Love, Utley - Page 181

I still try to convince her to come back to work for me, but she loves her new job. And as much as I give Waller shit for hiring her without telling me, I secretly love her working there too. If she’s not going to be where I can keep an eye on her, I trust Waller to do it. Plus, since he owns the place and he’s my best friend and his office isn’t far from mine, I spend most of my lunches in her office.

Lunches that are usually made by Ruth, who has made the kitchen her new home, always trying new recipes. And when Smidge gets involved, they bake enough to feed Max’s entire football team.

In two months, the draft will start. And I know he has no control over it, but I really hope he ends up in Minnesota. Being surrounded by the people I love has become my life’s purpose.

And I know Hannah isn’t going anywhere, not now, not ever, but I need the world to know we belong to each other.

We follow the sidewalk around a turn, and Hannah sighs at my side.

“Aww, the library.” Her hand flexes in mine. And at this point, I probably have a Hannah-sized imprint in my palm since we hold hands more often than not.

I squeeze her fingers back. “Let’s go in.”

“Maddox —”

“We have time, Bunny. Trust me.”

She sighs and lets me lead her to the front doors.

The front doors we stood at almost sixteen years ago when we realized we’d been locked in.

I open the door, and Hannah Utley steps into the HOP U library.

HANNAH

Memories wash over me, and I inhale the scent of ink and paper.

“Wow,” I whisper, keeping my voice low.

I never thought I’d be back here.

Where it all started.

I pull on Maddox’s arm, making him look down at me.

“I love you.” I tell him what he already knows.

He leans down to press a kiss to my forehead. “I love you too.” He takes a step. “Now, come on.”

“What…” I don’t bother finishing my question. He’s clearly decided we have time to venture around. And honestly, it’s so surreal to be here that I want to stay longer too.

Students are spread around, lounging in chairs with books or laptops in hand.

The furniture is a little different, a new shade of blue, but the rest of it is the same.

We walk across the main floor, and my heartbeat picks up as we near the stairs.

We’re going to the study room.

Each step takes us closer to where it all started.

Each step takes us back to where my love for this man started.

The carpet beneath our feet is the same as we walk past the stacks.

I glance down the rows, remembering how Maddox caught me that time I almost fell off the step stool.

And I remember that first time when he surprised me in the far corner on the top floor. Where we sat, and he shared his extra ham and cheese sandwich with me.