Jesus Christ.
I grip the balcony rail harder.
Because the truth is—
I almost told her.
Right there in the freezing rain.
Almost told her I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.
Dangerous timing.
Worse situation.
But it’s there now.
No denying it anymore.
The balcony door creaks softly behind me.
I already know it’s her.
My body recognizes Hannah before my brain does now.
She steps outside wrapped in another oversized hoodie, damp hair loose around her shoulders.
Still pale.
Still exhausted.
Still somehow the strongest person here.
“You disappeared,” she says quietly.
I glance toward her.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Me either.”
No surprise there.
She steps beside me overlooking the fog-covered vineyard.
For a second neither of us speaks.
The quiet feels fragile.
Temporary.
Like the storm hasn’t actually passed yet.
Hannah wraps both hands around the mug she brought with her.
Tea this time.
Not coffee.
