Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 169272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 846(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 846(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Hannah gasps. “Me, too! I’m so glad you felt comfortable saying that, Henn. So many people act like going to therapy is something to hide.”
I shrug. “If you ask me, it only makes a person more attractive when I find out they’re actively working on themselves.”
“Me, too! Who wouldn’t want to be the best person they can be?”
“Self-awareness and introspection are turn-ons.”
“Yes! I couldn’t agree more.”
We share another huge smile as a swarm of butterflies wreaks havoc inside my belly.
Kat snickers. “Damn, I’m so sorry, guys. I was so sure you’d hit it off. I was a fool.”
We all laugh.
Josh says, “Looks like there’s not going to be much small talk between you two.”
Hannah flashes me a shy smile. “Apparently not. That’s a good thing, in my opinion, since I believe small talk is what happens when two people don’t feel safe enough to be their true selves.”
My heart is thundering. “Well said. Did you make that up?”
“I think so.”
“Either way, it’s a gem.” Hot damn. I couldn’t have imagined my first meeting with Hannah going this well. This is off the charts. Like nothing I’ve experienced before. Did Kat hire this girl from an acting agency? Did Kat build her out of AI? Seriously, how the hell is Hannah so fucking perfect?
“Told you so,” Kat stage-whispers to Josh, loud enough for all of us to hear. Even if we hadn’t caught Kat’s words, though, her self-satisfied grin would have conveyed the same message clearly enough.
“I bow to your greatness, Madame Matchmaker,” Josh replies. “Unless, of course, you don’t realize it’s now time to butt out and let these two highly intelligent adults figure things out for themselves.”
Kat rolls her eyes. “Of course, I realize that. An expert matchmaker always knows when to take her foot off the gas, Joshua. How dare you imply otherwise.” With a giggle, she kisses Josh on the cheek. “Will you and Henny whip up some pre-dinner cocktails while Banana and I get ready for our big night out?”
“You’ve got it.”
I ask, “What’s your drink of choice, Hannah?”
“Do you happen to have any champagne? I feel inspired by that story about Reed.”
“If we don’t have any here, I’ll call down to get some,” I reply.
Hannah says she wouldn’t want to be a bother—that she’ll drink whatever’s already there. I tell her she wouldn’t be a bother. We all want her to have the time of her life while she’s here. But the entire exchange is immediately rendered moot when I reach the bar and discover a bottle of bubbly in the minifridge. As I hold it up triumphantly, I say, “Your wish is my command, Hannah.”
“Aw, thank you. Oh, wow. I’ve always wanted to try that one.”
I look at the label and discover it’s an extremely pricey bottle. That’s not a surprise, given that Josh is the one who stocked the bar.
“So have I,” I say. “We’ll try it together.”
“Awesome. Thank you.” She grabs the handle of her rolling suitcase, her face positively glowing with excitement. “We’ll be quick.”
“Take your time,” I say. “Not that you need it. You’re already dressed to kill, if you ask me.”
Hannah looks down at her casual attire and laughs. “To kill? Maybe to maim, at most.” She gestures to the suitcase. “I’ve packed my killing duds in there.”
“Can’t wait to see them.”
We share a wide smile before Kat and Hannah disappear into a bedroom.
“Holy fuck, fuck, fuck,” I whisper to Josh, still gazing at the closed door.
Josh chuckles. “That was fast.”
“Huh?”
“You’re already a goner. Imagining wedding bells and a minivan filled with kids, I’m assuming.”
I peel my eyes off the closed door and scowl at him. “It’s way too soon to say that. Yes, I’m highly attracted to her. Do I feel an amazing first spark? Yes. Am I excited to see if that spark could turn into something more? Yes. A bonfire, even? Yes. But it’s way too soon for me to say I’m a goner or thinking about any kind of future with her. I don’t even know her yet.”
Josh flashes me a dry look that tells me he doesn’t believe me.
“Yes, I think she’s amazing,” I concede. “And I’m incredibly excited. But I’m not getting ahead of myself.”
Josh laughs. “If you say so.” I understand his skepticism. I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve. It’s in my DNA. And I’ve also always been a one-woman kind of guy, even back in college. While Reed and Josh were juggling multiple women at a time and getting hives at the very thought of committing to any one of them, a girlfriend is all I ever wanted. A serious relationship. A possible future wife. Someone to love who’d love me back with the same depth and intensity of feeling. Frankly, it boggles my mind that anyone—man or woman—wouldn’t want all that.