DuncneyLoveOfMyLife: I literally hate Spencer so much. She's the worst. So glad you enjoyed the shower scene! I knew it just wouldn't be Haleb without a shower scene! And yeah, Jordan is also the worst!
Boris Yeltsin: Thank you! It will happen eventually! But honestly, this story mainly just focuses on Haleb, and the other girls don't really play a huge role, so it will still be a little while.
Krystal Moore: Honestly, me, too! The sooner Jordan finds out, the sooner Hanna leaves him, the sooner Haleb gets their happily every after! But unfortunately for both of us, it will still be a while. (What was I thinking?!) So glad you enjoyed the shower scene(s)!
PrettyLittleAshwee11: Ah, thank you so much! Honestly, I really don't like Spencer. I mean, I was fine with her until she dated the love of her best friend's life, and now I just think she's a terrible friend. I toyed with the idea of one of the other girls finding out because I just know either of them would be way more supportive and understanding, but it just made the most sense for it to be Spencer, since it's her mom's campaign they met on, and she already knew Caleb through Toby. But honestly, I really didn't want it to be Spencer that finds out, LOL.
I think this is another good chapter that you're all going to really like! Enjoy!
"I'm booooored," Hanna moaned.
It was a Friday afternoon, and she and Caleb were chilling at his house with Brody.
Hanna had been flicking through TV channels for ten minutes now, but she just wasn't in the mood to watch anything. She wanted to do something.
"Well, sorry, but it's kind of hard to find things for us to do outside the house when everyone in this town knows you and your husband," Caleb said bitterly, walking in to his bedroom and laying down on his side next to her. "I guess this is why no one ever said illicit affairs are easy."
"Cay-leb," she groaned. "Look. I know this sucks. But I am here, with you, because I want to be. If you're just gonna be all mopey about how much you hate this, then just break up with me already."
She knew their situation sucked. But she wanted to be with him anyway. It was worth it all, at least to her, just to get to spend this time with him.
"Hanna," he said slowly, exasperated. "I don't want to break up with you. But you know how much I hate this. And then you go and complain about how bored you are. Sorry I don't have more to entertain you with here."
Suddenly, Hanna sat up, struck by an idea. There may not be much to do here, but she knew somewhere where there was more to do. And they wouldn't even have to go out in public.
"I know what we can do," she murmured, a gleam in her eye as she spoke. "Come on." She grabbed his hand and pulled him up off the bed, shutting off the TV before she practically ran out of the room and out the front door.
"Where are you going?" Caleb called out after her as he followed her outside.
"My house," she said, tossing him the keys to her car as she got in the passenger seat.
"Hanna," he sighed. "You know I hate going there."
He didn't feel comfortable hanging out in the place where she lived with her husband; it just didn't feel right, and it served as a constant reminder of the fact that he couldn't have her.
"I know," she said gently. "But this will be worth it, I promise!"
"Because going there went so well the last time," he muttered under his breath, still bitter that Jordan had interrupted his time with Hanna.
He sighed again, but got in the car anyway, signaling out of his driveway and driving to her house across town.
"Hi, Dorota!" Hanna called out when they walked in the front door.
Dorota appeared seemingly out of nowhere to greet them. "Miss Hanna, Mr. Caleb, welcome back."
"Hey, Dorota," Caleb replied, smiling at her. As much as he didn't like spending time here, he did really like Hanna's housekeeper. She always made him feel welcome and at home, even though he definitely didn't belong here.
"Can I get you something to drink or to eat?" Dorota asked in her thick accent.
"I'm all set, thanks," Hanna replied. "But do me a favor and get Caleb whatever he wants. I'll be right back," she told her as she ran up the stairs to the master bedroom.
Caleb didn't really need anything, either, so he just grabbed himself a bottle of water from the fridge as he sat down and waited for Hanna.
A few minutes later, she came rushing down the stairs, wearing a tiny black string bikini that left little to the imagination.
"Race you to the pool!" she called out as she ran past Caleb, making her way out the back door to the in-ground pool.
Caleb laughed to himself as she whizzed past him, before grabbing his water and following her outside.
By the time he got out there, she was already in the water, leaning against the opposite wall, facing him, her arms resting on the concrete surrounding the pool. She looked at him expectantly.
"So this was your brilliant idea on what to do?" he asked, grinning at her. "You probably should have told me to bring my suit then."
"Maybe I didn't want you to bring a swimsuit," she replied seductively. "I mean, you don't really need it, right?"
He shook his head, laughing, trying to hide the fact that he was getting seriously turned on already.
"Well, I can't come in without a suit," he said, shrugging nonchalantly.
"You most definitely can," she countered, adjusting her sunglasses as she looked up at him.
He knelt down and stuck a hand in the water. "Nah, it's too cold anyway."
"It's not even that cold," Hanna argued. "Just come in already," she whined, practically begging. She really wanted to touch him.
"I think I'd rather just watch you," he said casually, sitting down on the edge of the pool and doing just that.
Hanna knew how she could convince him to come in. She reached under the water and slid her bikini bottoms down her legs, grabbing them and holding them above the water so he could see what she had just done. Then she casually flicked them towards him, splashing him with droplets of chlorinated water as they landed at his feet.
"Now, are you ready to come in?" she asked, her voice low.
He made a face, considering his next move. "No, I don't think so," he finally replied.
So she turned around, her back to him, slowly untying her bikini top, looking over her shoulder as she tossed it at him, watching as he caught it easily with one hand. Then she ducked lower in the water before turning back to face him, so that his view of her naked body was distorted by the rippling water, leaving him with no choice but to come in.
He shook his head again, chuckling. Damn, she was good. There was no way he couldn't go in now, when his insanely attractive girlfriend was waiting for him, completely naked.
"Alright, fine," he gave in. "You've convinced me."
He pulled his T-shirt over his head, dropping it to the ground to join her discarded bikini. Next came his belt, followed by his jeans. Finally, he tugged off his Calvin Kleins, leaving him standing there completely naked, his impressive cock on full display as she brazenly checked him out, smirking as her gaze ran down his body.
"See? No suit necessary," she told him, right before he jumped in the water, splashing her and making her gasp in shock.
"That wasn't very nice," she pouted as he swam over to her.
"Well, I'm in the water now, aren't I?" he asked rhetorically as he reached her, removing her sunglasses from her face so he could see her gorgeous blue eyes, and placing them on the edge of the pool.
"That's true," she agreed, smiling happily as he pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he ran his hands down her wet body, brushing against the sides of her breasts before settling on her bare ass.
She reached down and grasped his already-hard cock, a coy smirk on her face as she began to pump him up and down.
He threw his head back, his fingers digging into her ass, groaning as her hand made him feel indescribable amounts of pleasure.
Finally, he could feel himself getting close, and he grabbed her hand, stilling her movements.
"Babe, if you keep that up, I'm gonna be done before I even get to fuck you," he murmured to her.
"Oo, that would suck," she agreed, pulling a face. "I guess you better fuck me now, then," she whispered huskily in his ear, before nibbling gently at the skin.
With that, he grabbed his cock, running it up and down her folds, before he entered her slowly, pushing in just a little bit before pulling out again, going a little further each time until he was fully inside of her.
As he quickened the pace, driving into her roughly over and over again, he shoved her up against the pool wall. It was borderline painful as her body collided with the concrete, but his thrusts that were stretching her, filling her, were more than a little distracting, and she was able to push away any thoughts of the pain and was instead able to focus on how amazing he felt inside of her.
"Caleb," she moaned as he grabbed her leg and pulled it up higher around his waist, changing the angle so he could go as deep as possible.
"Fuck, Han," he groaned. She was so hot and tight and wet, everything he loved about fucking her.
He kissed her deeply as he continued to thrust into her, nibbling on her lower lip before her tongue forced its way into his mouth.
When he pulled away, her lips trailed down to his neck, kissing him all over, before she paused at his pulse point, sucking until she was content she had left enough of a bruise.
"Shit, Han," he murmured as his lips found hers again, feeling her inner walls begin to tighten deliciously around his member.
She whimpered as his thrusts became sloppier, more frantic, until he felt her squeeze around him one final time, before she was gushing around his cock, and he was letting go, too, as they rode out their orgasms together.
"God, Caleb," she moaned into his mouth. Even after all of the times they had had sex already, sometimes she still couldn't believe just how incredible he could make her feel.
"Oh, Hanna," he agreed, groaning as he pulled out of her painfully slowly.
He rested his sweaty forehead against hers, closing his eyes as they stood there in comfortable silence.
"Sooo, was this worth coming in the pool for?" Hanna eventually broke the silence.
"Definitely," he grinned at her. "Most fun I have ever had in a pool."
"More fun than...cannon-balls? Or...Marco Polo?" she challenged.
"Way better than cannon-balls or Marco Polo," he confirmed.
Suddenly, Hanna looked up at the sky, feeling drops of water landing on her skin.
"No, it's raining!" she cried out as it started sprinkling.
By the time they stepped out of the pool, though, it was already pouring.
"Wait, stop!" Hanna called out to Caleb.
He turned to face her, a questioning look on his face, rain pouring down on them.
She came closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I know it's cheesy, but I've always wanted to do this," she told him before leaning in and kissing him deeply.
He ran his hands through her wet hair, kissing back urgently, uncaring of the water beating down around them, as he fulfilled her fantasies of a rain kiss.
Once she was satisfied, she pulled back, deliriously happy, the rain around them falling harder and harder, just like she was.
"Was that everything you imagined it would be?" he murmured to her, still holding her close as he ran the pad of his thumb tenderly across her damp cheek.
"No," she said, shaking her head, a small smile on her lips. "It was so much better." Okay, now she had officially reached her cheesiness limit for the day.
He grinned down at her before connecting their lips one last time.
"Alright, let's go inside now!" Hanna shrieked as the rain came down even harder.
They scooped up their wet clothes from the ground before running inside, hoping Dorota wouldn't see them as they hurried up the stairs, both of them completely naked and dripping wet.
She led them into one of the guest rooms, and they both collapsed on the bed, laughing hysterically.
Caleb pulled Hanna into his arms, so she was laying on him, their naked bodies pressed together, but he was content with just kissing her, despite the beautiful naked woman literally on top of him.
They made out for a while, Hanna giggling as Caleb's hands ran all over her body, tickling her.
When Caleb could feel himself getting turned on again, his dick growing harder, he pushed her off of him gently, sitting up.
"How about we go wash this pool water off of us?" he suggested with a grin, grabbing her hand and leading her into the en suite bathroom.
After they got out of their shower, Hanna ran off to the master bedroom so she could grab clothes from the closet. She brought Caleb some clothes of his that she had stolen, a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt that she had worn home from one of their sleepovers at his house.
"I'll throw your other stuff in the dryer, but you can wear these for now," she told him, handing him the dry clothes. "I am going to want them back, though."
"Oh, is that so?" he asked, smirking at her. "You're going to want my clothes back?"
"Mmhmm," she smiled up at him as he leaned down to press a chaste kiss against her lips, before he slipped on the hoodie and sweats.
She grabbed his hand and led him downstairs, calling out for Dorota when they reached the main level.
"Yes, Miss Hanna?" Dorota asked as she appeared from around the corner.
"You can head home now, before the storm gets any worse," she informed her. "And you can have tomorrow off, too." She wanted to sound like she was just being a good boss, but really, she didn't want to have to worry about Dorota being here with everything she wanted to do to Caleb tonight.
"Oh, thank you, Miss Hanna, I will just get my things. Have a good night!"
"Thanks for everything, Dorota!" Hanna called out after her, appreciative as always for her amazing housekeeper.
"So," Hanna started, turning to face Caleb as he pulled her into his arms, running his hands down her back. "Now that we're all alone, what should we do now?"
"Whatever you want to do," he told her, kissing her sweetly.
"How about we...cuddle on the couch and make out and talk and listen to the thunder?" she suggested. She had always loved thunderstorms, ever since she was little. Well, as long as she was safe inside and didn't need to go out for anything, at least. She loved the loud cracks of thunder and the bright strikes of lightning that lit up the sky.
"That sounds perfect," he agreed, following her into the den as they collapsed on the sofa together and she curled up into his side.
The next couple of hours flew by as they talked about everything and nothing, making small talk as well as digging deeper. Caleb told her more about his family, how he felt when his mother unexpectedly came back into his life, what it was like growing up in the foster system, and Hanna talked about the pressure she felt growing up to be perfect all the time, to do exactly what her parents and other people expected of her, and how she still felt like that a lot of the time, even now.
She had never felt closer to him.
"I wanna show you something," she murmured, standing up. "But I've never shown this to anyone before, so you have to promise to be nice."
"Shit, is this where you show me your secret collection of toenail clippings or baby teeth or something?" he asked. He couldn't seem to help but poke fun at her.
She punched him lightly on the arm.
"No," she said pointedly. "And you're already not being very nice. Maybe I shouldn't show you after all."
"Hey, hey, I'm sorry," he apologized, grabbing her wrists gently and guiding her hands to cup his cheeks. "Please show me. I promise I'll be nice."
"I'm not sure I believe you, but fine," she told him as she ran upstairs to her closet again.
She came back down holding what appeared to be some kind of notebook or journal.
"So whatcha got there?" he asked gently as she sat back down beside him.
"They're...my sketches," she said nervously.
He looked at her quizzically.
"Remember when I told you I wanted to work in fashion?" she asked.
"Of course," he murmured. That night was one of his favorites he had spent with her. They had both really opened up to each other, and he thought it was a huge milestone in their relationship.
"Well, I did these when I was in high school and applying to fashion school," she told him. "I don't even know why I still have them, it's silly," she laughed awkwardly. She couldn't believe she was really showing them to him. She hadn't even looked at it herself in years. She knew that this part of her life was over, and she would never be able to work in fashion now. "Obviously it's never gonna happen now, but I don't know - I just wanted to show them to you."
"Han," he started, wrapping his arm around her comfortingly, pressing a kiss against her temple. "It's not silly if it's something you're passionate about."
He moved to take the book from her, but she wouldn't let go, her fingers tightening around it. She was really nervous to let anyone look at them.
"Come on," he encouraged gently. "We've gotten naked together in more ways than one, Han - why are we suddenly strangers when it comes to a book of sketches?"
She sighed, knowing he was right, before handing it over.
He started to flip through the pages slowly, spending time looking at each drawing, not saying anything, while Hanna waited anxiously for his reaction.
Once he reached the final page, he closed the book and set it down on the coffee table, before turning to face Hanna, who was looking at him expectantly.
"Look, Han, I'm gonna preface this by saying I know absolutely nothing about fashion - I'm pretty sure I've had this hoodie since I was 12 - but...these are amazing."
"Really?" she asked softly.
"Yes," he said adamantly. "You're really talented, Han. I seriously think you need to pursue this. I mean, if it's what you really want, of course. But I think the world is really missing out on your work."
She turned away awkwardly. She knew it wasn't actually a possibility for her anymore. She shouldn't have even showed him.
"I can't," she finally said. "Even if I wanted to, I can't."
He grasped her cheek, gently encouraging her to turn her head to face him again.
"Of course you can," he murmured, stroking her cheek tenderly with his thumb, as she played with the ends of his hair, running her fingers through it over and over again. "You are incredible. You're so talented. And you can do whatever you want to. I know you can."
"Well, it's just not really in the cards for me anymore," she countered again, as he leaned in to brush his nose against hers.
She wanted to get her mind off of the things she couldn't have now, everything she had given up, so she decided to change the subject, in a way she knew Caleb couldn't object to.
"I think you're pretty incredible, too," she murmured. "And you're really hot."
She climbed on top of him, straddling him as she ran her hand down his sweatshirt-clad chest, pausing at the waistband of his sweats before dipping her hand underneath them, grabbing his cock. He could feel himself growing hard as soon as she started toying with him.
"Han, you don't have to do this," he muttered, but, really, he didn't want her to stop.
"I want to. It's your reward for being so amazing and sweet and supportive," she told him before leaning down to kiss him deeply.
He threw his head back in pleasure as her hand did amazing things to his cock for the second time that day.
When she gently squeezed the tip of his head, he thought for sure he was going to explode in her hand right then. And it took everything in him not to. But he wasn't ready for it to end yet. He moaned into her mouth as she continued to play with him, before she pulled away abruptly, taking her hand with her.
He looked at her questioningly, disappointed, until she knelt down on the floor in front of him, pulling his sweatpants down until they pooled around his ankles.
He groaned before she even touched him, just at the thought of how amazing her mouth was going to feel around him.
He hissed as her tongue flicked out and caught the head of his rock-hard dick, before she was suddenly taking him in completely. Her hot, wet mouth around him felt even more amazing than he had imagined, and he squeezed his eyes shut tightly as she ran her teeth gently down his member, before taking him all the way in again.
"Fuck, Hanna!" he cried out loudly, as he felt her tongue swirling around, making him feel incredible things.
"I'm close," he moaned a couple minutes later, warning her, giving her time to let him go if she wanted to.
But she didn't. She clamped her lips shut around his dick one last time, and as he felt himself hit the back of her throat, he was spilling himself inside her mouth. She used her tongue to lick him clean, before pulling away and swallowing, as he watched her in awe.
Somehow, she always seemed to surprise him. And those surprises always made her even fucking hotter to him.
"Shit, Hanna," he said, pulling his sweatpants up before pulling her back onto his lap, tangling his hands in her hair. "You are so incredible. God, you're so fucking amazing."
Hanna couldn't believe she had just given her boyfriend a blow job on the couch she had picked out with her husband. Everything about her and Caleb was so wrong, but so right at the same time.
Later that afternoon, they were curled up together in bed with some cheesy Hallmark or Lifetime movie playing on the TV, but neither of them paying much attention to it anyway. Hanna had her head resting on his chest, and Caleb had one arm wrapped around her, holding her close.
Hanna's phone started ringing from its position on the bedside table, and she grabbed it and glanced at the screen to see it was Aria calling. She declined the call and set the phone back down. This was her time with Caleb, and she didn't want anything interrupting them.
She turned her attention back to Caleb, when the phone started ringing again. Her eyes flickered over to the screen to see Aria's name flash across it again. She huffed in annoyance before silencing it again, hoping Aria would get the hint and leave her alone.
Just as she had placed the phone back down again, it vibrated with a text message.
"SOS," from Aria Montgomery.
Hanna sighed, defeated. So much for her uninterrupted time with Caleb.
It was one of the rules of the four girls' friendship. If someone texted SOS, you had to respond, no matter what was going on.
Hanna just really hoped this SOS didn't involve going anywhere, because being tucked into Caleb's chest like this was heaven, and she had no plans of moving anytime soon.
"I really have to get this," Hanna told Caleb apologetically as she called Aria back.
He just nodded in acceptance, settling back against the headboard, running his fingers through her hair, and turning his attention to the television.
Aria answered after only half a ring. "Hanna!" she exclaimed.
"Yes?" Hanna replied questioningly.
"I need your help!" Aria said desperately, urgently. "I'm meeting Jason's parents tonight, and I need your advice on what to wear!" she rushed out.
"Um, Aria?" Hanna started. "You already know Jason's parents."
"Well, I know," Aria gave in. "But I only know them as Ali's parents; this is my first time meeting them as Jason's girlfriend."
Hanna laughed at Aria's logic before she continued.
"I was planning on wearing my black Free People dress - you know the one?"
"I know the one," Hanna confirmed. She knew her best friends' closets almost as well as she knew her own.
"But I just tried it on, and it's all wrong for this. It's too short, and the neckline's not high enough, and it's all wrong," she repeated.
"Okay," Hanna said calmly, trying to calm Aria down as well. "Do you have anything else you're considering?"
Hanna was half paying attention to Aria as she discussed possible contenders from her wardrobe, half paying attention to Caleb as he started flipping through channels, clearly not impressed with the cheesy movie, before he settled on Jeopardy.
As Aria reminded Hanna of some staples in her wardrobe, Hanna felt Caleb tighten his grip around her, running his hand up and down her side gently.
Hanna sighed contently. She was fairly certain there was no better feeling in the world than being in Caleb Rivers' arms.
"What about the olive skirt from BlankNYC, with the black bodysuit from Everlane?" Hanna suggested.
"I just got rid of that skirt!" Aria groaned.
They went back and forth for a while longer, Hanna making suggestions and Aria pulling them out of her closet, while Hanna noticed that Caleb kept muttering the answers to the Jeopardy questions under his breath, and kept getting them right.
"I think you should go with the gray wrap dress from Madewell, the black Gucci tights, and the black Steve Madden combat boots," Hanna concluded a little while later.
On the other end of the phone, Aria examined the items in question, laid out on her bed, visualizing the ensemble in her head.
"Okay," Aria finally agreed. "I like that."
"You're gonna look great!" Hanna said supportively.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Aria exclaimed appreciatively, before Hanna wished her good luck "meeting" Mr. and Mrs. DiLaurentis and hung up.
"Mmm, finally," Caleb murmured as soon as she was off the phone, leaning down to press a kiss against her forehead. He wanted Hanna all to himself again. As ridiculous as it sounded, seeing as she had been tucked into his side the entire time, he had missed her while she was on the phone.
"Okay, how do you know all this?" Hanna asked accusingly, sitting up and looking at Caleb.
"What do you mean?" he questioned, confused.
"All the answers," she clarified, gesturing to the TV. He hadn't even realized he had been answering the questions out loud. "You got every single one right," she said pointedly.
"Oh," he chuckled. "I guess I've just...picked up a bunch of random knowledge along the way." Now that she was off the phone, he really had no interest in Jeopardy. He was just passing the time until he had her attention again.
"Well, you never told me you were so smart," Hanna said, her voice low, her eyes gleaming, as she adjusted her body so that she was straddling Caleb, before leaning down and placing a long, lingering kiss against his lips.
The next morning, Hanna woke up as she felt Caleb stirring beside her. Her head was still resting on his chest, and she tilted her face up so she could see him as his eyes fluttered open.
"Mmm, good morning," she hummed.
"Morning," he replied, his voice thick from sleep, leaning in to kiss her as she ran her hand down his bare chest, rubbing his crotch roughly through his boxers to see if he was really awake yet.
"It's too early for that," he groaned as he pushed her hand away.
She sat up again, looking down at him, shocked.
"Um, did you just say it's too early for sex?" she asked incredulously. "Are you feeling okay? Who are you, and what have you done with my boyfriend?"
He chuckled. "Boyfriend?" he questioned, raising his eyebrows at her.
Hanna felt herself blush. She didn't exactly know what to call him, but that's how she always thought of him, and it had just kind of slipped out.
He supposed that was how he thought of them, too - he often found himself thinking of Hanna as his "girlfriend". But it still felt strange to hear it out loud.
"Sorry. I just don't-" she started.
"No," he interrupted, smiling up at her. "I like it."
"And I like you," she replied instinctively, running her hand across his chest. "A lot."
He could feel his heart start to beat faster. This was the closest they had ever gotten to really talking about their feelings for each other.
"I like you a lot, too," he assured her softly, raising himself to capture her lips with his own again.
"But seriously," Hanna argued as soon as they had separated. "Is something wrong? I don't think you have ever turned down sex. Are you not attracted to me anymore?" she asked, deadpan.
"I am most definitely still attracted to you. But you kinda wore me out last night, babe," he admitted, recalling the events of the previous day. There had been the pool, the shower, the couch, more than once in bed. She seemed to be insatiable, and he was seriously having a hard time keeping up with her.
"How about, we go get some food for sustenance, and hopefully I'll get my energy back," he suggested. "How do pancakes sound?"
"With chocolate chips?" she asked excitedly.
"Um, of course."
"That sounds perfect," she told him, kissing him again. "But do you mind if I go grab a quick shower while you make them?"
"Not at all. The pancakes and I will be eagerly awaiting your arrival."
While Hanna went to go shower, in the master bathroom, of course (way better shower heads), Caleb made his way downstairs to whip up some pancakes for them.
He had some music playing as he mixed the batter, and didn't hear the knocking at the door.
He wasn't aware that someone else was in the kitchen with him until he heard a loud voice exclaiming, "Who the hell are you?"
Caleb turned around quickly, using his phone to shut off the music as he took in the person standing in front of him. Middle-aged woman, red hair cut in a bob, well-dressed, attractive. Hanna's mother, he presumed. He didn't know who else would be letting themselves into her house at 9 AM on a Saturday morning.
"Um...hello," he said awkwardly, nervously.
"I said, 'Who the hell are you?'" she repeated.
When he didn't answer, she said, "Do I need to call the police? Who are you, and what are you doing in my daughter's house?"
"Uh, no, no, please don't call the police. Please don't call anyone, actually. Um, I'm Caleb," he said hesitantly.
"And what the fuck are you doing in my daughter's house? Where is she? So help me god, if you hurt her - " Ashley was so shocked and confused to see a strange man in her daughter and son-in-law's kitchen, that she wasn't exactly thinking straight. It wasn't likely that this man - Caleb - came into the house, did something to Hanna, and then stuck around to make breakfast.
"Hanna's in the shower," he cut her off.
Ashley raised her eyebrows. "And if she's in the shower, then what the hell are you doing here?" she asked again. "Who are you, Caleb? And why are you here?"
Caleb didn't know what else to do. He could only beat around the bush for so long.
"Uh, this is probably a conversation you should be having with Hanna," he said tentatively.
"And what kind of 'conversation' is that?" Ashley asked angrily.
"I'm just gonna go get her."
"Why don't you do that," Ashley agreed sarcastically, narrowing her eyes at him.
Caleb made his way upstairs, finding the master bedroom by figuring out which room the sound of the running water was coming from.
He entered the room nervously, looking around uncomfortably. He felt a painful sensation in his chest as he saw the photos of Hanna and Jordan all around the room, including a photo from their wedding. It felt so wrong to be in here, the place where she slept with her husband.
He averted his gaze from the photos, making his way to the bathroom door. He knocked sharply, but she didn't answer, so he assumed she hadn't heard. He opened the door and stepped inside, and he could see her naked body through the clear glass door of the shower.
He tapped on the glass, and she turned to face him, opening the door when she saw him standing there.
"Hey, you," she said flirtatiously. "Did you change your mind? Are you ready for more shower sex? Wait, what about my pancakes?"
"Uh, no," he said. "Trust me, I would much rather be having shower sex with you right now than dealing with what I just dealt with. And I don't think you're getting your pancakes, either."
She looked at him, confused.
"Your mom's here," he explained. "Well, at least, I'm assuming it's your mom."
Hanna's eyes widened and her jaw dropped in shock.
"Oh my god, no!" she exclaimed in horror. "Did she see you?"
"Um, yeah!" he replied. What did she think, that he had seen a woman walking around downstairs and managed to run upstairs while avoiding her?
"Did you talk to her?" she asked.
"I didn't really have much of a choice!" he informed her. "She threatened to call the cops! I think it's time for you to come downstairs."
"Oh god, oh god, oh god," she mumbled in distress.
Luckily, she wasn't washing her hair this morning, so she just had to rinse off her body before she got out of the shower. While she dried off and got dressed, he went back to the guest room they had slept in to put his clothes back on, so he didn't have to face her mother in his boxers again.
She wandered downstairs before him, to find her mother waiting in the kitchen, leaning against the counter.
"Would you like to tell me what the fuck is going on?" Ashley spat out at Hanna.
"Not really," Hanna muttered under her breath.
"Hanna-" Ashley started furiously, before they both turned to face Caleb as they heard his footsteps approaching.
"I should probably go," he announced awkwardly.
"Great idea!" Ashley agreed, at the same time Hanna objected with, "No!" She was worried her mother was going to murder her as soon as Caleb left.
But when they turned to look at her, matching aghast expressions on both of their faces, she realized her mistake.
"You should probably go," she agreed quietly. Him being here would just make this conversation she was about to have with her mother even worse. "I'll walk you out."
She walked him to the front door, which was, fortunately, not in view from the kitchen.
"I'm so sorry," she murmured, tilting her head up to kiss him quickly. "I'll call you later. As long as my mom doesn't kill me before then."
Once Caleb had left, walking down the street and hailing an Uber, seeing as they had taken Hanna's car here, Hanna took her time making her way back to the kitchen. She wasn't ready to die. Or, at the very least, get screamed at.
"Hanna, who the hell is Caleb, and what was he doing in your house?"
"Would you believe me if I said he was the plumber?" Hanna attempted hopefully.
"Here, at 9 in the morning, making pancakes, in his underwear? Try again!" Ashley exclaimed.
"I was really looking forward to those pancakes," Hanna mumbled, picking up the bowl of batter and picking out some of the chocolate chips to eat, avoiding eye contact with her mother.
"Hanna!" Ashley exclaimed, exasperated. "I am going to ask you one more time: Why was there a strange man in your house?"
"Why are you in my house?" Hanna countered, ignoring the question. "I gave you that key for emergencies. Not so you could just barge in and spy on me."
"I wanted your advice on what I should wear to a gala your father and I are attending tonight. I knocked on the door, and I tried calling you, but I got no answer, so I let myself in," she explained.
"Yeah, I didn't answer, because I was in the shower."
"Yes, Hanna, I have gotten that much. But what I have not gotten, is why there was a strange man making breakfast while you were in the shower!"
Hanna stayed silent. She was going to avoid this conversation for as long as possible. Which, as it turned out, wouldn't be very long at all.
"Are you having an affair?" Ashley asked bluntly.
When Hanna didn't reply, and wouldn't even look at her, Ashley had her answer.
"God, Hanna, what are you thinking?" she exclaimed. "Where did you even meet this guy? How the hell did this happen? You're better than this, Hanna."
"Better than him?" Hanna asked defensively, immediately feeling the need to stand up for Caleb. "Just because he doesn't have some cushy office job and wear a stuffy suit?"
"No, Hanna, better than this! Better than a cheater!" Ashley clarified. "How could you do this to Jordan? He adores you!"
"Yes, Mom, I know!" Hanna shot back. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. It just did."
"And what did happen?" Ashley asked, more calmly this time, just trying to understand the situation her daughter had gotten herself into.
So Hanna started at the beginning, telling her mother about how she and Caleb had met on the campaign, how annoying he was at first. How Jordan was traveling all the time, and she was lonely. How that led to her hooking up with Caleb. Which led to it happening again and again. She intentionally left out how strong her feelings for Caleb were, though, how much she cared about him.
"And now you guys are spending the night together, and making breakfast for each other?" Ashley concluded. "He seemed pretty comfortable here. You just leave him alone in your house, while you go shower?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess..." Hanna trailed off, not knowing what her mother was getting at.
"It kind of sounds like you guys are doing more than just 'hooking up', then." So apparently it didn't matter that she hadn't told her mom everything. She had figured it out anyway.
"Hanna," Ashley began. "Do you...have feelings for him?" she asked, bracing herself for the answer. If this was just a physical thing, she felt confident she could make Hanna see the light, convince her how important it was that she end it. But she knew her daughter, and when Hanna falls, she falls hard, so she knew it wouldn't be nearly as easy to make this situation disappear if there were feelings involved.
Hanna nodded slowly, scrunching her face up. She was really hoping her mother would be sympathetic right now. That's what she needed right now - she just needed her mom. But apparently that was too much to ask for.
"Hanna, what were you thinking?" Ashley asked again, even more frustrated this time.
"What?" Hanna defended herself. "Isn't that better? Wouldn't it be worse if I was cheating on Jordan just to get some? At least I actually care about the guy and think he's worth it?"
"Of course it's not better, Hanna!" Ashley exclaimed. "Do you hear yourself? You think it's okay that you've been falling for someone else while your husband is off traveling for work, so he can support you? This makes everything so much more complicated, Hanna!"
"I didn't say it was okay, Mom!" Hanna argued. "I told you, I didn't mean for it to happen!"
"And what do you mean, he's 'worth it,' Hanna? Nothing is worth jeopardizing your marriage for! You have a great marriage, Hanna, and a great husband!"
"I know, Mom, okay? I know Jordan's great! But Caleb is, too! In different ways. He-"
"God, Hanna, you are so irresponsible!" Ashley interrupted her. "How could you let this happen? I am so disappointed in you right now. It's about time that you grow up, and start doing what's right, not just doing whatever the hell you want to do!"
Hanna felt her eyes burning with tears as her mother stormed out and slammed the front door behind her.
Well, we just have a little bit of everything in this chapter. We've got smut, we've got the super cheesy rain kiss that I always wanted Haleb to have despite the cheesiness, and we've got Mama Marin finding out about Haleb. Stay tuned to see what happens next!
Also, I know Ashley's not really the same Mama Marin we love from the show, but remember, she's kind of like Lily Rhodes/Van der Woodsen/Bass/Humphrey/etc. in this story. Rich trophy wife socialite, who wants the best for her daughter, but sometimes worries too much about image and reputation. Yet always ends up putting her child first and doing the right thing in the end (hint, hint.)
Please review! :)