She knew he wasn’t happy at work. He’d all but said so last week. But he remained convinced that he couldn’t do what he really wanted. She’d tried to bring it up again a couple of times since that conversation last weekend, but he’d shut it down every time, either changing the subject, or distracting her with his mouth on hers, or her neck, or her breasts, or points farther south. She wanted him to do something he loved, or at least that allowed him to do what he loved on the side. But wouldn’t that mean him moving away? What would happen to them then?
She scoffed at herself for thinking up all these convoluted hypothetical situations that probably wouldn’t even happen. Things almost never worked out the way she imagined they might, especially when looking for worst-case scenarios.
Daniel pulled his gray T-shirt over his head. “So, you and Matt?”
“Yeah.” She didn’t offer anything else.
He gave her a crooked smile. “Alright. Well, if things don’t work out, come find me.” With a wink and a kiss on her cheek, he opened the door and left.
Hannah glanced over to Megan, who stood watching her with wide brown eyes. “Damn, girl. You’ve got all the hot football players on the hook.”
“What? No, I—what?”
Megan laughed, cutting into Hannah’s stammering protests and making her cheeks grow hot. “Don’t worry. I can tell you’re head over heels for Matt. I don’t think Daniel knows he doesn’t stand a chance, but it’s nice of you to let the guy down easy. He’s a sweetheart.”
Hannah closed her mouth with a snap, realizing it was hanging open. Megan could tell that she’d fallen for Matt? She frowned to herself, thinking over everything between her and Matt. It had been so easy, so comfortable, to fall back into the way their relationship had started that summer three years ago. She’d been half in love with him by the end of that summer. And those feelings had come rushing right back, deepening as she got to know him more now. Was she that obvious? She protested anyway. “I don’t know what you mean. We’re just—”
“Spending every available moment together? Sleeping in the same bed more often than not?” Megan chuckled, letting her arched eyebrow relax. “Oh, Hannah, don’t worry. He’s got it as bad as you. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone before, but it’s good.” She finished covering her paints and swirling her brushes in the jar of turpentine, screwing the lid back on before gathering her brushes in her hand. “I love Matt like a brother, and he’s a sweetie, but he’s kind of a doofus. Don’t let him get away with being a bonehead, okay? And if you ever need it, don’t hesitate to call me up for some help.”
Hannah nodded, not sure how to respond to that revelation, and followed Megan out of the room to the kitchen, watching her wash her brushes in the sink.
“So my friend Abby’s birthday is the week after next. We’re having a birthday party for her then.” Megan looked up from where she swirled one of her paint brushes in the puddle of liquid soap in her palm, meeting Hannah’s eyes. “It’s going to be small, just our little group. You have to come. I won’t take no for an answer.” She smiled to soften her words, but Hannah got the feeling that she meant it exactly how it sounded.
“Who’s your little group?”
Megan rinsed off the brush, fanning the bristles out with her fingers under the running water, then squeezing the bristles in a paper towel before smoothing them together and setting it on the counter. She picked up another one and started the cleaning process again. “Oh, you know. Chris and me, of course. Abby, clearly, and her boyfriend Lance. Matt. And now you.” She glanced at Hannah, continuing before Hannah could say anything about her inclusion in Megan’s group. “Lance used to live here with Chris and Matt, but he and Abby got together over the summer and moved in together in August. Abby and I were roommates before that, so I took over Lance’s place here.”
“Oh.” Hannah hadn’t known all of that. “Interesting. So were you and Chris together before you moved in?”
Megan laughed and shook her head. “No.” She laughed some more, finding something about the question hilarious. “Not even close. I mean, we’d flirted some, but we barely knew each other. He was a complete manwhore, so I wasn’t planning on going there, you know? It was actually Matt’s idea for me to move in.”
“Oh. Oh. So were you and Matt …”
“No! What? God, no.” Megan’s shock at the suggestion was almost comical, except it seemed a little insulting to Matt. “I mean, no. Matt and I have never been more than friends. God, could you imagine how awkward that would be if he and I had been together and now I’m with Chris?” She shuddered and went back to washing her brush. “What a horrible thought. Matt’s a cool guy, and like I said, I love him, but he reminds me of my brother, and I remind him of his little sister. Our relationship has always been that way. We joke around and hang out, and I can objectively see
