Chapter Eight
"Thanks again, that was great." I say, as Hank takes the Styrofoam container the Chinese food was in
and stands up.
"You’re most welcome. What’s a shared meal among friends?" He smiles, and starts to walk towards the
door.
"You’re not leaving, are you?" I ask, a bit of emotion coming in my voice. He whips back around and smiles
at me.
"Not if you don’t want me to."
"Well, I told the girls that I’d be fine alone, but I really don’t want to be alone. Maybe you could fill
me in on what’s happened in Harmony? I’ll need to know some things if I have to stay around for a while."
I say, a gilt of hope in my voice.
"No problem. Just let me though this away." He continued his walk out of the room, and I sit for a moment.
Never pleased with silence, I grab the remote and start flipping through channels. My eyes land on a celebrity
volleyball game, and a smile immediately appears on my face.
"Well, you’re smiling for some reason. Care to share why?" Hank asks as he reenters the room.
"I found a volleyball game on. The Harmony All-Stars playing the Boston Celtics. Harmony’s up, second match,
9-6." I inform him.
"You and volleyball." Hank snickers as he crosses the room and sits in his seat.
"Oh please, not this again. You tried it when I was in eighth grade, and I didn’t by it then. Just because
cheerleaders bounce up and down at basketball games doesn’t make them superior to volleyball players." I sneer.
"I wasn’t even going to say nothing bad about volleyball this time. I was just remarking on how you’d get
all excited over a sport."
"Look at you and basketball. Don’t even go there!" I shake my head in amusement at him. I turn my attention
back to the game just in time to see a great spike by the front outside hitter. It snaps down over the net before
the Celtics can get to it, awarding the All-Stars the ball.
"That’s my niece who just made that kill." Hank remarks, and I whip my head at him in surprise. "Volleyball
is all Jess talks about. Naturally I picked up the terminology."
"So Jess made the All-Star team. What else have I missed?"
"A lot and a little all rolled into one. Um, let’s see. Sam got promoted to Police Chief. My sister-in-law
Grace found her niece, Charity. Kay’s got a scholarship to UCLA for writing, and Sam’s letting her go, believe
it or not. And then there’s finding out my brother had a son with Ivy Crane. But you probably read that in the
newspaper."
"It was on the cover of a magazine at the Book Cafe, which hasn’t really changed much."
"No, it hasn’t. Hmm, what else? Oh, Whitney Russell will be joining Wimbledon this summer. Everyone’s really
excited about that." Hank pauses and clears his throat. His eyes wander around the room, and finally settle
back on mine. It’s grow dark out since he came, I notice.
"What about the Lopez-Fitzgeralds. You can tell me about them." I prompt.
"Well, your mother is the same strong woman as always. She lights a candle every night for your brother and
father’s safe return. Miguel is seeing Grace’s niece Charity. They’re in love, I guess." He breaks for a moment
before continuing, "Theresa was about to marry Ethan, but now with all this paternity crap going on, it’s
being delayed. Luis was ecstatic when he found out that Ethan wasn’t a Crane."
"He still holds them responsible for father’s disappearance, doesn’t he?" I nonchalantly ask.
"Now more than ever. But he’s kinda put that aside because of his relationship with Sheridan."
"Sheridan?"
"Sheridan Crane. They’re in love too. It seems like everyone’s in love." Hank mumbles the last part.
"And what about you Hank Bennett? You’ve always been quite the charmer, so who’s got your fancy now?"
"Well, before Luis fell in love with her, I thought me and Sheridan had a chance, but-"
"But my brother had to go and steal her away from me." I comment.
"So he’s your brother now?" Hank asks, raising his eyebrows.
"I don’t know. It’s all so confusing. When he came to visit me, I don’t know what I felt. At first it was
resentment, then it got to sorrow, and finally, I don’t know. Maybe it was acceptance that it happened. It was
tense." I shrug.
"Well, you seem a little more relaxed now." He states, leaning in slightly towards me.
"Great company can do that to you." I smile back. Suddenly it’s like my body takes control, and starts
pushing me closer to him. My mind screams out ‘this is Hank, Luis’ best friend. You can’t kiss him.’ But for some
reason, my body won’t listen.
Our lips meet, and passion sparks between us. Almost immediately my hands lace around his body and move towards
his hair. I run my fingers through the silky mane and feel free. His tongue runs over my mouth, and I open it,
allowing his access to inside.
I feel his hands around my back and waist, and slowly, gently, they pull me closer to him, until I realize that
he’s moved from his chair and is now sitting on my bed.
We break apart panting, and I look into his eyes. Fearing I’d see regret, I’m relieved when he smiles cockily and
remarks, "well, I guess you’re more than my best friend’s cute little sister now." |
