There was a little bit of a mix-up and I accidentally posted this chapter as Chapter 60. I've fixed it and I replaced the chapters so if you managed to get a sneak preview, you can go back and read the real Chapter 60, otherwise this is actually Chapter 61 for those who haven't read it yet and I'm sure you'll be pleased :)
NYLON ~ 61 ~ BAD METAPHOR
Hanna finished feeding JT his breakfast and the two sat down to watch an episode of his favorite show. After the half hour of mindless singing and dancing Hanna was more than happy to turn off the television.
"More Mama, more," JT pouted.
"I told you," she replied. "Just one."
"Where dada?" JT asked. "Pay bathball."
"He's away on business," Hanna explained. "He'll be home tomorrow and he can play basketball with you then."
"Bathball!" JT whined.
"Hey," Hanna snapped. "You know we don't talk like that. You can play basketball tomorrow and today you can do fun things with me."
"Fundig!" he laughed.
"Yeah, Hanna replied. "How about we go swimming?"
"Simmie!" JT smiled.
"Okay, come on," she grabbed his hand. "Let's get your swim trunks on."
They ran into his room and got him changed. Then Hanna took him into her bedroom where she placed JT on the bed while she put on her suit.
"You sure like crawling," she said when she reemerged to find him on the opposite side of the room.
Then she grabbed the floaties and they went downstairs to the basement floor to the full size indoor pool. JT's eyes kit up when he saw the sparkling water and he eagerly slid into his floaties. Hanna picked him up and they slowly waded into the pool. JT splashed around in the warm water and Hanna laughed as she was hit in the face by a wave of chlorine.
After a couple of hours in the water, Hanna couldn't stand it much longer and they headed back upstairs. She bathed JT and put him to bed before taking a long warm shower to wash off the stench of chlorine. When she had used up the hot water, she got out and changed into her most comfortable sweatpants. She did her best to dry her soaking hair and then pulled it back into a low ponytail. Once she was settled into bed with the food channel on, she grabbed her phone. There were six voicemails and a dozen missed calls from Toby.
"Shit," she said playing the messages.
"Hanna," it was Toby's voice. "We're at a hospital in Southampton. Caleb got a concussion..."
She froze as the message played out. She couldn't bear to hear anymore. She turned off the message and dialed her mother.
"Hello?" Ashley whispered.
"Mom," Hanna panted, "Caleb was in an accident. I need to get to the hospital. Can you come here and keep an eye on JT? He's already asleep and I don't want to wake him."
"I'll be right over," Ashley replied.
Hanna hung up and ran around the house preparing a few things in case JT woke up. It only took minutes for Ashley to arrive at the door and Hanna hastily let her in before taking the elevator down to the garage. She jumped into the front seat and drove two hours to the hospital Toby had mentioned in his message. She arrived and parked before racing inside to find Caleb. Toby was pacing in the lobby and he stopped her as soon as she arrived.
"Where is he?" Hanna gasped.
"He's fine," Toby replied.
"Can I see him?" she said, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"He's sleeping right now," Toby explained.
"Toby, I swear..."
"Fine," he sighed. "He's right through here."
Hanna followed him to a room located down a few corridors where she saw Caleb's familiar dark hair nestled against a large soft pillow. He stirred slowly and she breathed a sigh of relief before opening the door and stepping inside. She sat down in the empty chair beside him and gently placed her fingers on his hand. His eyes fluttered open and he looked at her.
"Hanna," he smiled.
"Hey," she replied. "You scared me."
"I'm sorry," he told her. "We took the boat out to celebrate and..."
"It's fine," Hanna replied. "I'm just glad you're safe now."
Tears welled up in her eyes and she dabbed at them unsuccessfully with the back of her sleeve.
"Don't cry," Caleb said prompting more tears.
"I'm sorry, I just...I don't want to lose you...Caleb I..." she couldn't explain her feelings in words. Instead she squeezed his hand tightly and leaned over him before meeting his lips with hers. His hand rested at the nape of her neck and he pulled her close to him deepening their kiss. Lost in the moment, Hanna brushed his side eliciting a painful groan from Caleb.
"Oh sorry," she gasped.
"It's okay," Caleb smiled. "Just a few cracked ribs."
"Oh, Caleb," she kissed his hand.
"Hey," he said giving her a big smile. "Don't worry about that."
He didn't give her a chance to retort. Instead he leaned across the cot, taking extra care with his injuries, and slid a hand across her waist gently pulling her toward him. Their lips met for the second time and they each allowed themselves to live in that moment. Once again Caleb's injuries outweighed their passion and he let out a small whimper.
"Sorry," Hanna repeated. "Maybe I should let you rest before I break you."
Caleb didn't protest. She took it as a sign to step outside where she saw Toby hunched over in a chair. He gave her a weak smiled, which she returned, and enveloped her in a hug to calm her worries.
Hanna carried JT in her arms as she and Caleb stepped carefully into the foyer. His ribs were tightly bandaged under his t-shirt and he had some stitches on his forehead, but other than that he was managing just fine.
"Can I get you anything?" Hanna asked putting JT down on the floor.
"I can get it," Caleb replied heading to the kitchen to grab a glass of water.
"Hey," she said hopping up onto the counter. "I want you to know, everything I said in the hospital. I meant it."
"I don't know Hanna," he sighed. "We keep going down this road. We kiss, you change your mind, we bury it under the rug and move on. I can't do this forever."
"Forget what I said before," she protested. "I was scared and stupid. When Toby called me, I was devastated. I was so worried that something happened to you...and...I don't even know how to explain it...but I...that's when I knew that I'd never love anyone like I love you and I would never forgive myself if..."
Caleb didn't let her finish. Instead he took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. Hanna reciprocated by sliding her fingers underneath his shirt and slowly stroking his hard abs. Then she wrapped her legs around his waist and Caleb leaned down to deepen the kiss.
"Ow!" he groaned pulling away quickly and clutching his side.
"Sorry," she winced. "I keep forgetting."
"It's not you," Caleb replied. "It's like I live to throw salt in my own wounds."
"Am I the salt?" she asked.
"Bad metaphor," he laughed.
"So," Hanna rested her hands on his forearms, "how is this going to work?"
"I guess we," he paused, "take it slow. See where do we go from here..."
"Okay..." she sighed, "but can we promise to be honest about everything? I don't like keeping everything pent up."
"I think that's fair," Caleb replied. "In fact, I'd like to start being honest right now."
"Oh yeah?" she smirked.
"Yeah," he whispered in her ear. "You should probably know, that...if I wasn't injured right now, it would take every muscle in my body to keep me from ripping your clothes off right here."
"Caleb!" she playfully slapped him. "JT's in the next room."
"You told me to be honest," he reminded her.
"Well," she laughed, "you should know, I may have a surprise for my best patient."
"What kind of surprise?" he asked as she reached into the freezer and pulled out a popsicle.
"You'll see," she smiled unwrapping it and popping it in her mouth.
Hanna laughed and hopped off of the counter and strolled into the next room leaving Caleb aching for more.
And there it is! That's it for today. I hope you've enjoyed this story so far and you're pleased with the return of Haleb (sorry not sorry Wrenna fans) and I promise you will regret having begged for the return of Haleb because there is about to be so much Haleb in this story it will make you sick. Stay tuned and thanks for reading!
