I sign the note with the nickname he gave me when he first saw my tattoo, rather than the fake name I gave him. It feels right somehow—a small, precious piece of truth in a night built on anonymity.

Before I have the chance to second guess myself again, I tear off the note and set it on the nightstand next to the face mask I won’t be needing anymore. Then I tiptoe over to the door, but I can’t stop myself from stealing one last glance at him, his strong, sculpted chest illuminated by the dim lights of the room.

I try to drink in the details, to commit this moment to memory so that I’ll never forget it.

Then I slip out and close the door as quietly as I can.

16. Hannah

Chapter 16

Hannah

The fresh air and bright sunlight that hits my face as I throw open the double doors of the law school feels like pure freedom. That test was grueling, easily one of the most difficult ones I’ve ever had to take, and that’s saying something. Everyone warned me going into it that law school is no joke, but I still underestimated just how hard this was going to be. And this wasn’t even a final exam or anything.

“Hannah, wait up!” Stevie calls, and I stop on the big staircase to wait for her. When she catches up with me, she blows out a breath and brushes her long, curly hair over her head. “Jesus, that was intense, but I think I nailed it. How do you think you did?”

I shrug. “I did the best I could. I guess we’ll see.”

“We should go celebrate or something. I mean, I know it wasn’t the most consequential test we’ll ever take or anything, but I’m still excited.”

I smile at her and mentally thank the universe I have an excuse not to go. Stevie is a good friend, but I’ve never had the same enthusiasm for the law that she has, and it’s getting harder every day to keep faking it, especially when she’s clearly doing better at all of this than I am. The gap between who I’m supposed to be and who I actually am feels wider every day.

But I don’t have the guts to tell her—or anyone—that.

We initially hit it off because we were both fresh on campus and thought we were going to change the world with our law degrees, but lately, I’m not even sure I’m going to make it to graduation, much less the bar exam.

“I’d love to, but I have to teach a couple of yoga classes tonight and I don’t even have time to get something to eat,” I tell her, and she frowns at me. “I know, I’m sorry. Can I take a rain check?”