When You Least Expect It

by Haley Cass

She hasn’t seen much evidence for her to think anything substantial about Hannah, other than that her libido likes her. And Caroline has never acted solely on the decisions that her libido wanted, knowing that they will often be bad for her heart.

She looks... well, Caroline isn’t quite sure she’s ever met someone that is more “her type” than Hannah Dalton, which has only become more and more apparent in the last few weeks. It always gives her the most pleasant buzz that zips through her, and there is a slight chance that might also be a reason she looks forward to their meetings. A little, innocent shot of serotonin never hurt anyone.

The spot where Hannah’s hand falls on her burns through her plaid pajama pants, her thigh tingling with it. Hannah adjusts, tucking her legs up under her, and with the movement her hand should fall away. Instead, she settles more against Caroline and her hand falls back to her thigh, rubbing gently before settling again. But her heart is racing.

Hannah’s hand falls to her thigh under the table, and Caroline knows it’s from surprise. Because Hannah hadn’t asked for that money. But also Hannah’s hand squeezing at her mid-thigh is… well, really distracting. She can’t say she’s ever gone through a settlement hearing with heat on a low simmer in her stomach, but she guesses there’s a first for everything.

But mostly, she wishes that Hannah could look in the mirror every day and see that she shines as bright as the moon and has twice the gravitational pull.

Hannah is so very much like a sunset – with all of the layers that make her who she is, every single one of them different and absolutely beautiful, but sometimes concealing what else is in the sky – Caroline can’t quite read all of the emotions under that vulnerability.

She didn’t mean to fall in love with Hannah at all. But here she is, curled up with a family that isn’t quite hers, and she’s never wanted anything more. So. Fucked.

Hannah is single and straight, she reminds herself, and she’ll have men vying to date her as soon as she’s ready for it. And she can’t begrudge Jared for having fallen for Hannah, of course. For doing the same thing she’s done. She can maybe, secretly, begrudge the fact that he has a chance with her in a way Caroline never will. But she’s only fucking human.

There’s an acute pain in her chest at the words, because Hannah just has no idea just how true her words are – just how hers Caroline is.

She’s proven exactly right when Hannah’s hands come up to cup her jaw moments later. The touch is so light and tender, it makes Caroline feel precious in a way she’s certain no woman before her has ever even attempted.

Caroline can’t help but dive right into it, because it is all she’s thinking about. Hannah wants me has been taunting her, circling around her thoughts all night and all morning.

A strangled sigh sounds in her ear, her words breathless. “It sounds like you think about kissing me a lot.” “I do.” She’s had months to think about it.

Caroline arches an eyebrow at her. “My family loves you. My mom would put me up for adoption and take you in, if she could get away with it.” She loves the light laugh Hannah lets out. “Yeah, I think thirty-four was the cut off. She just missed it.” “Too bad she’s stuck with me.” “Yeah. Would hate to be stuck with you,” Hannah murmurs, holding her gaze as they stand on the porch. Before she breaks the eye contact a second later, shaking her head.

What they are is Caroline very much feeling ready to say “I love you” and meaning it more than she ever has, but holding it back whenever the words want to escape. Because she knows they will make Hannah run.

want you and Abbie, every day. I want everything with you and that’s… a lot. I know,” she admits, the weight of it crushing. “I’m not asking for everything right now. I’m not asking for you to… to love me, to take a leap with me. I only want that when you’re ready. I’m just asking to know that you are really in this.”