“Good,” I answer, and wanting to get the news out of the way, I look at Hana.
She stares at me for a couple of seconds, and taking a deep breath, she faces her parents. “I don’t want to study anymore.”
Mr. Cutler stills, his eyes narrowing.
“What will you do then?” Mrs. Cutler asks.
“I’ll continue working at Hayes and Koslov,” she answers.
Mr. Cutler wasn’t happy when he heard Hana was working there during the summer break, so I brace myself for the worst.
“As?” Mr. Cutler asks.
“Finance director,” I answer on behalf of Hana. It just sounds better than banker, but it’s the same position.
“Without a degree?” Mr. Cutler asks.
I nod. “Hana knows everything already after working there over the summer.”
“What if things don’t work out between the two of you?” Mr. Culter asks another valid question.
I shake my head. “That won’t happen.” Wanting to set him at ease, I add, “I want to marry Hana.”
Mr. Cutler’s eyes lock with mine, and we stare for a good minute before he asks, “I assume this means you’ll be living together as well?”
I nod. “Yes.”
He shakes his head and takes a long sip of his whiskey, emptying the glass.
Mrs. Cutler looks at her daughter. “This is what you want?”
Hana nods quickly. “With all my heart.”
“Those are all huge decisions,” Mr. Cutler mutters. He shakes his head again. “Why not take a gap year instead, and we can talk again next summer?”
“I’m not going to change my mind, Daddy,” Hana replies.
“Still,” Mr. Cutler takes a deep breath, “Do it for me. Take a gap year and then see how you feel.”
“Okay,” Hana agrees.
By then, she’ll be married to me, so it doesn’t matter what they agree on.
I let Mr. Cutler have this moment because I know he’ll worry otherwise.
“As long as you’re happy, Hana,” Mrs. Cutler says with a loving smile. She gets up. “Let’s eat.”
We move to the dining room, and once we’re seated, Mr. Cutler asks, “So what does being the financial director entail?”
A sweet smile tugs at Hana’s lips. “The usual. Working with budgets. Transferring funds. Making payments.”
Amongst other things.
“Why don’t you change to a degree in finance then?” Mr. Cutler asks.
Hana thinks about it then answers, “I’m going to take the gap year, then we can see. Okay?”
Mr. Cutler nods.
Hana twirls her fork in her food, then she looks at her father. “Is it so important to you that I get a degree?”
Mr. Cutler shakes his head. “No, snuggle-bug. I just don’t want you doing something you might regret. I don’t care if you study or start working. I wouldn’t care if you wanted to travel the world or make coffee for a living. I just want you to be sure you’re making the decision for yourself.”
And not because I’m forcing her.
“I am doing this for myself,” she replies.
Leaning forward, I lock eyes with Mr. Cutler. “I’ll never force Hana to do anything she doesn’t want to. She made this decision on her own.”
Mr. Cutler seems to relax a little, and reaching for Hana’s hand, he gives it a squeeze. “As long as you’re happy, snuggle-bug.”
The tension seems to ease, and we actually manage to enjoy the rest of the meal.
HANA
After dinner with my parents, which went way better than I thought it would, Tristan and I stop at Trinity to pick up my belongings.
The suite is quiet until we hear Carla moan just as we’re about to pass her room. I freeze instantly, but Tristan shoves me forward, whispering, “The last thing I want to hear is my cousin orgasming. Move.”
I struggle to keep the laughter in until Tristan shuts the door to my room. “Is that her and Noah?” he asks.
I nod. “Seems they buried the hatchet.”
“Deep if you ask me,” Tristan jokes.
I burst out laughing as I walk to my closet. We pack everything, and watching Tristan neatly fold shirt after shirt, I grin. “Just shove everything in.”
He shakes his head. “Then it will wrinkle, which means more work for you.”
“Aww…” Walking to him, I wrap my arms around his neck and press a kiss to his mouth. “You know I love you more than anything, right?”
His eyes narrow on me. “You better.”
Smiling at him, I say, “You’re in a good mood.”
Tristan takes hold of my forearms and rubs his palms up and down them. “It’s just good seeing you happy. I don’t like it when you worry.”
I press another kiss to his mouth. “Now you’re stuck with me twenty-four-seven.”
His arms wrap around me, and he yanks me hard against his chest. “That’s my version of heaven.” Then he smacks my butt. “Let’s finish here so we can go home.”
My smile widens. “Home. I like the sound of that.”
“Our home,” he murmurs before planting a hard kiss on my mouth. “Come on. Back to work.”
We finish packing everything, and when I glance around the room, it hits me how much my life has changed in one year.