It wasn't at first sight

Chapter 81

A couple of weeks later.

Hanna "So, which ones? Red or black?" She checks herself in the full-length mirror in her bedroom, alternating her attention between the two heels she's wearing.

Aria sits cross-legged on the bed, holding Hallie in her arms. She glances up from the baby to look at Hanna. "Red ones, definitely."

Hanna purses her lips, turning slightly to view herself from a different angle. Her doubt is written all over her face.

Aria "Both look good. Just pick one."

Hanna sighs. "I don't know... The black ones are way more comfortable, but look at this red shoe, it makes my leg look, like, a mile long..."

Aria "Then go with the black ones. It's just Jason's birthday, not the Met Gala."

Hanna glances at Aria in the mirror, unimpressed. "You're not helping." She straightens up. "Red ones it is."

Aria rolls her eyes, chuckling. "Why do you even bother asking if you're just gonna do what you want?" She shifts her attention back to Hallie, cooing. "Hope you got your dad's patience, kiddo. You're gonna need it to put up with your mom for the next eighteen years."

Hanna grins and sits at the end of the bed, her back to Aria. She leans forward to undo the black heel. "I just want to look stunning tonight." She explains.

Aria smirks. "Oh, really? Why's that?"

Hanna "Well, it's Caleb and my first baby-free night out, and since my mom's keeping Hallie..."

Aria "You're getting back to it, huh?"

Hanna "If that's an elegant way of saying I plan to fuck him all night, then yes."

Aria bursts out laughing, covering Hallie's ears playfully. "Don't listen to your mom, sweetie. She's lost it."

Caleb's voice booms from downstairs. "Come on, Hanna! We're gonna be late!"

Hanna exhales dramatically and limps to the doorway, one high heel on and one bare foot. She shouts back. "You know how this works, honey. The more you rush me, the longer I take."

Caleb groans but retreats to the living room, where Ezra is sitting on the couch.

Caleb "Want another beer? Looks like we're gonna be here for a while..."

Ezra "I'm good. If I keep drinking, I'll show up to the bar plastered before the party even starts."

Caleb smiles. "Suit yourself, but don't hold back. I'm the designated driver anyway." He flops down on the couch beside Ezra.

Ezra "Oh, I thought Hanna was driving."

Caleb "Nah. We've started giving Hallie formula alongside breastfeeding, so she's not as dependent on Hanna now that she's gone back to work, makes our schedules more flexible. Tonight's Hanna's first night of freedom in months, so she gets to drink."

Ezra "She's back at work already? How's that going?"

Caleb "She's only doing some work from home and a few quick visits to her store here in Rosewood. We're managing pretty well so far. I work from home some days too, so we trade off. But we're planning to get a babysitter soon, it'll be nice to have someone around during work hours. Trying to take meetings with a fussy baby in your arms is... not ideal."

Ezra nods knowingly. "Yeah, I can imagine. What about New York? Aria said you guys were there looking at apartments."

Caleb grins. "We put in an offer on one. Just waiting until Monday to see if they accept it."