She pushed him away and vaulted off the bed, pacing near the stairs like a caged animal.
“Hannah?”
“I’m sorry. I thought I was ready for this, but I’m not,” she choked out. Her face reddened with embarrassment.
Harrison climbed off the bed and padded over, her shirt in hand. “Here,” he said softly tugging it back over her head. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, Hannah. I’m just happy to spend time with you.”
“Really?” she asked looking up timidly, her head poking through the neck of her clingy white sweater.
Harrison grinned and kissed her messy hair. “Really.” He put on his shirt and took Hannah’s hand. “Come on. We’re heading back to port and you have to see the stars from the observation deck.”
32
Hannah and Harrison snuggled on the observation deck under a thick white blanket while they watched the stars twinkle over Boston. Hannah’s nose was frozen and her cheeks rosy from the chilled salt air, but she found herself reluctant to leave the warmth she’d found nestled next to Harrison when they arrived back at the marina.
He’d surprised Hannah by being a complete gentleman, saving the night by not letting her embarrassing inexperience ruin his mood. She expected him to be pissed that she didn’t put out after his elaborate date, but he seemed to genuinely be having a good time in her company, content with kissing under the stars.
When their date was over and Harrison walked Hannah to her door he asked when they could do it again.
“So I didn’t totally screw this up?” she asked.
“Hannah, what do I have to say to get you to trust me?”
She sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s just you’re too good to be true.”
“I could say the same thing about you.” He kissed her lightly. “Say we can do this again?” he whispered.
“Okay, okay. I think I can suffer another evening on your yacht if I must.”
Harrison picked her up in a delighted embrace and she giggled. “That-a-girl,” he joked kissing her again. “By the way, I won’t be at school tomorrow. I have some last minute arrangements to attend to before the party on Saturday.”
“What kind of arrangements?”
“You must allow me to keep some of my mystique,” he joked, bowing and backing away toward his car.
Hannah couldn’t help but swoon. She was smitten! How did this happen?
“You are still my date to the ball, right?” he called back to her.
“If you’ll still have me.”
He grinned wickedly. “I wouldn’t have anyone else.”
“Then I’ll meet you there.”
“Don’t be late, Cinderella. I’ll be the one in the mask.”
Hannah waved after Harrison as he drove away, then quickly let herself inside. Leaning against the front door for support, she closed her eyes and sighed, reliving the delicious moments of her date.
“Have fun?”
Hannah’s eyes flew open. Her father was peering at her over his reading glasses. He was camouflaged among the books and blankets covering his lap.
“Were you waiting up for me?”
“You bet I was.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “Yes, I had fun. Harrison was a gentleman.”
“Where’d you go?”
“Dinner,” she paused not wanting to lie to her father. “On the water.”
“I’m glad you had fun. Now go to your room and never date again.”
“Daaaad,” she groaned, marching over to give him a kiss on the head. “I have to grow up sometime.”
“I know,” he grumbled. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Hannah smiled and made her way upstairs wanting to avoid a fatherly lecture. Her father was rarely doting, but she still hated the feeling of suffocation it brought. She and her father normally had a functional relationship. They worked more like colleagues than parent and child—tackling tasks like groceries, household chores and appointments like efficient business partners. But boys were a new division and it was apparent her father wasn’t on board with that venture. The only other time he’d been this neurotic was when Hannah learned to drive.
Hannah showered quickly and flopped into bed. It was late, but her body hummed with excitement. Every time she closed her eyes she pictured Harrison’s flawless body pressed into hers. His delicious lips igniting fire everywhere they touched.
How had she let such a perfect moment pass her by?
Hannah cursed herself for being a virgin. She’d wasted so much time focusing on academics and accolades that she’d missed out on the adventure and affection of adolescence. Tonight was proof of that. She’d been right to want to explore her freedom in the time she had left. If tonight was any indication, Harrison was the right guy to fill in what her education was lacking. And the thought of it was exhilarating.
Her phone buzzed and she picked it up.
ARE YOU STILL AWAKE? – HARRISON
YES – HANNAH
I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT YOU – HARRISON
Hannah rolled over, kicked her feet excitedly and screamed into her pillow as butterflies rioted in her stomach.
So this is what all the fuss is about?
Hannah’s heart soared and her lungs felt crushed. In just one date she’d fallen for Harrison Cohl—and she’d never felt better.
Hannah rolled back over and grabbed her phone, texting a smiley face.
X – HARRISON
X – HANNAH
Hannah fell asleep with the phone clutched to her chest, her inner goddess glowing enough to light the entire city of Boston.
33
“So the party’s tomorrow night!” Savannah purred. “What are you going to wear, Hannah?”
With Harrison gone, arranging the final details for his party, Hannah found herself sitting on the Golden Gate with Savannah, Madison and Blakely. She ate her PB&J while they sipped their juices. They were cleansing. Apparently they fasted for 36 hours before any posh event and were appalled that Hannah didn’t know proper starvation etiquette.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t had time to really shop. I’m sure I’ll find something in my closet though.”
All three girls put their green sludge down staring at Hannah like she’d said she was planning on showing up naked.
“You can’t just wear anything to a Cohl ball!” Madison whispered.
“It’s a masquerade. You do know that, right?” Blakely sneered.
“Of course.”
Savannah piped up. “I have an idea! Why don’t you all come to my place tonight and we’ll try on our dresses for the party. Hannah, you can shop in my closet,” she offered sweetly. “I have plenty of masks from prior years.”
“I’ll supply the cocktails!” Blakely added.
“Cocktail party!” they sang in unison, clinking their juice glasses together, leaving Hannah to feel like the outsider she was.
Hannah gawked as she pulled up to Savannah’s house after school. She would never get used to this kind of ostentatiousness. Savannah’s home was almost a carbon copy of Cody’s McMansion and Hannah found herself wondering if they were doled out once you reached a certain tax bracket.
At least the interior of Savannah’s home was more inviting than Cody’s. Colorful art in gaudy gold frames hung on the walls, bright floral arrangements graced nearly every surface and blaring music danced toward Hannah from somewhere upstairs. A staff member led her to Savannah’s room, where she, Blakely and Madison were lounging around in their expensive underwear sipping champagne among the carnage of lavish dresses. It seems the contents of Savannah’s closet had exploded, and exhausted by the idea of trying on anything else the girls turned to gossip and booze.
“Hannah! I’m so glad you made it,” Savannah shouted over the house music passing a glass of bubbly her way. “We’d begun to think you’d stood us up,” she pouted.
“No, I just had to go home first. Clear it with my dad. You know how it is.”
; All three girls cocked their heads, perplexed by Hannah’s comment. They reminded Hannah of cats watching a fish tank. Apparently the concept of parental control wasn’t something they worried about.
Hannah told her dad she’d been invited to Savannah’s to work on plans for the commencement ceremony. She hated lying to him and rather than trying to explain her father’s complex parenting style to the girls, Hannah decided to drown her guilt with a sip of champagne.
It was divine! Hannah actually sighed out loud.
“I know, right?” Blakely grinned, topping off her own glass.
“So, what do you want to wear to the ball?” Madison asked, pointing to the piles of dresses lying about Savannah’s overly magenta room.
“I don’t know. Which ones are you girls wearing?” Hannah asked taking another swig of liquid courage in anticipation of trying on dresses in front of the Goldens.
They were already raking their eyes over her in a predatorily way. She suddenly found herself longing for Cody’s fashion advice. He’d at least been constructive with his criticism. Somehow she knew these girls wouldn’t hold back.
“Oh, we ordered our dresses from our favorite designers months ago,” Savannah replied with a haughty laugh. She grabbed a garment bag from her closet.
“Yeah, like we’d wear off the rack,” Blakely scoffed.
The girls each pulled long slinky gowns from the garment bag. Savannah’s was unsurprisingly magenta, Blakely’s a shimmering jade and Madison’s, classic black.
“We pulled out a couple options for you, but feel free to have at it,” Savannah said motioning to her closet.
Hannah gulped. “Okay. Thanks.” She entered the cavernous closet and tried not to drool.
“So,” Madison pried. “You never told us how your date with Harrison was last night.”
“Oh, it was great,” Hannah replied a little too eagerly.
The girls giggled and Hannah popped her head out of the closet. “What?”
“Oh nothing, it’s just we’ve heard that swoon before,” Savannah laughed. “A Cohl has charmed the panties off another one.”
“No it wasn’t like that,” Hannah defended.
“Sure . . .”
“No really, we just had dinner.”
“Where’d he take you?” Blakely asked trying on a pair of silver stilettos.
“His yacht.”
“His yacht!” Madison exclaimed. Savannah elbowed her for the outburst.
“Okay you can give up the innocent act,” Blakely scathed. “If you’ve been on his yacht, you’re a Cohl-hole.”
“A what?”
Savannah laughed. “That’s what we call the girls that have slept with one of the Cohl boys.”
“Yeah and you have that look,” Blakely accused.
“Takes one to know one,” Savannah teased.
“Omigod! I haven’t slept with anyone!” Hannah blurted.
The room stopped, all eyes targeted her.
“Are you a virgin?” Madison whispered.
Shit! Hannah downed the rest of her champagne, stalling. There was no use lying now. It was probably written all over her face anyway. Maybe she could get some advice out of it. But it was going to take a lot more champagne. Hannah held out her empty glass and nodded, biting her bottom lip.
The girls erupted with shrieks and laughter. But to Hannah’s surprise they didn’t seem to be laughing at her. They actually seemed delighted.
“Well then, we’re going to help you make tomorrow a night you won’t forget!” Savannah grinned, handing Hannah another glass of bubbly. “Come on girls! Forget the dress. She’ll be focused on getting it off anyway.”
“Or just getting off!” Madison giggled.
For the next hour they refilled Hannah’s glass while filling her head with the do’s and don’ts of first time sex. And they weren’t bashful. Savannah pulled up videos on YouTube and Blakely even gave animated demonstrations. Hannah felt like she’d been through sex boot camp by the time they were done. They really seemed to take their mission, which they’d dubbed, ‘Banana for Hannah’, seriously.
She should have come here and left Cody out of it.
“What’s this about Cody?” Savannah asked.
Oh shit! Had she said that out loud?
Hannah’s head was swimming. She set down her empty champagne glass.
“Cody?”
“You just said you should have left Cody out of it.”
“I did?”
“Yes,” Savannah pressed. “What’s the deal with you two anyway? I thought you were done.”
“Yeah and now we know you weren’t using him for sex,” Madison chimed in.
“Shame,” Blakely added indifferently. “He is a loser, but it would’ve been nice to use him to pop your cherry so you don’t ruin Harrison’s Italian sheets.”
“Cody and I are done,” Hannah said hoping to end the subject. “I mean there really wasn’t anything to begin with.”
“Are you sure?” Savannah asked, her icy stare pinning Hannah.
“Yes.”
“Good. Cause I’d hate to see Harrison get hurt if you weren’t serious about him. He’s one of our dearest friends you know?”
Hannah gulped down her fear and nodded.
Savannah sighed. “I told you it was just gossip, girls,” she mused turning to admire her reflection.
“What’s gossip?” Hannah asked.
“Oh you know Cody. He’s just running his mouth about the two of you.”
Hannah’s blood went cold. “What’s he saying?”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure no one will take anything he says seriously.”
“God, you’re so lucky Harrison almost hit you with his car,” Madison added, smiling sweetly. “Otherwise you would still be slumming it in wasteville with Cody.”
“Yeah,” Hannah whispered, her vision tunneling. How much champagne had she drank?
Blakely snorted. “Too bad Harrison didn’t hit Cody with his car. Then we could forget about him already.”
“I think I should go home,” Hannah blurted out.
“Blakely, you’ve upset her! You always take things too far,” Savannah scolded. She put her arm around Hannah and steered her into the en suite bathroom. “I’m sorry about that, sweetie.” She put her hands on her hips. “You look a little flushed. You’re not a virgin to alcohol too, are you?”
“No. I just feel a little lightheaded.”
“Good, because I’d hate for you puke on my bathroom floor.” Savannah giggled. “How about I give you a ride home. I don’t want to take any chances of you getting a DUI and missing your big night tomorrow.”
“My car—”
“I’ll have one of our staff return it tomorrow.”
“Oh, I don’t want to impose.”
“Nonsense. Come on, the girls can entertain themselves for a while.”
When they walked back into the bedroom, Madison and Blakely were trading stories about the legendary conquests of the Cohl boys. Their shrill voices did nothing to ease Hannah’s dizziness. She wanted to go home and lay down. All this talk about tomorrow was overwhelming her.
“I’m taking Hannah home,” Savannah announced to the room, scooping up the silver gown they’d picked out for her.
“Bye,” the girls purred in unison.
As soon as Savannah pulled out of her driveway she took Hannah’s hand and whispered hurriedly. “Listen, I didn’t want to say too much in front of the girls—they can be gossipy—but Cody has been spreading vicious rumors about you.”
“What? Why?”
Savannah shrugged. “I really think it might be in your best interest to nip it in the bud before word gets around at the ball.”
“But how? The ball is tomorrow,” Hannah moaned.
“Shit, you’re right. Oh, Hannah, I’d just hate for Harrison to find out. You two are so cute together and he could really use a sweet girl like you.”
Hannah closed her eyes feeling angry and ti
red. Just when things were starting to line up for her, Cody was going to ruin it all. This was her payback for blackmailing him. She rubbed her eyes to get some clarity and Savannah mistook it for crying.
“My god, don’t cry! We can solve this.”
“How?”
“What if I take you over there right now?”
“To Cody’s? Now?” Hannah glanced at the dash display. “It’s 10 o’clock.”
“So, it’s Friday night. Do you want to fix this, or not?”
“What do I even say to him?”
“I don’t know. Just tell him to leave you alone and stop spreading rumors. Cody and Harrison have a rocky history. You don’t want to let this catch fire.”
“It would help if I knew what kind of rumors he was spreading.”
“He said he slept with you, alright!”
“What?”
“I didn’t want to have to say it because I knew you’d be upset.”
“But I didn’t sleep with him!”
“I know. I believe you. It’s Harrison we have to worry about.”
After an awkward silence Savannah drawled out a sentence. “You know . . . it really is a shame you haven’t slept with Cody.”
“Why?”
“Well, I think Blakely was right. It’d take the edge off things with Harrison and then Cody’s rumors wouldn’t be rumors. It might shut him up.”
Hannah glared at Savannah. “I’m not sleeping with Cody to shut him up.”
“It was just a thought!”
Savannah pulled into Cody’s driveway. The house was dark as usual.
“So you go do your thing. I’m gonna head downtown. The girls just texted. They decided to go to Bar None. Our favorite college band is playing. They are drool-worthy! Just text me when you’re done and I’ll come back and get you so you can come party with us.”
“Thanks for all your help tonight, Savannah. I really appreciate it. But I’m all partied out. I only live a few blocks away. I can walk it.”
“Are you sure?”
The Practice Boyfriend (The Boyfriend Series Book 1) Page 11