NYLON ~ CHAPTER SEVEN ~ I CAN DO THIS
Aria stepped into Hanna's office and saw her on the phone. The blonde motioned to her to take a seat and Aria obliged waiting for her friend to hang up.
"We'll talk soon," Hanna said into the receiver before hanging up. Then she turned to Aria. "Sorry, it was a client. You ready?"
"Yupp," Aria smiled picking up her purse and following Hanna out the door.
The two strolled toward a pub overlooking the Hudson where they could chat and catch up on their lives since Spencer's wedding. They grabbed a booth near the back and quickly ordered a round of drinks.
"So," Hanna smiled, "how's everything?"
"Well," Aria began, "Malcolm is watching the kids so that's awesome."
"Malcolm's staying with you?" Hanna asked.
"Maggie's at some conference in Arizona," Aria explained, "so he is spending some time with his dad and I took the opportunity to get him to watch the kids tonight. Apparently he's got a date and needs some extra cash so I promised him forty bucks."
"Wow," Hanna laughed, "I'm impressed with Maggie. I thought she'd never let him go. How old is he now anyway?"
"Sixteen," Aria smiled. "He's growing up."
"I can't believe it," Hanna frowned. "We're getting old."
"Oh stop it," Aria laughed. "We're only twenty-five."
"I know," Hanna sighed, "I guess I'm just thinking about how everyone's settling down and Spencer just got married. It's just so…weird."
"Well, what about your special friend in London?" Aria asked. "At least you're the only one of us who can afford to jet off to another country and sleep with a foreigner, well unless he moves out here."
"I don't know," Hanna sighed. "He hasn't heard back from the job yet, or at least he hasn't told me, but there's someone else."
"Who?" Aria shrieked. "Tell me! I have been sleeping with the same man for eight years. I need to live vicariously through you."
"If I tell you," Hanna paused, "you have to promise not to tell a soul. Not even Ezra."
"Of course not," Aria replied. "My lips are sealed."
"Well," Hanna began, "after Spencer's wedding, I kind of slept with Caleb."
"What?" Aria freaked. "Are you guys….?"
"No," Hanna said softly. "He snuck out before I even woke up, which basically confirms that we don't have a future together."
"Well, did you spring your 'no commitment' speech on him?" Aria asked. "I'm not sure if you even believe it anymore. It's been years since A was out of our lives. Maybe you are ready for some stability."
"You might be right," Hanna laughed, "but I refuse to give into reason."
"Good," Aria smiled, "because you are the only source of excitement in my life."
"Cheers to my singledom!" Hanna lifted a glass.
"Cheers," Aria echoed before the two downed their drinks.
Hanna got home from her night out with Aria and saw the flashing red light on her telephone. She pressed the button that read "messages" and heard the familiar beep followed by the robotic voice before the message played.
"Hanna," Wren always began his messages the same way as if he wanted to remind himself of whom he was calling. "I just wanted to let you know, I got the job in New York but um…I'm not taking it. I know how you feel about us living in the same time zone and I don't want to ruin what we've got so, give me a call next time you're in London. I'd love to see you."
Hanna sat on the edge of the bed and let out a deep sigh. She grabbed the phone and dialed a number she'd learn to memorize despite the fact it rivaled the length of pi. After two rings she heard him answer. After all, it was five in the morning in London and Wren was most likely just getting off his shift at the hospital.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Hey," she replied coolly. "I got your message."
"I thought so," he said slowly.
"You know," she went off on him, "this is exactly the opposite of what I wanted. I hate that you made this decision with me in mind. If you want to come here and be a doctor, by all means fucking do it and if you want to stay in London and be close to your mom then that's just peachy but do not make a decision to try to please me because I can't promise I'll do the same for you."
"Hanna, I just wanted…" he began.
"Save it," Hanna retorted. "If you're going to treat the booty call thing we have going on like a relationship, I just don't think I can do this anymore."
"Let's meet up," he told her. "Next time you're in town we should talk. We can try and work something out."
"No we cant," Hanna replied, "because there is no 'we.' We're just two people living separate lives that occasionally fuck and if that's not going to work for you, maybe we should part ways now."
Before he could say another word Hanna hung up on him. This had all gotten way too complicated and it didn't help that she was still daydreaming about her night with Caleb the week before. For the first time since high school she'd played with the idea of a relationship but obviously Caleb was much more complacent following New Hanna's rules. Maybe it was best to write them both out of her life and try to move on. Give herself a new chance at love. Hanna mulled over the idea of possibly following in Spencer's footsteps but quickly shook her head knowing full well she was definitely not prepared for marriage.
Hanna had loved before. She knew how to differentiate between love and lust but she couldn't possibly imagine falling deeply and madly in love with someone, so much so that she would sacrifice anything and vow to eternally share a life with another, at least not yet.
I know this chapter was kind of short but I hope you liked it anyway. I've already decided who she'll end up with in the end and I think most of you will be pleased but I'm not saying anything yet because there are still a few twists and turns Hanna will encounter along the way. As always, thanks for the reviews!
