Page 52 of ’Til You Break

One song becomes another.

Hey Jude.

Hotel California.

Good Vibrations.

Then there’s an Elvis song I don’t know. Each one marks another passing minute. The food grows colder. My jaw clenches tighter until my teeth ache.

She’s doing this on purpose. She wants to watch me squirm.

Enough.

I won’t allow it any longer. Whatever hold Hannah has over me... It won’t change who I am. Not any more than I’ve already allowed.

I shove back my chair and stride down the hallway. Music blares from behind her bedroom door. Loud enough to drown me out when I called her for dinner. But that’s no excuse.

I slam my fist against the wood. There’s no way Hannah didn’t hear me this time. Just like every other attempt...

Silence. Fine. If she won’t come out... I’m going in.

The music cuts off. A lock clicks just as I brace myself to kick the door in. I stop and step back. I very nearly lose my balance when the door swings open. My breath catches.

Her blonde hair falls loosely over her shoulders like a waterfall of gold. A long black dress skims every curve of her body before falling gracefully to her ankles, where a pair of simple black heels complete the look.

What holds my attention the longest, however, is the bright-red lipstick coating her mouth. It stands out against her fair skin, making her lips look even fuller and more inviting.

My body stiffens. The sight of her leaves me light-headed and rock hard all at once. My first thought is that Hannah has dressed up for me. That she wants tonight to go as well as I do.

Only then do I notice the clutch purse tucked beneath her arm. The illusion dies with a long, drawn-out groan.

“What?” she almost barks, startling her kitten on the bed.

“Dinner’s ready,” I say, unable to hide the irritation in my voice. “I told you I was cooking.”

She saw me when she came home. She saw the preparation. The table. My intention couldn’t have been clearer.

“I made other plans.”

Short. Sharp. To the point.

“What... plans?”

She steps forward.

I do the same, blocking the doorway.

“To eat.”

“With whom?” I growl.

“A doctor from the hospital. I went back looking for work. He asked me out.”

Every nerve in my body ignites.

“And he’s going to be here any minute.”

Sensing the shift in my mood, Hannah sighs and pushes past me. Lost in my anger, I let her. The click of her heels echoes down the hallway.