“I told you, Caroline.” Hannah draws her hands through her hair, knocking her visor totally askew, fire in her eyes. “My problems are my problems. I need to deal with them, on my own. Michael is my problem. If he says something about me, or us, then tell me. And I will deal with it.”

It only occurs to her in that moment what Hannah’s saying. And Caroline has to blink from the rapid change of pace, the weight of the misunderstanding moving through her.

“I don’t need or want anyone fighting my battles for me. That’s not – what I need.” Hannah’s hands are on her hips, flexing tightly, her expression drawn.

“You’re… mad at – me saying, just, something to Michael? Anything at all? Not what I said? Not that he,” she shakes her head, staring at Hannah in confusion. “Knows about us?”

“Well, I’m not thrilled about that part, but I’m not naïve enough to believe Michael would never figure it out.” Hannah growls, low in her throat, dragging her hands through her hair again. “You can’t do that, Caroline. You just can’t tell Michael off. I don’t want you to step in and… and…”

When she just groans, Caroline knows that she’s searching for the words she wants to say but is failing.

And hers bubble right up, unbidden.

“I didn’t say anything to Michael to be your savior or try to take any of your independence away from you,” they burst from her mouth, far more impassioned than she expects, but she can just feel it.

Hannah’s nervous, agitated energy immediately stills, as she stares at Caroline. Her eyes are still fiery, her expression still angry, but now that she’s started, she can’t stop.

“I did it because… I want your problems to be my problems. And I want my problems to be yours. I like the idea that you’d come to me at the end of a hard day and know that I want to be there for you. And that it doesn’t have anything to do with taking anything away from your independence, Hannah, because your independence is something I love about you. One of the many things. Because I just… love you.”

A laugh wells up in her throat. Giddy, almost, like these words have spent so long living as their own entity inside of her and they are so happy to be released out into the world.