A bit soulless and cookie-cutter type, but undoubtedly pretty and cushy inside.
“Nice place.” He pulled the car to the curb.
“It is. I’m fortunate to live here.” Something akin to embarrassment flashed across her face. “My dad helps pay for the apartment. I mean, hello, I’m a teacher with barely five years under my belt. I could never afford my own place in Seattle on my salary.”
“Well, that’s really nice of him.”
“It is.” She sighed. “Plus, we’re Korean and my parents are super traditional. They would’ve practically disowned me if I’d ever moved in with James before we were married. But I was desperate to get out on my own, so my dad helped financially.”
And there it was. He’d always wondered why James and Hannah had never moved in together. It was almost as weird as being a couple since middle school, yet never getting engaged.
Why hadn’t they? What had James been waiting on? He should’ve locked Hannah down years ago.
“Well, I should go.” She reached for the handle and gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks for the ride, Eric. It was good to see you again.”
When would he see her next? It was anybody’s guess once she climbed out of his car. The thought sent a small stab of panic through him.
“Maybe I’ll see you at Barney’s another time.”
She hesitated, her smile tightening.
He knew it then. She didn’t want to run into him again. He was a reminder of James, and her heart was still broken. For a moment, he was sure she was about to go into a long reply, to put it into words. But then her head dipped into a tiny nod.
“Maybe.”
It was one word, but filled with a whole lot of ‘hell no.’
“Have a good night, Eric.”
As she hurried to her apartment building, his stomach clenched. Yeah, he figured Hannah was going to make damn sure she never stepped foot in that bar again.
Which was probably for the better, he told himself as he pulled away from the curb.
The last thing he should be doing is fantasizing about his best friend’s ex.