Page 48 of Take the Bait
He grabbed his phone and pulled up his texting history with Hanna. His last few texts with her went unanswered, but he found himself looking at them every day, as if by staring at the text thread, it would magically conjure a response.
He’d given her two weeks of space. She’d told him she’d text him when she was ready to talk, but when he hadn’t heard from her, he reached out.
Hey Hanna,he read it again for what had to be the five hundredth time,I’m sorry for putting you in a situation where you felt uncomfortable and alone at Thanksgiving. That wasn’t my intent, but I should’ve planned better so I could be there with you. I know you want space, but I just wanted to let you know I’m thinking about you, and I hope we can talk soon, whenever you’re ready. I like you a lot. I can’t stop thinking about you. And I don’t want to lose this. I hope you’re doing okay.
She never responded, but he’d texted her again a couple weeks after that when Christmas rolled around with a simple “Merry Christmas” text message. Still crickets.
“Shawn, I can’t do it.”
Shawn stilled.
“I’m… Don’t you get tired of it, man? Fucking tourists, coming home by yourself, and doing it all over again?”
Tucker had been Shawn’s partner in crime for years—his wingman, always ready to flirt with vacationers and find some to take home. He’d started to grow sick of it even before he met Hanna. And now, he didn’t feel like he could go back to what it was like before she came into his life.
“Honestly, no,” Shawn said, crossing his arms with a smirk. “I don’t. But it sounds like you do.”
Tucker ran his fingers through his hair and pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. “You know I love you, man. You’re likemy brother. But I just can’t… I can’t do it anymore. The clubs, the tourists.”
“Because of Hanna.”
“Yeah,” Tucker responded. “And because I’m just ready to move on. Grow up a little.”
Shawn looked like he had slapped him in the face.
“I didn’t mean?—”
Shawn sighed. “It’s okay. I… get it. Well, I don’t, but I do. I liked Hanna. A lot. I can see why she’s good for you.”
A hint of vulnerability glimmered in Shawn’s eyes. The two were family—so close that they didn’t mince words, and didn't bother lying to each other. So Tucker knew Shawn was pushing through emotional discomfort for the sake of the honesty they could always count on from each other as he continued, “It’s cool that you have Hanna, but a serious relationship like that? Just seems like too much responsibility for me right now. And I wish you wouldn’t bail on me. It feels like… well, it feels like you’re going to leave me behind.
Tucker glanced at his best friend. “I don’t want to bail on you either, but?—”
“But you’ve gotta go get the girl.” Shawn smirked. “It’s alright, man. Go get her. I could use a challenge, anyway. I think I can land a tourist without my wingman.”
Tucker laughed, then grabbed his phone and looked up directions to Hanna’s hometown.
“For the record, I’ll never leave you behind, brother.” Tucker clapped a hand on Shawn’s shoulder before turning back to his phone and beginning to plan.
It was time to win his girl back.
14
The square of her small town was nothing like she’d seen on TV.
It wasn’t Stars Hollow or Mystic Falls.
It was a literal square—a small patch of green, with sidewalks circling it and right through the center, to the fountain situated with a statue of their founder on it. This time of year was her favorite time to be in the square. It was decorated with lights and garland, a 15-foot Christmas tree off in the corner with a handful of small presents underneath.
It was cold, and not just for Alabama. At a crisp 28 degrees, Hanna had a puffy black winter coat on and a white beanie tugged over her head. The lone bar off the square was open, and merry-makers were drunkenly counting down to the ball dropping. She’d left Bella and Madi there a few moments ago, where they were likely gazing at each other starry eyed before their big, New Year’s Eve kiss.
As she gripped the coin in her hand for her annual New Year’s wish, she thought back to the conversations she’d had with her best friend and her sister over the past few days. Abouttheir impending move. Their excitement for New York City. Their anticipation for what’s next.
And about her—her need to take risks, bebrave.
She didn’t want to be brave. Not in the slightest.
She wanted to move home. She wanted Bella and Madi to stay there, and the three of them to be there forever together.