Monday had come. Hanna had gone back to college in the morning, and now was at the dentist studio, planning Caleb's agenda. She was really angry for what happened with Sean, but work really helped her to keep her mind busy. It was seven 'o clock when Caleb got into the office.
"Hanna, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked from the doorway.
Hanna looked up at him. Oh no, she thought. John Ackard, Sean's dad, had made her get that job, being kind of friend with Caleb. But now that she and Sean weren't together anymore...could she keep working for him?
"Of course, doctor Rivers." she said, nodding.
Caleb smiled slightly and sat on the chair in front of her desk, pursing his lips.
"So, Hanna... You're free to go, but... I'd be really pleased if you told me what's up." he told her.
Hanna furrowed her eyebrows.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Caleb sighed and leaned forward, folding his hands on the desk.
"I've never seen you this way. You look sad, or maybe even...hurt. Did something bad happen? Do you need a few days off, maybe?" he asked, sounding concerned.
Hanna took a deep breath, trying to keep a normal expression and forcing a smile.
"No, doctor. Everything's fine." she said, even though she could feel her eyes getting watery.
"You've been working here for two months, Hanna. You've always been a smiley girl, and happy, and you've always brought a great gust of positivity in here, every single day. But not today. Are you sure you're okay?"
Hanna sighed deeply and took a moment to close her eyes, lowering her head a little, almost ashamed.
"I failed an exam today." she breathed out finally, lying.
Caleb raised his eyebrows and titled his head to the side, slowly nodding.
"I know it sounds stupid, but... It was kinda important to me." Hanna continued.
"No, it doesn't sound stupid at all. I was in college too, I know how it sucks when something goes wrong. I'm sorry, Hanna." he replied.
Hanna gave him a small smile.
"However, I'm sure you're gonna make up for it. You're a determined person, I know that." he continued, smiling as well.
"Thank you, doctor. I'll do my best. And I'm sorry if I acted weird, I hope no one of your patients complained about me..."
Caleb laughed slightly at her last statement.
"No one has ever complained about you since you started working here. Everyone has always a nice word on you." he smiled.
Hanna smiled again, locking eyes with Caleb for a short moment.
"Well... You can go. And I can too. Thank God, another day is over." he said, raising his eyebrows and standing up from the chair.
Hanna got up as well and grabbed her purse, as Caleb opened the door.
"Oh, I was forgetting... Sean's not outside today. Do you have a ride?" he asked.
Hanna sighed and forced another smile.
"Yeah, he... He couldn't pick me up today. I came with my car, don't worry, doctor." she said.
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow, Hanna."
"Yeah. Have a good evening."
And then, Caleb walked to his studio, probably to change his clothes, while Hanna went outside and got in her car. She stayed still for a few seconds, leaning by the wheel and taking deep breaths not to cry. Caleb was going to find out about her break-up with Sean, sooner or later. What if he's gonna fire her? After all, she was there because of Sean's father's intercession. She shook her head quickly and tried to start the engine of her car, but it didn't.
"Shit. Come on..." she muttered, trying again.
Nothing. Her car seemed dead.
"Fucking hell!" she shouted, punching the wheel.
And then she broke down. Her boyfriend had cheated on her, her car was dead, and now she didn't even know how to get home. She couldn't call Sean, like she would have done once, for obvious reasons. She couldn't call her mom either, they had just one car and that was the one in which Hanna currently was. And she didn't feel like calling one of her friends, it was almost dinner time and she didn't want to bother anyone. She was going to take the bus, that was the only way. And she hated taking the bus. But then, a tap on her car window caught her attention. It was Caleb, now dressed like a normal person and not like a dentist. Hanna quickly wiped the few tears which had fallen from her eyes and pulled down the window.
"Hey... Everything alright?" he asked.
"My car just decided to abandon me." she sighed.
"Oh... I'm gonna take a look if that's okay with you."
"Sure. Thank you."
Hanna got out of the car and approached Caleb, who had opened the hood of the car. He took a look, but didn't really figure out what had happened.
"Ugh... I can't see the problem." he muttered, scratching the back of his neck.
"It's fine. Go home, doctor. Thanks anyway."
"Have you called someone to pick you up? I'm not leaving you alone here, at least until they come and pick you up. It's already dark, you're in the middle of the street and this is not the nicest area of the city..."
Hanna sighed.
"Hanna? Have you called Sean or someone?" he insisted.
"No one can come and pick me up at the moment... I'm just gonna wait the next bus."
"Oh... Well, there's no problem. Look... We just call a tow truck and then I'll drive you home."
"Oh, no, doctor... I don't wanna bother you, nor make you get home late. Your wife is probably waiting for you, and—"
"Hanna, don't worry about me. Let me help you, okay?" he cut her off, smiling.
Hanna sighed but didn't reject his offer. Caleb called the tow truck, explaining them the situation. He was leaning by his expensive black BMW, in his buttoned purple shirt and a pair of jeans while speaking into his grey iPhone 6 Plus, with his gold wedding ring sparkling under the streetlight. Hanna caught herself staring at him. He was definitely a really handsome man. And he was also so kind and charming. She wasn't surprised he was already married. He walked back to her after a little while, smiling slightly.
"They'll be here in a few minutes." he told her.
"Thank you, doctor."
"Anytime. Do you have a way to come to work tomorrow, just in case?"
"Yeah, I can take the bus."
"Okay. But I'd rather you not to come back home by bus, too, when it's dark. Like I said, this is not a good neighborhood, unfortunately."
Hanna just nodded at that. She liked how protective he was.
"I'm sure Sean will be willing to take you home." Caleb added.
Hanna smiled uncomfortably at that, then Caleb pulled out a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket.
"Do you smoke?" Hanna couldn't help but ask.
Caleb laughed slightly, with the cigarette between his lips.
"I know, I know... A dentist shouldn't smoke. It's not good for teeth. I tell my patients over and over. But, well, I must have my shortcomings too, right?" he mumbled.
Hanna laughed.
"Right." she added, as Caleb lightened up his cigarette.
"What about you? Do you smoke?"
"No, I don't."
Caleb blew out a stream of smoke and then looked at Hanna.
"So... Do you have any shortcoming or not?" he asked with one of his charming smiles.
Hanna blushed slightly and giggled.
"Of course I do. Smoke isn't one of them, that's all." she replied.
Caleb smiled and finished smoking his cigarette in silence. Just when he threw it to the ground, the tow truck arrived. They took away Hanna's car, telling her it needed at least one week to be fixed. Then, Caleb gestured for Hanna to reach his BMW, and she did. He opened the passenger door for her like a perfect gentleman and when she was inside, he also closed it, before joining her in the driver seat.
"Okay, you're gonna have to tell me where to go though, because I don't know where you live." he began, closing his door and starting the engine of his car.
"Uhm, sure. Thank you very much, doctor."
Caleb pulled out of the parking lot and turned to her for a brief moment.
"Hanna, it's been two months that we know each other. You can call me Caleb, okay? 'Doctor' makes me feel kind of old. And you're welcome." he told her, raising his eyebrows.
Hanna smiled at him and gave him the indications to reach her house. They got there in about twenty minutes.
"Thank you again, doc—ehm, Caleb." Hanna said.
"No problem. And if tomorrow evening Sean or anyone else can't come to pick you up, just ask me, okay?" he replied, smiling.
"Okay." she just said before opening her door.
"Goodnight, Hanna. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah... Goodnight, Caleb."
And with that, Hanna closed the door and walked to her front door.
"Hey, Han... You're a little late today." Ashley commented as Hanna entered the house.
"Something in the engine of our car is broken. The tow truck took it away. It will need a week to get fixed." Hanna breathed out.
"What?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah... We don't have the car for the whole week. First Sean cheating on me, now this... Crap."
Ashley sighed and sat on the couch next to Hanna.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. How are you?" she asked, grabbing her daughter's hand.
Hanna forced a little smile and nodded.
"Better, mom. Thanks." she murmured.
Ashley smiled back. She had been comforting Hanna since the Friday night she got back from Sean's house crying her eyes out.
"How did you get home, by the way? Did you take the bus?" Ashley asked then.
Hanna raised her eyebrows.
"I was going to take the bus, yeah, but then doctor Rivers saw me and offered his help. He called the tow truck, then waited with me for them to come, and when they took my car away he gave me a ride with his one. He said he didn't want me to take the bus by night because it could be dangerous." she explained, shrugging slightly.
"He's a true gentleman."
Hanna sighed.
"He doesn't know about me and Sean yet, though." she said then.
"So what?"
"C'mon, mom. I'm working for him thanks to Sean's father. But now that Sean and I are no longer together, well... I don't know if he will make me keep working there."
"Hanna, you're doing a good job. And Rivers seems a nice man. I'm sure he's not gonna fire you just because you don't have bounds with the Ackard's family anymore."
Hanna sighed.
"I don't know, mom. I just need to eat something. Tell me that dinner's ready, please." she said then.
Ashley laughed slightly.
"Almost. But, hey, doctor Rivers is right. I don't want you to take the bus by night from that neighborhood." she replied, walking to the stoves.
"I'm grown enough. Besides it will be just for this week, mom. Don't worry."
"You can ask one of your friends."
"Mom, I don't want to bother anyone. I'm twenty-three, I can take care of myself. Going to work by bus for a week, well, actually for four days, is not gonna kill me."
"Whatever. But be careful when it's dark." Ashley sighed.
"I will." Hanna replied, slightly rolling her eyes.
The next day, after college, Hanna went to work by bus. She hated the look that a couple of guys gave her when she got in and when she got out —she made a mental note not to wear a skirt the next day— but she eventually arrived at the studio safe and sound. It was rather early, since the only bus in the afternoon was that one she had taken and it arrived there half an hour before the beginning of her shift, so she got to the studio earlier.
She walked into the studio, noticing Caleb's door opened. He was already dressed in his work clothes and was fixing his instruments.
"Good afternoon, doctor." Hanna said, standing in the doorway.
Caleb turned around and smiled at her.
"Hey, Hanna. Hi. You're early." he replied.
"Yeah, the bus came soon. Can I help you?"
"No, don't worry. I've already organized everything. But... Please, 'Caleb', not 'doctor'. Alright?" he grinned.
Hanna nodded, smiling slightly.
"Yeah, yeah. That's right." she commented.
"Is someone going to pick you up later?"
"Yes." she lied.
She didn't want him to feel obliged to take her home even that day. Or also to feel used as her personal driver. That was the last thing she wanted.
"Okay, great." he said.
"Well, I'm going to open the office. I'll see you later...Caleb."
Caleb nodded and flashed her another smile before she disappeared through the short hallway.
A few minutes later, another woman who worked there got in the studio, and stopped on Caleb's doorway to say hi too. Hanna had her office door opened so she heard her.
"Hi, doc!"
"Hey, Kate." his deep voice replied.
"So, everything ready?"
"Yeah. Another day of work is starting..."
"Well, the sooner we start, the sooner we get home. How is your wife?"
"Uh... She's fine."
"It's been a while that I don't see her around..."
"Oh, she's just a little busy, that's all."
"Right. Okay, well, say hi to her for me."
"Sure thing."
Hanna heard the whole conversation. She was really curious to meet the lucky woman who Caleb's wife was.
A/N: How can I not update when I got 13 reviews to the first chapter? Thirteen?! In just these few days? Oh my God, guys, you're amazing :D I'm so so happy you all liked the beginning of this new ride! I'm so excited about this :) I had hoped you'd be intrigued and it looks like you are, so... Here's the second chapter for you all ;) So? What about this Caleb? He's such a gentleman, isn't he? :P But... Any theories on Melissa, his wife? Why isn't she around? Is she actually busy like Caleb says or what? Well, next chapter will answer these questions, by the way ;) And you'll finally find out why this story's called "Glasses of Wine" haha :D Seriously, though, that next chapter will be a great —and long— chapter, you have my word ;) Oh, I also updated "I Won't Let This Plane Go Down", so check that out too ;) Once again, thank you all for the support! And review if you want, it truly makes me happy to hear whatever you guys think :) I'll try to update soon ;) Love! -Atramea.