Who's the real you?

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Hannah beamed brightly as she noticed Channing step up closer to her, he looked different in relaxed attire rather than in his usual running clothes.

She felt Channing's lips gently press onto her cheek before he reached out flowers.

"Thank you." Hannah took the flowers gently in her grasp, in this moment she forgot about Belle and Alytain. In this moment she only needed to care about Channing and Hannah.

Channing reached out his free hand "Shall we?"

"We shall." Hannah smirked as she placed her free hand in Channing's.

Channing lead her inside the restaurant.

Hannah recognised it; she had been to plenty restaurants just like it with Alytain. It was a place that screamed luxury and money, a place that if Alytain was here he'd be blowing his hard earned cash on everyone in the room.

Channing felt a gentle squeeze of his hand, he shifted his glance to Hannah. He watched as he sensed something happen to her thoughts, he couldn't figure it out "Are you okay?"

Hannah nodded; she couldn't find her words.

Channing and Hannah stopped in front of the matière d "Two for Johns."

"Please follow me."

Channing and Hannah followed behind the matière d, the matière d pulled out a chair for Hannah.

"Thank you." She sat down before placing the handbag on the table and the flowers on top. She tucked herself into the table as Channing sat across from her.

"Tonight's special is the chef's own personal favourite Elements. A dish inspired by air, water, fire and earth. It's a four course dish, starting with."

"Sorry, is it okay if we just look at the menu?" Hannah interrupted.

"Of course."

Hannah lowered her gaze down to the laminated menu in front of her.

"Shall I offer tonight's wine list?"

Channing watched Hannah "Hannah?"

Hannah looked up at Channing "Water is fine for me."

"Make that two." Channing looked up at the matière d.

The matière d nodded "I'll be back in a moment to take your order."

"Are you sure your okay?" Channing shifted his attention back to Hannah.

Hannah sighed a little "Sorry. Fancy restaurants aren't really my thing. It was more of Alytain's."

Channing felt embarrassed "We can go, Find somewhere else."

"No, no. It's fine." Hannah quickly realised her slip up "We can stay."

"You sure? It's okay, we can."

"Channing, it's okay. Don't worry about it." Hannah let a small smile slip across her lips "You can help me create a new meaning to fancy restaurants."

Channing wasn't sure how to exactly take that comment instead he just said, "I'd be honoured."

It didn't take long for Hannah's nerves to ease, she suddenly felt like it was just her and Channing in the restaurant as they made their way through the four course Element.

Hannah placed down her glass as Channing placed his spoon down.

Four meals in a short time span, their bodies both felt the desire for food slowly drift away.

"Can I ask how long you and your ex have been divorced for?"

Hannah wasn't sure what to say, 'Two years." The fresh lie let the words hit Channing's heart. "Why?"

"It might explain the rings."

Hannah quickly glanced down at her fingers, she was still wearing Belle's wedding and engagement ring "Sorry."

"Don't be. Divorce is never easy. When Betty walked away, it took quite a while before I finally worked up the courage to take off mine." His thumb touched his empty fourth finger on his left hand. "How long were the two of you married?"

Hannah tried to hide her uncomfortableness at the question "Eleven years." There was honesty in her answer "What about you and Betty?"

Channing lowered his gaze to his empty glass before shifting his gaze up to Hannah "We barely made our marriage last to five years, we were together for ten years." He couldn't hide the lost love in his words.

Hannah placed her hand over Channing's hand.

Channing dropped his gaze down to their hands, he felt how soft her touch was, how gentle her unspoken words were. He could feel it, she was trying, and he was trying.

"Here's to heartbreak and new starts." Hannah fixed her gaze on Channing's face, she smiled as she noticed his smile.

"Heartbreak and new starts."