t make this harder.”
Megan shook her head. “I can’t stop you. But if she even thinks about hurting you, then I’m arresting her.”
“Exactly why you shouldn’t be a cop,” April said. “Though just this once, I might allow it.”
With a smirk, Megan said, “And you can tell her that.”
Hannah drained one of her beers. “Fine,” she growled. They just cared about her. She shouldn’t be getting so riled up. But they were treating her like a child. She could make her own decisions.
“And you can stay at my place if something happens,” Megan added.
She faltered, slumping in her seat. She hadn’t even realized she’d been halfway to standing. “You mean it?”
“Of course I do. I think you’re being an idiot, but I don’t want you to end up homeless, or staying in a bad situation just because I’m too much of an ass.”
April gave a relieved sigh. “If she didn’t, I’d have figured out a way to square it with the owner.”
Hannah sniffled, swallowing the lump in her throat. She had been getting so mad. She almost stormed out. She should’ve known better. Her sisters would never turn on her. “I’ll get the next round.”
Chapter Seven
The big day had finally come. Hannah could scarcely believe it. She wished she could sit with her girlfriend or sisters—at the very least to make sure Megan followed through and actually showed up—but she was ready to do this. As of today, college was behind her. She could enter the real world. Her internship started soon, and she couldn’t wait, but she was also scared. She’d only ever been a student, aside from a few months working part-time as a waitress, so going right into a full-time office job was going to be a massive change. And she was moving in with her girlfriend too. It was a lot of firsts.
“Olsen, Hannah,” the speaker called. For a moment, Hannah almost didn’t recognize her own name, but she figured it out and ran up to the stage, her steps catching on her gown. She’d expected something more, but she was just handed her diploma, shook someone’s hand, and then had to file past. She supposed there wasn’t time for more if they didn’t want the whole affair to take all day. Still, April had gotten to speak, and that hardly seemed fair.
Megan actually had showed up. Hannah watched as she took her diploma and dashed offstage as quickly as possible. She was one of the last in the class, with only a handful following her. After the ceremony, she found Megan again and tugged on her sleeve.
“Hannah!” Megan hugged her tight. It was almost as if they hadn’t seen each other that morning. “I’m so glad that’s over.”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“It was painful. I wouldn’t be here if April hadn’t made me.”
“It’s our last day at PSU. Aren’t you going to miss it?”
Megan stared at the field before them. “I guess. It hasn’t really hit me yet. Maybe I’ll miss it in a few months, but right now, I’m just glad to be leaving.”
Hannah huffed. “Well, I’m gonna miss it.”
“You won’t even notice you’re gone. You’ll be so happy living with Emily.”
Hannah tried not to prove Megan’s point, but she couldn’t help grinning as she thought about that imminent reality. “Any chance of things happening with that guy from the last party?”
“Jim? No, he was fun, but he’s moving for grad school, and I’m not sure I want anything long-term anyway.”
“Well, I hope you find someone soon.” Hannah always worried about her there. Megan had even worse luck dating than she did. Especially after that guy she really liked freshman year ghosted her.
“I’m gonna be too busy for that. So unless there’s some super-handsome guy who sweeps me off my feet in combat training, I’m not finding it too likely.”
Hannah frowned. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy. I want you to be happy too, but you found some weird accounting internship.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m very happy about my job.”
“Then you get it.” Her grin made Hannah realize that she’d proven yet another of her points. Since when was Megan the one to trick her into this sort of thing? She must be tired.
“You still helping us move?”
“Do I still get pizza?”
“Yes.”
“Then yes.” Clapping Hannah on the shoulder, Megan dragged her along. “Let’s go find your girlfriend. I want to get out of here already.”
“But shouldn’t we say good-bye to a few more people? We’ll probably never see them again.”
“I’m hungry. I want that pizza. We’ll have time at the sorority house to say good-bye to everyone when they get back.”
Before Hannah had the chance to reply, they found Emily. Her face lit up when she saw them. Hannah could practically swoon seeing her face. She looked so beyond happy to see her. It had only been a week, but it was just so real. She must’ve been looking all over for Hannah after the ceremony had finished. Now, if only her parents had been able to make it to graduation, then she could introduce them, but at least they’d be there in a couple weeks.
“Congrats,” she said, freeing her from Megan’s grasp and pulling her into her own. “I’m proud of you, honey.”
“Thank you.” She leaned against her, smelling the soft scent of her lavender conditioner. She had spent so little time at Emily’s place that it was weird to think that she’d be living there starting that night, but she was still excited. She should be scared, hell, terrified. She’d known this woman for a week, but it felt so right. Hannah was falling hard for Emily, and she was pretty sure those feelings were returned. She laced their fingers, staying where she was, pressed against Emily’s shoulder, for as long as she could manage to drag out this moment.
“Come on, already,” Megan whined, dragging her out of her reverie.
Looking up, Hannah found Emily’s blue eyes smiling down at her. “I rented a pickup. Let’s do this shit.”
With one last look at the field and doing her best to savor her last fleeting moments at the school where she’d spent the last four years of her life, Hannah followed her girlfriend and her best friend to see her home for the last time.
✥ ✥ ✥
Carrying a stack of cardboard boxes taller than she was, Hannah blindly searched her way down the stairs to Emily’s foyer. She’d had to weave past the owner of the house’s car to reach the back door with only her memory and the occasional shouted warning from her friends to guide her. She could, of course, have carried fewer boxes, but she could handle this many easily, and she wasn’t going to make more trips than she had to, damn it.
The boxes thudded to the ground past the landing. “I still don’t know how you did that,” Emily muttered, setting her own smaller box next to the stack.
“Yeah, our girl’s a monster,” Megan said, dropping a big plastic bin where she stood. “Can we please grab food before the next trip?”
“Yeah, okay,” Emily agreed. “Sorry. I didn’t want to leave with an empty truck.”
“I get it, but I’m starving. I didn’t have time for breakfast before the graduation ceremony.”
“And whose fault is that?” Hannah asked. “It was your last chance to enjoy having a chef make all your meals. I can’t believe you skipped out on it.”
“You’re the one who suggested we get pizza instead of eating lunch there.”
Unable to provide any argument, Hannah climbed the stairs. “Let’s get the last of the stuff.”
Emily
and Megan shared the second bin as Hannah managed the last two boxes, which was still enough to completely blind her. They’d tried to talk her out of it, but by the time they’d reached the truck, she was already carrying them.
Their task accomplished, they all filed back into the truck, with Megan squeezing into one of the tiny fold-out seats, and they made their way toward Hot Lips Pizza. It was almost on the way, and since Megan wasn’t going to have a car, she was convinced she’d never see it again, as Sizzle Pie would be closer to her new apartment.
At Emily’s expense, because she was the best girlfriend ever and Hannah was absurdly grateful for her, they each had their own pizza, along with some of the fresh baked cookies and the store’s special sodas. Emily justified it by saying that Megan would have to stick around to help unpack since she’d have food to reheat, but Hannah was pretty sure it was that she was really nice and made enough money from tips to splurge.
The greasy monster of a pizza was exactly what Hannah needed, and she devoured slice after slice. She had only had a small breakfast that morning, as she’d been too nervous about graduation. She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but she’d always had stage fright. “Did you two come here often?” Emily asked around their third slices. “God, that always sounds like a bad pick-up line.”
Giggling, Hannah said, “Not really. It’s too expensive, and I liked the boba tea place next door, and the bar another block or so over, so I never really went on my own, but when parents came to town, it was pretty universally agreed that we had them take us here. One time, Jackie’s parents visited, and she brought back some Pizzicato, and we revolted.”
“It was still good.”
“It’s not as filling.”
Emily chuckled. “I’ve had them a few times, but this is my first time here. I think I like them. Plus, this soda is basically crack. I could drink twenty bottles of it.”
“Same,” Hannah said.
Megan drank hers in agreement.
“So you all brought food back for each other?”
“Mostly, it was the three of us,” Hannah said. “But we tried to bring enough to share with more of the others if we could, and it ended up as a bit of a tradition. Eventually, parents learned that they had to buy a couple pizzas for the house if they wanted to visit.”
Thor: Daughter of Asgard Page 5
