Greyscale [✓]

Chapter 36

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

The man was tugging at his hair in frustration, eyes blank as he sat at his desk in the office area of the spare bedroom in his home. He appeared to be completely passive but inside, his mind was whirring with a tornado of mixed emotions. He didn't know what to think, he didn't know how to feel. What he did know, however, was that he needed to make a phone call.

It had been almost two decades since they last spoke but somehow, he knew her private number wouldn't have changed. She always had been a creature of habit.

"Hello?"

It rang three times until she picked up, her voice thornier than he remembered. Perhaps that was his own fault for calling at six o'clock on a Saturday morning. Or perhaps it was due to the number of years that had passed between them, unspoken arguments and the momentous secret she had been holding close. No wonder she had become so bitter, so twisted around her own despair.

"It's me," Christopher Davis said clearly, unable to prevent the grin from growing on his face as she gasped with recognition at his voice. He might have been furious at her in that moment for what he had just discovered but Jasmine Adem would always be able to illicit that spark of warmth within his heart.

They say you never truly forget your first love and, boy, ain't that the truth.

---

Cameron didn't say it but he was absolutely ecstatic when he picked Hannah up from the airport the following morning, her cheeks glowing and lips pulled right up in a genuine smile. She was chattering along to Charmaine and Becky, dragging her suitcase along as her hands flailed in the air, accompanying her words. He'd missed her around the house, even though it had only been a few days, but it was evident Rome had been good to her.

Or perhaps, he thought after looking a little closer, it wasn't the place she was but the people she was with.

She was standing close to Rayne, her body unconsciously curling towards his as he smiled just as brightly as she was doing. They were so cheesy that he felt slightly nauseous just looking at the sneaky glances they grew at each other.

"Hey, you!" Cameron exclaimed, throwing an arm around her and mussing her hair. "I missed your ugly face, how was your trip?" Hannah tried to frown in response but she was so full of joy that she didn't manage it and instead, wrapped her arms around her cousin and stuck her tongue against his ear.

"Missed you too!"

Cameron groaned, pushing her away with a shove and furiously wiping his ear as they all laughed. "Eww, Han! You're the most disgusting person on the planet, ugh, how am I even related to you?"

The cousins continued throwing insults at each other amongst peals of laughter, stories of Rome fluttering throughout the group. Hannah went around and gave every one a hug, promising to send them the photos she had on her phone before school rolled back around on Monday. She hugged Rayne a little tighter than he expected, absorbing the smell of his laundry detergent into her memory and whispering a thank you into his ear. She didn't need to expand on it, he had always managed to see through her and understand.

"I'll see you on Monday," he replied, jade eyes boring into hers with all the warmth in the world.

Judging by the knowing look Cameron was giving her, Hannah was sure her cousin knew what had occurred between them last night. And what a night it had been! She smiled to herself, content-ness washing over her as she leaned back in the car, feeling the breeze from the open window pour over her.

"Just so you know," Cameron began seriously, turning the music quieter until it was barely a hum. "I'm far too young to be an uncle, alright, so you best tell Rayne that. Stay safe, stay smart, stay child-free – that's my motto."