Chapter 10
Life in Sydney had finally started to feel normal. The heavy weight of my past was fading. replaced by the bright and bustling energy of this new city. Work kept me busy, and Scott… well, Scott was still around.
Despite my best efforts to keep him at arm’s length, he somehow managed to weave himself into my daily life. He was everywhere–helping me with errands, dropping by unannounced with coffee, and even arranging little surprises to “make me smile,” as he put
- it.
One evening, after a long day at work, Scott showed up at my apartment holding a small bouquet of daisies.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You’ve been working too hard,” he said, holding the flowers out to me. “So, I’ve planned a
A proper one.”
“A date?” I asked, folding my arms.
“Relax,” he said with a smirk. “Think of it as a friendly outing. No pressure. Just me making sure you don’t work yourself to death.”
I sighed, but his sincerity was hard to resist. “Fine,” I muttered, taking the flowers from him. Scott beamed, and before I knew it, we were sitting at a small outdoor café, sipping on hot chocolate and laughing about childhood memories. He reminded me of the time we got caught sneaking cookies from my grandmother’s kitchen, and how he’d taken the blame so I wouldn’t get in trouble.
“You’ve always been a troublemaker,” I teased, stirring my drink.
“And you’ve always been the bossy one,” he shot back, grinning.
I couldn’t help but laugh. Moments like these made it hard to keep my guard up. With Scott, everything felt easy, natural. But there was still a part of me that hesitated. I had been hurt before–shattered, really–and the thought of opening up again scared me.
Still, Scott never pushed. He was patient, giving me the space I needed while always being there when I needed him.
One evening, we were caught in a sudden downpour as we walked back from a grocery run. The rain came out of nowhere, soaking us within minutes.
“Of course this would happen,” I muttered, pulling my jacket over my head.
Scott laughed, unbothered by the rain. “Come on, where’s your sense of adventure?”
I glared at him, water dripping down my face. “My sense of adventure is currently drowning.”
Scott smirked and grabbed my hand. “Let’s run before you completely melt.”
We sprinted the rest of the way to my apartment, laughing like kids as the rain poured down on us. By the time we got inside, I was shivering and dripping wet, but Scott’s laughter was contagious.
Chapter 10
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We sprinted the rest of the way to my apartment, laughing like kids as the rain poured down on us. By the time we got inside, I was shivering and dripping wet, but Scott’s laughter was contagious,
The next morning, I woke up feeling awful. My head was pounding, my throat was sore, and every muscle in my body ached. I tried to get out of bed, but my legs felt like jelly. Just as I was about to force myself up, Scott appeared in the doorway, carrying a tray with tea and a bowl of soup.
“Stay in bed,” he said firmly, setting the tray on the bedside table.
“I’m fine,” I croaked, though my voice betrayed me.
“You’re not fine,” he said, placing a hand on my forehead. “You’re burning up. Now lie down and let me take care of you.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but the look on his face silenced me. He wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Scott spent the entire day by my side, making sure I stayed hydrated, adjusting my pillows, and even reading random stories to me when I couldn’t fall asleep.
As I watched him fuss over me, something shifted inside me. I couldn’t help but compare him to Oliver–how different they were. Oliver had always made everything feel like an obligation, but Scott… he genuinely cared. He didn’t just say he loved me; he showed it in everything he did.
That thought stayed with me as I drifted in and out of sleep. At some point, I felt Scott tucking the blanket around me, his hand brushing my hair away from my face.
“I love you, Hannah,” I thought I heard him whisper. His voice was soft, almost hesitant, like he wasn’t sure if I was awake to hear it.
I wanted to respond, but sleep pulled me under before I could say anything.
When I woke up the next morning, I felt better–still tired, but the fever was gone. A small bouquet of flowers sat on my bedside table, along with a note in Scott’s handwriting: “Glad to see you’re feeling better. Take it easy today. -Scott”
I smiled, my fingers brushing over the petals. For the first time in a long time, I felt something stir in my chest. It wasn’t fear or hesitation–it was hope.
Scott was different. He wasn’t trying to fix me or make me forget the past. He was just… there, steady and unwavering.
I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Maybe, just maybe
something good again.
it was time to let myself believe in
Chapter 11
