Of Course, It's You

Chapter 42

Carmen

By the time Carmen's plane landed in Nashville, she knew she was already running late. She hadn't had time to even think of a solid plan, let alone come up with one as she went. Her lawyers advised her to keep her relationship under wraps, but when the tabloids came out with pictures of Hannah and Mike at dinner together, their suggestion blew up in their faces.

She had been doing her best to keep her name out of the public's attention but, whoever the slimy photographer had been, was able to work an angle she wasn't prepared for. She knew that what they spun wasn't true, but then again, the way Hannah and Mike stood together in the pictures, made her believe otherwise.

The doubts she had, kept resurfacing. And in the beginning, that's why she couldn't make herself answer her phone any time Hannah called her. Then, she couldn't answer, because every day the past week had been spent in meetings with lawyers and in court rooms. Every night when she got home, it was late, and when she'd read the texts and listened to the voicemails from Hannah, she still couldn't think of what to reply with. Nothing seemed adequate.

She hated that she had dragged Hannah into this mess in the first place. She could see what could drive her to go back to Mike. She could see how that option was easier. There weren't reporters or tabloids trying to make money off their story. That only happened now because of Carmen being in the picture. So, maybe if Carmen wasn't in the picture, life would be easier for Hannah. And even though she really didn't like that option, she knew it would be for the best for all parties involved.

Carmen wouldn't have been rushing through the airport if it hadn't been for Thursday night when there was a knock on the door to her apartment. Her jaw dropped when Dani walked in with a bag of take away food.

It smelled delicious.

"Is that Chinese food?" Carmen asked.

"Of course, it is. You know we always have heart to hearts whenever we eat Chinese food." Dani chuckled as she took the containers out of the bag and set them on her kitchen counter.

It was true. In college whenever one of them was worried about their grades, or the person they were dating, it had always been hashed out while their stomachs were filled with the best Chinese food they could find.

"And what is the special occasion?" Carmen asked as she plated the food.

Dani scoffed. "Really?"

Carmen shrugged. "What?"

"How many missed calls and texts are on your phone right now?" Dani asked.

"Umm..."

"Exactly! You haven't responded to a single thing I sent you. And some of them were hilarious memes, I'll have you know. Some of the best ones I've found. You haven't even answered when I called. So what the hell has been going on?" Dani took her plate and plopped on the couch.

"I haven't even started eating yet and you're grilling me already."

With her mouth full Dani said, "yeah well, desperate times, desperate measures." When she swallowed, "so shove something in your mouth and get to talkin'!"

Carmen listened for the most part, but still couldn't find the words.

"Is it the hearing or the photos?" Dani asked, not giving Carmen five minutes to think of what to say. Her impatience taking over.

"Both?" Carmen grimaced at the look Dani shot her.

"Okay, well then please don't spare any details." Dani rolled her eyes. "I mean, I understand why you might not want to talk to Hannah, but me? C'mon Carm."