Page 285 of Ruthless Court

Me: Hannah.

Hannah: Hannah.

Me: Anything else?

The typing bubble appears.

Hannah: Don’t make me regret saying yes.

That one wipes the smile away.

Not because I’m offended.

Because I understand what she’s giving me.

A chance.

Not trust.

Not yet.

Something smaller.

More fragile.

I type carefully.

Me: I won’t.

I almost add a joke.

Don’t.

For once, let the sentence stand.

A minute passes.

Then:

Hannah: Also I’m buying my own books.

There she is.

Me: Absolutely not.

Hannah: Kane.

Me: Fine. You can buy your own books.

Hannah: Thank you.

Me: I’m buying the coffee.

Hannah: Negotiable.

Me: Date law.

Hannah: You invented that.