16.Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Bonnie

When Eli and I first show up at Hank’s house to pick him up for the wedding, I almost wonder if we’re in the wrong place. While I know Hank lives alone and probably doesn’t need much space, this cottage-like house is almost literally in the middle of nowhere, with no other houses in sight. It looks like the perfect location for a horror film, particularly with the large spider’s web in the corner of the porch and no other signs of life anywhere.

As Eli turns off the SUV’s engine, he looks back at me with a clear question in his eyes.

I shrug. “This is where he said to pick him up.” And it’s probably a sign that I need to try to get more sleep because I’m imagining all sorts of horrible things waiting to greet me as soon as I step outside the car .

I have spent every second of my free time the last several days with Hank, but looking at his house, it feels like I don’t know much about him. Whenever I wasn’t filming, I was sitting and talking with Hank, mostly inside my trailer even though we should have been out in a place where pictures could surface of our relationship. I really just wanted to keep him for myself because being around him is so easy.

But I still haven’t been able to open up to him and tell him more of my fears and worries, and I’m pretty sure he’s been holding back because of it. He almost didn’t tell me his address, saying he could meet us on the production lot, and his suggestion stung. On the drive over here, I told myself that I have to trust this man.

It’s not as easy now that I’m looking at his creepy house.

Eli grunts. “I’d rather not leave you here while I go up to the house.” Apparently I’m not the only one imagining horrible things.

Nodding, I undo my seatbelt and put on my best smile, hoping it puts him at ease. “We can go get Hank together.” This isn’t helping my case when I promised Eli that he was the only security I needed on this drive, considering he thinks I might get murdered if he leaves me in the car alone. But I wanted Hank to feel comfortable. I’m lucky he offered to come to the wedding in the first place, and I think a whole security team would freak him out.

Granted, the team will be at the hotel, but we don’t need them for the drive .

We walk to the door slowly, Eli just behind me, and I can’t help but look up at the spider warily when we pass underneath it. The thing is huge and seems to be watching me like it might make me its next meal if I don’t remain on my guard.

The door opens before I can knock, thankfully revealing Hank on the other side. “Hi,” he says, eyes darting between us. “Everything okay?”

I point upward. “You have a spider. ”

“A Gasteracantha cancriformis,” Eli adds, though I have no idea what he just said.

Hank grins the most natural smile I’ve seen on him all week. “Yeah, she is. That’s Heather.”

Though my jaw drops, I try to remain somewhat dignified as I look up at the terrifying spider again. I had no idea spiders could be so brightly colored, nor that they could be so spiky, bulbous, and…horrifying. It looks like a cross between an albino crab and a demon. “ That’s Heather?” I ask breathlessly. One of his five friends.

Chuckling, Hank steps back and opens the door for us. “Yeah. She’s a great listener, in case you ever need someone to talk to.”

“Unlike you, I have human friends for that.” I clap a hand to my mouth in horror. “That sounded horrible. I’m so sorry. I know you have friends. It’s just—Eli knows—I don’t like spiders.”

I’m so glad to step inside and have something else to occupy my thoughts as I take in the small space that Hank calls home.

Though tiny, the house is incredibly charming. Ahead of us is a quaint little kitchen and dining table, a perfect size for a man on his own. Hank’s desk is to my right, placed in front of the window, and it probably has incredible views throughout the year. Beyond it is an old armchair that looks well-loved, followed by twin bookcases that are stuffed to the brim with books old and new. Between the bookshelves is a narrow hallway that I assume leads to a bedroom or two. The whole place is old, rustic, and incredibly Hank.

Hank watches me with unveiled curiosity in his eyes.

I smile. “This house suits you.”

The smile he gives back to me is warm and comfortable, just like his home. “I think I may have come to suit the house over the last few years, but it’s peaceful here.”

“Now I need to see what your bedroom looks like.” I move toward the hallway, only to be stopped by Hank .

He grimaces. “Sorry. You can… It’s the room on the right. Just…don’t go in the one on the left.”

I know I shouldn’t ask, but I can’t help it. “What’s in the room on the left?” When he turns a deep shade of red, guilt turns me to humor. “Is that where you keep all the bodies of the victims you base your books on?” Yeesh, that was bad.

And it kills Hank’s good mood. He looks behind him, eyes fixed on the door to the left. “Shelby’s studio,” he murmurs. “I haven’t…I haven’t gone in there since…”

“Oh.” Now I feel extra bad, and Hank looks so miserable that I can’t help but throw my arms around his shoulders. “I’m so sorry, Hank. That must have been so hard to have that looming over you all these years.”

Thankfully, he hugs me back, and it’s even tighter than the hug he gave me when we first met. He’s holding me like a man who is used to holding his world together and doesn’t know how to let go.

“You don’t have to come with me,” I whisper, knowing this trip is going to be hard on him. Houston’s wedding shouldn’t be too bad, but I can’t imagine how Hank will handle LA. He couldn’t even handle his own town, passing out from the anxiety when he caught sight of his neighbors watching him. “Or I can have a driver take you back here from Sun City, if you still want to go to the wedding.”

“I want to be with you.” His reply comes soft but firm, and my heart seems to do a flip in my chest. “Wherever you need me.”

I want to be with you . He may not think much of those words, but I have a feeling they are going to be on repeat in my mind the whole weekend.

Until I was stuck in a car with him for two hours, I never would have guessed Hank could talk nonstop. Even when we’ve hung out in my trailer, he’s been more of a listener than a talker, so I thought I would have to spend the whole time prying information out of him with question after question. But as soon as I asked him what he did for a living before he started writing…

Hank McAllister the literature professor made an appearance and didn’t shut up for almost two hours straight.

I didn’t mind. In fact, I kind of loved it. He started talking about what he used to teach as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver and which courses were his favorite, and I sat and listened in awe because I felt like I was getting another glimpse of the man he was before grief wore him down. When we pull up in front of the hotel in Sun City, I’m genuinely disappointed that we don’t have another two hours to go because there’s something so beautiful about this version of Hank.

My one innocuous question seemed to bring more life back into the man than I’ve seen thus far, and I don’t want that to go away. Who knew Shakespeare and literary theory could be so attractive?

I didn’t, and dang this man is beautiful.

When Eli stops the car, Hank looks out the window in surprise. “We’re here?”

I laugh. “I’m guessing you lost track of time in your lectures too.”

Though color warms his face, he grins at me. “I doubted Shelby’s insistence that I should go into teaching at first, but there’s something fascinating about the human experience told through narrative. I’m sure you get that, being an actor.”

Eli climbs out of the car and opens the back to start pulling out our luggage, but I’m still determined to keep this conversation going as long as I can.

“I never really thought of it that way,” I say, “but yeah. There’s something almost magical about storytelling. When I was a kid, I made up all kinds of stories and adventures. My stuffed animals went through a lot of drama, but it kept the loneliness at bay.”

Hank takes hold of my hand. “Were you ever close with your parents? I know you said they worked a lot, but now?”

I hadn’t meant to bring up my lonely childhood, neither now nor when we were talking to Clyde the other day, but after spending the last couple of hours seeing deep into Hank’s soul while he talked about his favorite books and themes, I can’t help but want to mirror his openness. If talking about his passion can help him rise above his heartache, maybe I can find a way to rise above mine.

Hank makes me want to trust him. To get close to him. To hope .

I take a deep breath and look out the window. Eli’s standing by the door of the SUV, waiting for us to decide we’re ready to go in, so I don’t have much time. “They did their best when I was little. We didn’t have a lot of money, so working was a necessity.”

Hank frowns. “And now?”

I shrug. “Now, I think they don’t know any other way to live. I’ve tried to give them everything they could ever need, but their jobs tend to come first. They’re not bad parents, they’re just…”

“They don’t see how incredible their daughter is.” His frown deepens. “They don’t see you at all, do they?”

Before I can react to his insight, Eli opens the door. “Sorry, Ms. Aiken, but we should get you inside.”

From the looks of the slowly growing crowd gathering on the sidewalk outside the doors, someone either recognized Eli or got a tip that I would be here, so he’s right.

Hank squeezes my hand. “I’m not going to push you to talk,” he says gently, “but I’m here if you want to.” Then he glances at the many phones pointed toward us and seems to reconsider, his eyebrows pulling low .

“Just ignore all of them,” I tell him, prepping myself with the same advice. “People will probably shout questions at you, but we can keep walking, even if you feel bad about passing them by.”

“Oh, I won’t feel bad.”

I laugh. “It might be a good idea to smile if you can, but no pressure. Ready?”

“We’ll see.”

He steps out first, prompting a couple of screams and a loudly growing buzz of conversation among the little crowd, and then he reaches for my hand to help me out. I tuck my arm through his while people shout my name as well as his, and we follow Eli into the hotel lobby. All in all, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be, and the concierge is ready to show us to our rooms.

I’m never going to tell Hank this, but it took a lot of begging and bribery on Trevor’s end to secure a second room for Hank. The hotel is the swankiest in Sun City, and with all of Houston’s wedding guests booked here for the weekend, the place is packed full. Despite the false nature of our relationship, Derek and I always shared a suite because it helped keep up the ruse. Plus, hotels always have strange sounds and weird lights, so having a friend nearby makes it easier to sleep at night.

I figured Hank wouldn’t be as comfortable with the proximity, so I made sure he has his own room, no matter what it costs me. It’s next to mine, which will hopefully ease my peace of mind but still offer him privacy.

We’re halfway across the lobby when a familiar voice shouts my name. “Bonnie! You came!”

Excitement rushes through me as I catch sight of Houston Briggs hurrying toward me. “Hou!”

He wraps me up in a huge hug when he reaches me, lifting me off my feet. It’s more enthusiastic than I would have expected, but the excited greeting fills me with warmth. Maybe our relationship didn’t last, but I’m glad we managed to stay friends.

When he sets me back on my feet, he takes me in with his bright blue eyes. “Wow,” he breathes. “You look great.”

“And you look happy,” I reply. He really does. He’s always been a good-natured guy, especially when we were dating and he was in his athletic prime, but he looks different now. He still has the same messy blond hair and mischievous grin, but he looks settled and fulfilled. He looks complete . “I guess you figured out the complications?”

That gets a laugh out of him. When I last saw him in person, he was having a rough go of things with his soon-to-be-wife and seemed ready to give up on the relationship because things had gotten complicated. Seeing his obvious happiness, I’m glad he stuck it out.

“Yeah, I did,” he says. “Speaking of…” He looks behind him, where a small group of people have been watching our exchange, and gestures for all of them to join him. I recognize his two sisters and his older brother, each of whom has a significant other on his or her arm, but it’s the blonde in front who catches my eye. I’ve never met her, but it’s clear she’s the bride based on the way Houston smiles at her.

I can’t stop my own smile. “Darcy! I’m so glad I finally get to meet you.” I pull her into my arms, only realizing she might not be a hugger after I’ve already given her a good squeeze because she stands rather stiff. I take a step back, feeling the heat rise in my face. “Um. Sorry.”

Darcy glances at Houston, then at Houston’s family behind her, before she smiles at me. “No, it’s totally fine. I just wasn’t expecting…you’re Bonnie Aiken . And you just hugged me.”

I laugh. “Girl, you’re marrying one of the best pitchers this country has seen in years. I’m small potatoes compared to him.”

“Not true,” Houston argues. “And I’m not pitching anymore. Anyway, you remember my siblings? ”

I grin at Micah, his younger sister, and pull her into a hug that she happily returns. “It’s so good to see you again, Micah! And Fischer!” I wave at the man behind her, since he’s not easily accessible for a hug. I only met him once, but I remember well the way he was madly in love with Micah even though she had no idea. “I hear you two tied the knot last fall. Congratulations!”

Houston’s twin sister gets a hug next. “Brooklyn!” She’s my favorite of Houston’s siblings, though I will never admit it out loud.

“Hello again, Bonnie,” she says, her smile warm. “This is my husband, Jordan.”

Jordan shakes my hand with enthusiasm. “Is Liam staying out of trouble?”

His question knocks some of the wind out of my sails. “Liam?”

He chuckles. “I was his publicist before Ethan.”

“Oh! You’re that Jordan! What a small world!” My smile returns as the unease ebbs. My friends and I look out for each other, but clearly I don’t need to be on my guard around any of Houston’s family. “Kasey has been a good influence,” I tell him.

Houston takes my hand and nudges me around to the other side of the group. “You remember my older brother, Chad?”

Chad gives me a nod, but his eyes are on something behind me. He looks both shocked and confused, and I wonder what…

“You’re here!” The woman who was standing next to Chad bounces on the balls of her feet, like she’s brimming with energy as she looks at the same thing as Chad. With a frown, Chad takes the baby she’s holding, and as soon as she’s free, she rushes forward, ignoring me entirely as she passes me to get to Hank.

Oh my goodness, Hank!

Somehow, I forgot my pretend boyfriend in my excitement, and I feel terrible about abandoning him. Thank goodness for the woman who noticed him. As I watch her wrap him up in a hug he happily returns, I assume she’s the last of Hank’s five friends, Hope. If I remember right, he said she’s Chad’s wife.

I turn a smile to Chad. “You have a baby.”

Though he clearly wants to go greet Hank, who kept off to the side on his own, Chad returns my smile and looks down at the bundle in his arms. She looks like she’s only a few months old, and she is absolutely darling. “This is Moira. But we call her Mo.”

“Can I hold her?”

Though he seems to debate for a moment, Chad carefully hands off his daughter and then follows his wife to go talk to Hank, leaving me with Houston and Darcy as the rest of the Briggs family makes their way to the elevators.

“I’m really glad you’re here, Bon,” Houston says, and he clearly means it. He wraps his arm around Darcy’s shoulders, his smile wide and comfortable. Thankfully, Darcy seems to have relaxed as well as she leans into his side. Even knowing nothing about her, I can tell they’re perfect for each other.

Mo coos in my arms and pulls my attention back to her and her hazel eyes peering up at me with interest. I haven’t had the chance to spend a lot of time around babies, and I’m not sure I’m going to be able to give her back to her parents. She’s so precious.

I sigh. Today has been a good day. “I’m glad you invited me, Hou. I know we didn’t date for long, but I like to think we’re friends. Darcy, you found yourself the best of men.”

She grins up at him. “I know I did.”

“I’m surprised you managed to bring Hank with you,” Houston says, looking over to where Hank is talking to Chad and Hope. “From what I’ve heard about him, he’s not really the type to leave his house.”

He’s not, but agreeing feels like I’m saying Hank’s private nature is a bad thing. “Honestly, I’m lucky he offered to come with me. I was going to feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb if I came without a date. ”

Darcy laughs. “I don’t think it’s possible for you to be a sore anything. My sister doesn’t have a date either.”

“Where is Carissa, anyway?” Houston asks, looking around the lobby. “She disappeared before dinner was even over.” His eyes lock on the group of people by the doors. The crowd has grown considerably and has probably taken all sorts of pictures and videos. The only thing holding them back is Eli, who is starting to look overwhelmed. The rest of my security must not be here yet.

Considering the size of this crowd, I probably shouldn’t have hugged Houston so enthusiastically, but I couldn’t help it. Hank and I are going to have to do something before we head to our rooms to make sure no one has reason to think I’m here to ditch Hank and break up Houston’s wedding. That would be a disaster, no matter how untrue it would be.

“I think she went up to her room to video chat with her ‘not-a-boyfriend,’” Darcy says with air quotes.

Houston rolls his eyes. “They’re so dating, no matter what she says.”

“One hundred percent,” Darcy says. “Anyway, you must be tired from your drive, Bonnie. Don’t let us keep you from settling in! If you’d like, you’re welcome to join my bachelorette party tonight. It’s just me, Carissa, and Houston’s sisters, so it’s not going to be anything special, and we won’t be leaving the hotel so you won’t have to worry about cameras.”

I know she’s inviting me out of obligation, but I still feel incredibly grateful for her friendliness. “I would love that, though I should make sure Hank won’t feel abandoned.”

“He’s welcome to join the guys,” Houston says, shrugging. “My old teammates are going to try to kidnap me and take me out drinking, so we’re going to be hiding out in the hotel too and hope Chad is enough to scare them off.”

I laugh. “Thanks, Hou. I’ll let Hank know, and I’ ll text you.”

They head to the elevators, Houston waving at the crowd and garnering some delighted squeals from the ladies while Darcy rolls her eyes at him.

I hurry to Hank’s side and shuffle the baby in my arms when she squirms.

“Oh, I can take her,” Hope says, and there’s clear distress in her voice. “You don’t have to—”

“I am not ready to give her up yet,” I return with a laugh. “She’s so darling, isn’t she, Hank?”

His eyes dart toward the crowd at the other end of the lobby, and then he puts his hand on my shoulder and leans in to get a better look at Mo. He’s a genius, and these pictures are going to be way more viral than anything I did with Houston.

I look up at him, and something shifts inside me when I see the smile on his face as he brushes his hand over the baby’s soft hair. I wonder if he and Shelby planned to have kids. After what I experienced during the drive, I know he would be the type of father who tells the best sort of bedtime stories. Who is so gentle but also the fiercest of cheerleaders and defenders. I’ve never really imagined myself with a family, but if I ever did…

Hank would be a good choice of partner.

Fear grips my heart, sudden and strong, and I drop my gaze before my imagination runs away with itself. Liking Hank is one thing. Imagining myself actually settling down and having a family with him? That’s looking for disaster and heartbreak. History has proven that that kind of life has never been for me.

“We should probably go before Eli gets stampeded by our fans,” I mutter, holding the baby out to Hope. “Thank you for letting me hold her, and it’s so nice to meet you. Hank talks highly of you both.”

Turning red, he ducks his head for a second before looking at Hope and Chad. “For the record, I’ve said very little. ”

“You’re two of his five friends,” I argue. “That’s nothing to sneeze at.”

Hank snorts. “You’re not making me sound great, Bonnie.”

“One of those friends is a spider,” I continue, failing to fight my grin.

Hank actually laughs out loud, which seems to confuse Hope and Chad, like they’ve never seen him laugh before. “We should go,” he says, tucking my arm through his and pulling me toward the elevators to follow the others.

Before the elevator doors close, I meet Chad’s gaze and have no idea what to make of his expression. He looks both amazed and concerned, two things that don’t generally go together, and I have no idea what to do with that.