Hannah looked around. She was about to start slicing tomatoes for the hamburgers. “Hmm. You wanna make the dip. If I do it, I’ll eat it all before everyone gets here.”
“Sure thing, but I might do the same. I could eat the whole bowl of chips with dip by myself.” They both laughed and settled in to work. She thought about all the things they had in common. They both loved football, used licorice as a straw, and now she knew they could both polish off a round of chips and dip on their own. Hannah was definitely going to enjoy spending more time with this young man, along with his sexy father.
They both mumbled the words of some pop song coming from the radio as she sliced and he mixed. When the song was over, Danny asked her, “Hannah, can I ask you a question?”
She turned around to look at him. “Sure. Ask away.”
“It’s about a girl.”
Oh goodness. Hannah felt lightheaded. She talked to kids all day long and new exactly what was happening with some teenage couples these days and she wasn’t so sure she wanted to talk about this kind of stuff with her boyfriend’s son. She let out a slow breath to gain her composure. “I’m a girl.” She laughed, nervously. “Maybe I can help.”
“I’d ask dad, but then he’ll go all birds and the bees on me and I don’t want to have sex with Mandy, I just want to talk to her.” Danny spoke fast, and with his hands. It was too darn cute.
“That’s funny.” She felt a wave of calm settle over her now that she knew they weren’t venturing out of PG areas. “So what do you wanna ask?”
“Mandy has been my friend since we were in elementary school and just recently I started having different kinds of feelings for her. We talk at school but always in a crowd. I’d kinda like to talk to her on my own, but I don’t know how.”
Hannah raised her hands to her chest, tilting her head to the side, melting at the puppy love look in Danny’s eyes. It was adorable.
“Hannah.”
“Oh, yeah. It’s kinda tricky at your age. You’re not old enough to drive and ask her out, but it’s not like you’re going to go to her house to play on the swings either.” Hannah thought for a moment. “Does she live near school?”
“Yeah, just a few blocks away.”
“Why not ask her if you can walk her home? If you do that, she’ll know you’re interested and it will give you two a chance to talk.”
He seemed to be considering her idea. “Why didn’t I think of that?” He smiled. “I’m gonna try it.”
“Cool. And I can take you to the movies too, if it’s okay with your dad and her parents. Maybe it won’t be so embarrassing.”
He raised his brows at her. “I don’t know, Hannah. You should have seen your face when I was telling you about her. I thought you were going to cry. You might scare her away.”
She loved that he joked with her. “You got a point. Maybe you should ask your dad instead.”
Adam walked in just as Danny had come over and threw an arm around her shoulder and squeezed. “Ask your dad, what?”
“Nothing,” Hannah and Danny said in unison.
Danny leaned down and whispered, “Thank you.” And she winked at him.
Adam studied his girlfriend and son. He knew he missed something but they seemed to share a moment and he wasn’t going to take that away from them. It made his heart overflow with happiness knowing they were able to get along so well without him.
“You guys all ready for the fireworks?” he asked, thinking about the guest list.
Hannah shook her head. “I still can’t believe you talked me into this. It may be more like gunfire.”
Danny looked back and forth from his dad to Hannah. “Why? Who’s gonna flip? Leila or Uncle Aaron?”
“Both,” they said together.
At the time, it seemed like a brilliant plan. From what Hannah had told him, Leila was still in love with his brother and she was one drunken chick flick night away from rehab. And he knew Aaron still harbored insane feelings of love for the girl so why not get them back together. He was so crazy in love he wanted everyone to feel what he was feeling.
There was a knock at the door before it opened. He guessed it was Leila. His brother and sister wouldn’t just walk right in. “Too late to cancel. Let’s just go with it,” he mumbled as she came into the kitchen.
Adam went to her and put his big arms around her. “Nice to see you again, Leila. It’s been too long.”
“Same to you, big guy. You been juicing or what? Look at those guns,” she joked, squeezing one of his biceps.
“I see you haven’t lost your wicked sense of humor. That’s great.” He looked over at Hannah, thinking they all might just get a big kick out of his plans when his brother arrived. Or not. But, he could hope. “I’d like you to meet my son.” He gestured to the miniature version of himself. “This is Danny.”
He reached out and gave her one of his signature squeezes. “Hi, Leila. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You two telling old stories again?” She looked over at the two adults in the room with a smile.
Danny shook his head. “No, my uncle told me some stories.”
The room was silent as a graveyard, which was fitting because Adam was about to kill his son.
“Well, uh oh. That couldn’t have been good.” Leila looked to her friend with a sneer.
“No, it was all good. You’re just as pretty as he described you. And funny too. They were all good stories, I promise.” He turned to his dad. “Wanna go start the food?”
“Sure.” That sounded like a brilliant idea. The sooner he could escape Leila’s wrath, the better. His son may be a genius or a total fool. The verdict would be out until Aaron showed up.
Chapter 9
“Oh my gosh, where did you find that kid?” Leila said as soon as the sliding door closed.
Hannah shook her head with a smile, and watched the two men in her life through the glass window. “He’s something else, huh.”
Leila dabbed at the corner of her eye. “He kinda made me cry. His story was almost believable.”
Hannah reached out to her friend and hooked an arm around her. “Don’t do that. If he said those things, he meant them. It’s okay to think Aaron might have good things to say about you. I’m sure his feelings for you are just as strong as the ones you still have for him.”
Her friend rested her head on her shoulder. “I doubt that, but it was nice to hear he still has nice memories of me. Or that he even spoke of me at all.”
Just then, the door bell rang. “I’ll be right back.”
“Who else did you invite?”
Hannah walked to the door, and called over her shoulder. “Just a few more guests.”
She swung the door open, and was greeted with two crazy smiles.
“Hannah, it’s you. It’s really you.” Adam’s sister, Angie, threw her arms around her and swayed from side to side. “It’s been way too long. I’ve missed you so much. You know I didn’t talk to my idiotic brother for a month after you broke up. But that’s all over now, because look at you. You’re here. We’re here. We’re just one big happy family.”
Hannah couldn’t help but laugh inside. She was just as thrilled to see Angie and cracked up that time had done little to slow her down. She was still as wild as the last time she’d seen her. Her dark hair was set in a high pony tail that whipped in every direction as she spoke like it was her last five minutes on earth. She was only thirteen the last time she’d seen her and she still had that youthful way about her.
“Come on in,” Hannah told her. Angie came in, and Aaron stepped inside after her.
“Hi, Hannah.” Another hug. “It really is wonderful to see you,” he said softly into her hair.
“Same here.” She was starting to get choked up. “I really missed your whole family. I lost more than just your brother when we split.”
He stepped back and looked at her. “None of that matters now. Like Ang said, we’re one big happy family.”
&
nbsp; She turned on the balls of her feet and headed back to the kitchen as Aaron followed her with a twelve pack in his hands. Remember that, she thought.
When Hannah and her two guests rounded the corner and Leila looked up with a chip hanging halfway out her mouth, Hannah’s stomach dropped to the floor. She could see her friend try to chew quickly, and she could also see the tears from before starting to come back.
“Hannah,” she said, her lower lip quivering. “How could you do this to me?”
“Oh, stop,” Angie said. “Don’t be a brat and come here and give me a hug. So you’re here and my brother’s here. It’s not the end of the world. You’d have to see him sooner or later with those two love birds back together. If you ask me, you two may as well start shacking up again instead of looking at each other like you wanna cry.” Angie came around the counter and enveloped Leila in a bear hug. Hannah was beginning to understand where Danny got his trademark hugs from.
Leila couldn’t stop looking at Aaron, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. The only thing that broke their stare was Adam and Danny coming inside with a tray full of steaming cheeseburgers and hot dogs.
“Cool,” Danny said, with a silly grin. “We’re all here. Let’s eat.” He went to his aunt first and chuckled as they swayed back and forth in each others’ arms. He kissed her on the forehead before he went to his uncle. He gave Aaron one of those handshake chest bumping bro hugs. She thought it was cute.
Adam greeted his siblings and everyone started piling their plates with food. She tried to listen to Angie and Leila’s whispers.
“Just talk to him,” Angie said. “You know you want him back. I can see it in your weepy, longing, eyes.” She was right. Anyone would be blind not to see it. And Aaron looked the same, but with a little more edge. It was different. Hannah saw determination in his green eyes.
“Let’s head outside once you have your plates ready. Danny and Hannah set the table out there and it looks real nice. The weather is great and the cooler is full of drinks.” Adam pointed toward the door.
One by one, they followed him outside. It was a little awkward at first, but little by little the conversations started to flow. Hannah noticed that both Aaron and Leila sat at opposite ends of the table.
“You ready to take on the rest of the family at Thanksgiving?” Angie asked her.
“Of course. I can’t wait to see everyone,” Hannah said, between bites of a hot dog smothered in ketchup and sweet relish.
Angie took a drink of her beer. “My mom is thrilled. She can’t wait to get her hands on you.”
Lei leaned over and whispered to Hannah. “That’s nice. She probably hates me.”
Her words were louder than she probably intended them to be. Angie overheard. “That’s not true, Lei. My mom loves you too. We all do.” She eyed her big brother and gave him a shove under the table.
“Can I get everyone’s attention?” Aaron called out. The chatter and the sounds of crunching chips silenced. Everyone’s focus shot toward Adam’s twin.
Oh, no, Adam thought. What is my brother up to?
Aaron stood, holding his beer in a shaking hand. “I just want to welcome Hannah back to the family. It’s great to all be together again, with the addition of my nephew, Danny. Many years ago, I didn’t think it was ever going to be possible for us to be in the same room again, let alone share a meal with one another. It makes me grateful for my family, friends, and for … forgiveness. I was right there with a front row view of the heartbreak both Hannah and Adam suffered as they split up. But as they’ve grown and matured, both accomplishing their goals along the way, they have realized their love is way bigger than the mistakes they made or the bad timing of the past. I’d like to wish you both a long and happy future together.” His voice hitched at the end and he took a quick drink of his beer. Adam stood to shake his brother’s hand and thank him for the kind words. Aaron bent down and kissed Hannah on the cheek.
Adam looked at the beautiful woman sitting next to him and saw her wet eyes. If he hadn’t tried so hard to hold them back, he’d be right there with her. He wasn’t expecting his twin to make a toast. But he was glad that he did. He was confident in his relationship with Hannah, and it made it even better that his family felt the same way.
“I’m not done yet,” his brother said, as they all started to chat again. There was instant silence again. Now, Adam was thinking, Oh shit. Instead of oh no. “When I first heard Adam was getting back his girl, I have to admit, I was jealous. I once lost my true love, the one who made my heart beat a little faster whenever she was around. And then, today, when I saw her again for the first time in years, I realized I don’t need to be jealous because we can have exactly what my brother and Hannah have. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t.”
Adam watched his brother close the distance between him and Leila. Good for him, he thought. Things were going to work out for both of them. He just knew it.
Aaron held out a hand to Leila and she looked stunned, but she stood anyway. “I wasn’t sure if you still loved me, but the look on your face when you saw me told me everything I needed to know. I’ve been dying to see that look again, and if it wasn’t for these two,” he gestured back to the couple who were enjoying the show on the edge of their seats, “I might not have seen it again. Now that we’re both here, there’s no way I’m going to let you go again. I love you, Leila. Always have. Always will.” Aaron lowered himself until he stood before her on bended knee, and then he pulled something out of his pocket. “Leila Anne, will you marry me?”
Hannah’s hand shot up to her mouth in shock, as did Leila’s.
The only sounds to be heard were that of birds and cars traveling nearby. Hannah held her breath as she waited for her friend’s reaction.
Slowly, Leila’s hands moved until they cupped both sides of Aaron’s face. Tears slid down her cheeks. “Aaron, we haven’t seen each other in a decade. Who knows if we’ll get along? We don’t know anything about each other anymore.”
He took her left hand off his cheek and held it in his. “I know I love you.” He paused. “Lei, do you love me?”
“Of course, I do. I’ve never stopped loving you.”
“Then, that’s all that matters. Marry me, so we don’t ever have to spend another day apart.”
Hannah’s eyes flooded with tears as she watched her best friend nod her head and as Aaron placed a ring on her finger. This had to be the best BBQ she’d ever had. Aaron jumped to his feet, engulfed Leila in a tight embrace, and kissed her.
Adam looked back at Hannah. “That was awesome.”
She nodded and he dipped his head to kiss her.
“Well, Auntie Ang, I guess it’s you next. Looks like we gotta find your long lost man,” Danny said, with a low chuckle.
“Who says I ever lost mine?” Angie fluttered her brows at her nephew.
That caught her brothers’ attention. Hannah laughed as the both glared at Angie and said, “Excuse me.”
Everyone took turns giving the newly engaged couple their best wishes and offering their congratulations. When dinner was over, Aaron and Leila couldn’t split fast enough. Aaron tossed Angie his keys and told her he’d pick up his car, eventually. Hannah would be shocked if she saw Leila at work on Monday. Something this big required a few days off. They had years to catch up on and if she remembered the old days, a lot of that catching up would be done in bed, or on the floor, in the kitchen, and any other place with a surface. She laughed at all the memories of Leila coming back to their place and sharing her wild sexcapades. She had a few of her own but she wasn’t the detail sharing type like her friend was.
Angie helped Hannah in the kitchen while the guys cleaned up outside. When the girls were finished, Hannah got them each a glass of lemonade and they relaxed on her soft cozy couch.
“I’m so happy for them,” Angie said. “It’s all coming together. I can’t wait to hear my mom’s reaction. She’s going to flip. In a good way, of course. She’s been wo
rried about those two boneheads for what seems like forever. She’ll probably say she can die in peace now knowing both her boys found happiness.”
Hannah smiled at the thought. She was more than thrilled they found happiness too. Sometimes, it still felt so surreal to look up and see Adam’s gorgeous face. Leila was going to feel the same thing. She and her friend had to be the luckiest women in the world. “How did he come up with that proposal? Does he just carry around an engagement ring in his back pocket on the off chance he might want to ask a girl to marry him?”
Adam came in the room, and plopped himself next to her. He reached his arm around her and gathered her close. “He’s had the ring since before they broke up and has always kept it. I kinda tipped him off that she might be here today. I had no idea he’d bring it with him.”
“You dog, I thought we were keeping it a secret.”
“From Leila, sure. We knew she wouldn’t come. But, I knew my brother would. He’s been dying to see her,” he confessed.
“Hey, buddy. Wanna go see a movie with your lonely old aunt?” she asked Danny when he came in. “I bet we can find a good action movie. Something with that Chris Evans dude.”
“You don’t like action movies, Auntie Ang.” He rolled his eyes.
“I do if it has Chris Evans in it. I could watch the movie on mute and the thing would be even better.” Hannah laughed, and Angie turned to her. “Hey, don’t you laugh. I know you agree.”
“Hey.” Hannah put her hands up in surrender. “I didn’t say you’re wrong.”
Adam cuddled Hannah even closer. “Get outta here, Ang, before you corrupt my woman.”
They all laughed together.
“Can I go with my crazy aunt, Dad? Do you mind, Hannah?” It threw her for a loop that Danny would ask her as well. There went those heart strings, tugging at her again.
Adam looked a Hannah, and she nodded with a smile that reached all the way to her eyes. “Go ahead, bud. Have a good time.” He stood, took out his wallet, and handed Danny a few bills.
“Thank you for all your help today, Danny,” Hannah said when he said goodbye to her.
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