Pretty Wings (Paul Walker)

Ch. 19

Hanna paced around her room. She felt guilty, really guilty at that. She couldn't believe that she had let her hormones do the talking for her and know she was in a position that she had never wanted to be in. She was now the other woman. As realization continued to hit her, she sat down on her bed in a lousy attempt to stop the room from spinning. After Paul had kissed her she decided that it was best she left since it was obvious that both of their emotions were all over the place. She was sure that what had happened was a onetime thing, but as soon as she'd gotten home, Paul had texted her and told her that he hoped that she didn't think that their kiss was a mistake because it wasn't and he wanted to see her the next day to talk about what had happened earlier that night, but she hadn't responded. An hour later he called her, but she hadn't answered. Her phone rang again and she decided to pick up since it was clear that he wasn't going to give up until she talked to him.

"Hello."

"I was starting to think that you were avoiding me," he chuckled.

"Umm what's the matter?"

"What we did tonight Paul. It was wrong."

Paul let out a heavy sigh before he responded.

"I didn't feel wrong Hanna. Stop lying to yourself and admit it."

"There is nothing to admit Paul. I have to go."

"I want to see you tomorrow."

"And I need some time to think."

"You can have the rest of the night to think. I'll see you tomorrow for lunch."

"Paul I need more time than that."

"I'm afraid if I give you more time that you'll push away from me even more."

Hanna looked at herself in the mirror and bit her lip.

"Fine we can met tomorrow for lunch."

"Great."

Hanna hung up the phone and sighed. She could practically here the smile in Paul's voice. The fact that she felt guilty and he didn't made her sick to her stomach. How on earth was she supposed to face him tomorrow?

***

Paul woke up the next morning feeling like he was a new man. He'd never felt the way he had when he kissed Hanna last night. He hadn't meant to kiss her but when she'd told him how she felt about him, he couldn't help himself. He heard the doorbell ring downstairs and went to open his door.

"Hey brother," Caleb said walking into the house.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"You don't like nothing is going on. Spill it."

"I kissed Hanna last night."

Caleb froze and looked at his brother like he'd lost his mind.

"Why'd you go and do a crazy thing like that."

"It was in the heat of the moment. She'd told me that she was falling for me and one thing lead to another."

"So what are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to lunch with Hanna today."

"And what are you going to tell Kori."

"You hate Kori," Paul said biting into an apple.

"That doesn't mean I want anyone in the situation to get hurt."

Paul shook his head and looked out the window.

"I don't either, but what am I supposed to do. I can't stop feelings."

"Of course you can't you're human."

"I think I know what I have to do."

"Good," Caleb said getting some orange juice out of Paul's fridge.

***

Hanna couldn't focus on any of her classes throughout the day. Her meeting with Paul was heavy on her mind and she didn't know how she was going to get through this lunch with him. After her last class was dismissed she checked her phone to see how much time she had left before her lunch with Paul. After she'd laid down for the night, she allowed her emotions to get the best of her and she realized that she didn't want to push Paul away but instead wanted to see where this could go for the two of them, even if that meant that she would be the other woman. She'd rather share Paul than to not have any of him. Chuckling she shook her head. When did she become the woman who would settle for a man who she still wasn't sure what his end game with her was?

***

Paul took a deep breath before he knocked on Hanna's door. She opened it a few seconds later and smiled.

"All ready to go?"

"Yea."

She closed the door behind her and let Paul open the car door for her.

"So where are we going?"

"Saddle Ranch."

Hanna smiled and looked at Paul as he backed up.

"What?"

"I thought about our kiss yesterday and I've come to a decision."

"What's the decision?"

"I don't want to stop seeing you, even if that means I have to share you."

"You won't have to share me baby. I'm all yours," Paul said interlocking their fingers together and kissing her knuckles.

It never occurred to her how her happiness would bring someone else so much pain.