AllFreeNovel
Share Us
AFTER noon on Monday, but Hannah struggled to keep her bleary eyes open as she stared at her computer screen, scrolling through her Facebook feed idly. When her mother had told her raising a puppy was like having a newborn, Hannah had scoffed, but now, after a fitful four hours of sleep, she could easily imagine the little golden terror in diapers and a bonnet.
She leaned down and peeked under the table where Milo had fallen across her feet in an exhausted sleep. Apparently, whining half the night, chewing on Hannah’s feet at one and three in the morning, and piddling on the kitchen floor after she’d just taken him outside had been a lot of work for him, because even when she removed one foot, he continued to snuffle.
Hannah turned back to her computer screen and saw her friend Gretta Kent had changed her profile picture to what looked like a sonogram. When she clicked on it, sure enough, there was a whole album with the title “And Baby Makes Three.” There were several pictures of Gretta and her husband, Dave, holding a pair of white baby shoes and a sign that read ARRIVING IN JUNE.
Wow. Gretta was a year younger than Hannah. They’d met in English class their first semester at junior college, but while Hannah had transferred to continue her education, Gretta had stopped at an associate’s degree and married Dave, her high school sweetheart. Dave was only twenty-five and already a store manager with Safeway, while Gretta sold Jamberry Nails and Younique Makeup.
Hannah mused at how happy Gretta was and how she already had everything Hannah was now dreaming about: a house, a husband, babies. But she’d wanted to finish her degree and get her career in order before she concentrated on her personal life. Several of her friends had gotten serious when they were too young and regretted it.
Hannah had even made a point of waiting until she was really in love, maybe even engaged, before she had sex. But most of the guys she’d dated had barely lasted a month, and of those, none of them had really gotten her motor running anyway.
She could still remember sitting on Gretta’s couch with Megan and Courtney, listening to them talk about their boyfriends and all the things they’d done. She’d laughed along with them, but now, as she continued looking at her old friends’ walls, she realized she was the last to do everything. The last to get married, have kids, get a career-focused job . . .
She was only going to be twenty-five at the end of April. When had everyone suddenly gotten their life together?
Her cell phone buzzed on the table, and she glanced at the screen. A number she didn’t recognize flashed, and Hannah’s breath caught. Maybe Blake was calling her from his work phone?
Sliding her thumb across to answer, she put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hello, is this Hannah?”
Hannah’s shoulders slumped as she heard the feminine voice on the other end. “Yes.”
“Hi, Hannah, this is Georgia at Watt Avenue Veterinary Clinic. How are you doing, girl?”
“Hi. I’m tired but doing okay. How are you, Georgia?”
“Oh, fine. Dr. Standen just wanted me to call and let you know that Milo’s blood work checked out just fine, but we’ll need to see him back in a month for his boosters and another dose of dewormer.”
Hannah glanced down at the sleeping pup fondly. “Sure, I’ll call you back when I know my schedule better.”
“All right, dear. But hey, it was good to see you.”
“You too, Georgia. Take care.”
“Good-bye, Hannah.”
Hannah set her phone down and stood up. She might as well make something to eat and then take a shower instead of waiting around for some guy to call. Why did she keep putting herself through this?
After that, maybe she’d check for available teaching jobs again. She didn’t really think she was going to get the job she’d interviewed for, so she might as well continue applying. As much as she loved Dale’s, she needed to move on.
Grabbing a banana and a package of strawberry Pop-Tarts, she sat back down. It was stupid to think that the fruit somehow made up for the sugary breakfast pastry, but she loved them too much to give them up.
She peeled the banana and took a large bite as she closed Facebook. She opened up Microsoft Word, planning on starting the next chapter of her book, when her phone started singing “Have a Nice Day.”
She chewed quickly, trying to swallow the wad of banana as she glanced at the screen.
Blake’s Cell.
Excitement zipped through her. He hadn’t forgotten.
Trying to chew the banana in her mouth, she finally gave up and answered.
“Hewow?” she said around the glob.
“Hello, Hannah? It’s Blake.”
He sounded completely unsure, and no wonder. She sounded like Chewbacca. Why the hell had she answered the phone with a mouthful of food? She should have just let it go to voicemail and called him back.
