Lib Novel Page 14
Hannah darts her eyes to me again. Waiting for… what? For me to say just kidding?
I furrow my brow.
Why is she acting like I’m the villain?
“Thank you.” She smiles at us as a group. And it almost convinces me she’s not a heartbeat away from breaking down.
She spins on her heels and strides out of the room. Those black pants cling to her ass like they’re getting paid to do it.
When she disappears out the doorway, I push back from the table.
“We have one more, Maddox,” Dana says.
Something inside me slams against my rib cage at the thought of letting Hannah walk away from me again.
“I’ll be right back.” I stand. “Bathroom.”
I say it like a toddler who just learned how to use the toilet, but it doesn’t stop me from making my way around the table and out the door.
Hannah isn’t in the hall outside the conference room, so I pick up my stride toward the front of the office. She can’t be on the elevator already.
But when the front lobby comes into view, and I don’t see her anywhere, I slow.
She’s gone.
FOUR
HANNAH
The footsteps pass my hiding place— crouched inside one of the empty cubicles in the center of the floor— and I squeeze my eyes shut.
It’s Maddox. I know it is.
His steps slow, and I can hear the breath he heaves out.
I keep my lips pressed together as his footsteps pass my hiding spot again, this time heading back toward the conference room.
When I can’t hear him anymore, I wait another three seconds before standing and hurrying toward the elevators.
I don’t turn around, don’t look back to see if he’s changed direction again.
And as soon as the elevator doors open, I step inside.
There’s one hour left before the end of the day. Just one more hour to get through.
I press the button to select my floor, and the doors start to close.
FIVE
MADDOX
I step forward out of the empty office.
My movement causes Hannah to raise her eyes.
They widen when they meet mine, then the elevator doors slip shut.
That’s right, Little Bunny, you can run, but I’m going to chase.