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THIRTY

I wake up in my bed, confused about how I got here and where Ryan is. The other side of the bed is rumpled but cool to the touch. Rolling over, I bury my head in his pillow. His woodsy scent still lingers, and I take a moment to breathe it in.

As I hop out of bed, a smile tugs at my lips when I see a folded paper plane on my nightstand. He’s scribbled a sad face on one wing. He’s leaving tonight for an away game. Thankfully, it’s only for one night.

In need of Ryan, sustenance, and an update on how Natalie’s night ended, I head down to the kitchen. She’s pouring a cup of coffee, and Ryan is sitting at the counter, sipping from his mug. Natalie holds up the pot to me. “Coffee?”

“No thanks, I’m going to make a chai.” I take a seat next to Ryan. Freddie, ever the opportunist, settles at his feet, leaning his body against Ryan’s legs, and soaks up all the pets he can get. Without a word, Ryan slides a steaming cup of tea in front of me. Could he be more perfect? I kiss his cheek before turning my attention back to Natalie. “So, tell me, what happened last night?”

“Oh, not much… Dominic rested, I checked in, not much else to report.”

“You know that’s not what I’m asking.” I give her a look that says, spill it.

“I don’t know what you could ever mean,” she says, her face a picture of innocence that I don’t believe for a minute.

“What’s up with you and Volk?” Ryan interjects, cutting to the point I was skirting around.

She clears her throat and rests her hip against the counter across from where we’re sitting. “Not a thing.”

“Since when don’t you kiss and tell?” I poke.

“There was definitely no kissing,” she huffs. “Anyway, how was your night?”

I let it go, for now, knowing she’ll eventually tell me. “Oh, not much. Probably just as uneventful as yours.” I attempt a wink, and Ryan laughs like he always does.

“Sharing is caring,” Natalie singsongs.

“You taking your own advice?”

“Okay, fair enough. Am I going to meet my new best friend today?” she asks.

I check the time on my phone. “We’re meeting her in an hour; we should probably get ready.”

Natalie practically skips upstairs, leaving me alone with Ryan. I turn in my chair, and he does the same, bracketing my legs with his. “Hi,” I say, quickly kissing him.

“Hi.” He brings his lips to mine once more. “What’re you up to today?”

“Going to meet Ada for brunch. Pray for my sanity with those two teaming up,” I joke, and he chuckles.

“I think you’ll be okay, just as long as they don’t attempt to play matchmaker again.” He raises a brow.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be the only one I’m dating, fake or otherwise.”

“Good.” He cups the back of my neck, pulling me close and pressing a kiss to my forehead. When he leans back, he shifts in his seat before continuing, “I want to ask you something. Can I take you out on a date? A real one? Just for us. I realize I didn’t make it super clear the last time I tried to ask you out. Only if you want to, though?—”

I stop his rambling with a finger to his lips. “Yes. Definitely.” His grin mirrors mine, wide enough to make my cheeks ache. “What are we going to do on our date?”

“It’s a surprise. I’m still figuring out the details.”

“Okay, well, I’m there for whatever it is.” I smile before I remember what I’m determined to do this morning. “Can I ask you something now?”

“Anything and always.”

“I was thinking… maybe I could try inviting my mom to my launch party.”

His brows furrow. “Are you sure?” he asks, then shakes his head and tries again. “I know you two butt heads, and I know she’s not the biggest fan of me or of you living here. I’m just worried about what she’ll say.”

“Me, too,” I admit.

I can’t blame him for worrying. It mirrors everything I already feel. I haven’t spoken to my mom since I left Florida. She didn’t stay completely silent when news of me and Ryan dating broke, but I ignored her questioning texts.

But I finally feel strong enough to extend an olive branch. I’m happy, and I want to believe she’ll be happy for me, too, even if my choices aren’t the ones she would make.

Ryan rubs my exposed thigh and nudges my phone toward me on the counter. “Let’s do this.” He understands my silent request. He’ll hold my hand through this.

The line only rings once before she answers. “Hannah, nice to hear from you,” she says, sarcasm lacing her tone, but I brush it off, smiling even though she can’t see it. Ryan traces slow, reassuring patterns on my leg.

“Hi, Mom, sorry I haven’t been in touch.” I force out the words, each feeling a bit heavier than the last. “I’m calling to invite you to my launch event… for the rescue I’m opening.” I pause, bracing myself. “It’s next month. I thought maybe you and Dad might be able to come up for it?”

There’s a long pause on the other end of the line before she speaks. “Well, you didn’t give us much notice, did you?”

I clench my molars, but I try to keep my tone upbeat. Even though I think a month is more than enough time to plan a short trip, I say, “No, it’s all come together pretty quick on my end, too.”

“Hannah, I still don’t understand why you’re doing this. It sounds like a money pit to me.”

It stings not to have her support. Even from 1,300 miles away, she has a way of making me doubt myself. I shake off the insecurity and focus on my reason for this call. “So, back to my question, will you and Dad be able to make it?”

My heart tightens, bracing for the inevitable letdown. Ryan must sense it, too, because he stands, scooping me up with an arm under my knees and another around my back. Then he sits again, settling me onto his lap.

“I’m not sure. Let me talk to your father,” my mother finally says.

“Okay. Let me know.”

“Will do. I’ve got to run; my manicurist just rang. Talk soon, dear.”

The line goes dead, taking my last bit of hope with it. I’d wanted encouragement, some sign of support, but all I got was dismissal.

“That didn’t sound like it went well. I’m sorry, Sunshine.” Ryan says, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the exposed skin of my back.

“About as good as I expected.” I try and fail to keep the bitterness out of my voice. “I thought I was ready to confront her, but every time I talk to her, I end up right back in that obedient child role.”

“Of course you do, baby. You’re never going to stop wanting your parents’ approval. It’s normal, and it’s okay to have conflicting feelings about it.”

“Logically, I know that… but my heart doesn’t always listen.”

“And I’m glad for that,” he says with a soft smile. “If you always listened to your head, do you think we’d have ended up here?”

“Okay, fair point.” I sigh, my lips curving up as he chuckles.

“If it makes you feel any better… I still check up on my dad and his family online from time to time.” He pauses, clearing his throat. “I sometimes hope he watches my games and is proud of me… I know, it’s kind of pathetic.”

That’s the last thing I expect him to admit. He’s told me about his past and the non-existent relationship with his biological father, but it’s a topic he usually steers clear of.

I reach over, my free hand cupping his jaw as I lean in and press my lips to his. Pulling back just enough to meet his eyes, I whisper, “Not at all, Ry. Thank you for sharing that with me.”

He kisses me once more before I settle back, resting my head on his shoulder. “Your launch party is going to be amazing, Sunshine. With or without your parents’ support. If they’re stupid enough not to make this a priority, I’ll support you enough for both of them.”

I don’t doubt him for a minute. I can’t wait to share this moment with Ryan. He’s been my biggest source of support throughout this entire process. He’s listened to me ramble on about transport logistics, foster home vetting, and all the little things that keep me up at night. Every time I doubt myself, he’s the one who reminds me of how capable I am.

“I know you will. Thank you.”

I lift a gloved hand, waving at Ada as she comes into view. We’re meeting at Oz Park so Freddie can burn off some energy on our walk to a dog-friendly brunch spot. It’s a good thing, too, because Freddie tugs at the leash, letting out a happy yip as he eagerly tries to reunite with his former caretaker.

Turning toward Natalie, or where she should be, I instead catch the blur of her figure sprinting in Ada’s direction, her shout sounds more like a mating call than a greeting. When she's just a stride away, Natalie leaps, wrapping her legs around Ada’s hips. Ada’s ‘umph’ carries all the way to me, but she embraces Natalie with just as much enthusiasm. Their high-pitched squeals morph into actual words as I reach them, thanks to Freddie dragging me along in his rush to join the fun.

“I’m feeling a bit left out,” I huff.

“C’mon. Get in here.” Natalie swings her arm around my waist and pulls us into a three-way hug. Freddie seizes the opportunity, squeezing into the middle of the huddle and jumping to lick Ada’s chin. We all break apart with a laugh.

“Hi, lovebug. It’s so good to see you, too.” Ada crouches to give Freddie ear scratches and allows him to indulge in another kiss or two.

“First my best friend, and now my dog. Everyone likes you better,” I joke.

“Oh, shush,” Ada quips.

“You’re the glue,” Natalie says.

“Just what I always wanted… to be a white sticky substance,” I say without thought.

“To be or to be covered in?” Natalie asks, waggling her eyebrows. “By the looks on your face and Ryan’s this morning, I’m going with the latter.”

I walked right into that one. “You’re shameless.”

“Eww.” Ada’s face scrunches up, and Natalie just laughs manically.

“Does your dirty mind have something to do with how you spent your night? Or a certain Russian you spent it with?” I raise a brow.

“I’m starving. Where is this place again?” Natalie starts walking in the wrong direction.

Ada directs us with a thumb pointed over her shoulder. “This way.”

We make our way through the park and out onto the street the restaurant is on. The whole time, Natalie deflects, refusing to say a word about Ilya, and instead shifts the focus to Ada’s love life. “So, you moved here with your ex-husband? But there’s no chance of you guys getting back together?” She holds the door of the café open while Ada, Freddie, and I pass through.

“I know it sounds crazy, but just wait until you have a kid, then you’ll understand.” Ada shrugs, but her voice is filled with adoration as she says, “I’d do anything for my little dude.”

“I love that for you,” Natalie says in a way that would be offensive if you didn’t know her well. Luckily, Ada only laughs good-naturedly.

The waitress sets the menus and glasses of water on the round wooden table, promising to return shortly with the mimosa pitcher we didn’t need the menu to order. Moments later, she’s back, filling our glasses to the brim before placing a bowl of water under the table for Freddie. He curls into a donut shape at my feet, his head resting on my boots.

“Cheers.” Ada raises her glass, and we follow suit. “To new friends, and… new men?”

Natalie shrugs, then exhales a long sigh before launching into a rapid string of words. “Okay, I’ll go first because I know this one,” she says, pointing an elbow in my direction, “isn’t going to let me go the entire time without spilling. Yes, I slept with Ilya. It was fine. Definitely a one-time thing. No Mrs. Volkov in my future.”

She turns in her seat toward Ada with a raised brow.

Ada swallows a mouthful of mimosa and wipes the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand. “Oh, is it my turn? Is this like a confessional type of thing? Or am I supposed to share my ‘new man’ story? Because if so, I’m afraid I don’t have anything to contribute. I haven’t been on a single date since my divorce. But confession… umm, yeah, I’ve got none of those either. Unless you consider eating a bowl of pasta at midnight scandalous. Sorry, that’s all I’ve got for you.”

Natalie clinks her glass with Ada’s. “I think you have the right idea with the no men and the midnight pasta.”

“Wait, wait, wait… You’re just going to drop that bomb and move on like nothing is amiss?” I direct the attention back to Natalie.

“Yep!”

“How did it even happen?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know, it just did. But we agreed it would be a one-time thing.”

“Famous last words,” Ada mumbles.

“We don’t live in the same place, so how could it be anything else?”

“But you’d want it to be?” I can’t help but ask. It doesn’t sound like something she’d normally consider.

“No, of course not. It was just a bit of fun.” Nat waves a dismissive hand, and I know she won’t say more. She turns toward me, and Ada mimics the action, both fixing me with an expectant stare.

When I just stare at them stubbornly, Natalie nudges me with her foot. “It’s your turn, Hannah. And you definitely have the most to share.”

“Well, my rescue is set to launch in about a month, and everything is finally coming together. The first group of dogs will arrive at the end of March, and the Kickstarter campaign is off to a strong start, thanks in part to all the buzz from that photo of Ryan and me at Paws Chicago.” I raise my glass to Ada with a grateful smile. “Good thinking on that one.”

Ada gives me a subtle smile, but Natalie frowns. “I’m sad my trip is so short and that I won’t be here for the launch party, but you know how proud I am of you, right?”

“I know.”

Ada's face lights up with an idea. “I’ll FaceTime you so you can still feel like you’re part of the big day.”

“Thanks, girl. And I hear the ex-hubby helped secure a killer space?”

I nod. “It’s perfect! You passed along my thanks?” I ask Ada.

“Of course. I’m just happy it all worked out.”

Natalie leans in, resting her chin on her hand with a pointed look. “Okay, now back to the matter at hand. You know we’re both cheering on your rescue, but we want the tea on you and Ryan.”

I sigh, setting my glass down before giving in. “What do you want to know?”

“His dick… Is it big?” Natalie blurts out, and the fact that it's top of mind concerns me. But it’s Natalie, so I shouldn’t have expected anything else.

I roll my eyes, and Ada laughs. “You really have no shame!” I take a sip of my mimosa. “I have no complaints.”

“So, you’ve seen it?” Nat asks, her voice pitching higher.

“Yeah, your not-so-subtle attempt to get us together worked. It worked really, really well.”

The waitress returns with our food, and an awkward silence settles over the table. But as soon as she’s out of earshot, Natalie jumps back in with more questions. “So, you guys had sex?”

“We didn’t do it, do it,” I attempt to explain without giving any explicit details.

“You can say you didn’t fuck, Han. So, oral,” Nat says, filling in the blanks. “But you guys are together now?”

I take a bite of my omelet before answering. “I mean, we haven’t talked about our status or anything yet. But I’m pretty sure we’re on the same page about wanting to see where this goes.”

“Good, good, good. Just remember what I told you last night at the game,” Nat says before digging into her plate of waffles.

“What did you tell her?” Ada asks, sipping her green juice.

“Trust in the power of good things,” Nat repeats, setting her fork down with a satisfied nod. “I think they’re coming for all of us.”

Ada lifts her glass again. “I can get behind that.”

A smile tugs at my lips, and for the first time in a long time, I believe Natalie might be right.