But it’s weighing heavily on her mind as she and Hannah make their second trip outside. Hannah’s walking in front of her toward the picnic table, a platter of snacks in her hands while Caroline trails her, hauling a heavy cooler. Dark eyes are glued to Hannah’s legs – they were just so long – on display in her cutoffs.

As she stares, it comes out without her meaning it to.

“Did Jared ask you out?”

Hannah has already made it to the table, rearranging the food there as Caroline is struggling – why didn’t she load this stupid cooler full of drinks when it was already outside? She pauses her rearranging of the food, though, and turns to look at Caroline.

Her eyebrows are lifted in surprise. “I didn’t realize he’d talked to you about it.”

Oh, fuck. He’d really done it. The feeling in her stomach, like she’s being punched, comes back full swing.

“He just asked me some stuff.” She forced herself to clear her throat, dropping Hannah’s gaze as she readjusts her grip and takes a few more steps forward.

“Okay…” Hannah trails off, her hands coming to rest on her hips. “Well, yes, he asked if I’d like to go on a date.”

It’s a perfunctory answer that gives nothing away, her words perfectly measured.

And it does nothing to alleviate this bad taste in the back of her throat. “Oh. Good.”

“Good?” There’s an amusement in Hannah’s voice as she drags out the word.

“Well, good if you want it. I mean, maybe it’s a little weird,” the words escape her before she thinks about them. A dangerous issue she has with Hannah, clearly.

“Weird?” Hannah purses her lips, tilting her head as she looks at Caroline. A moment later, a laugh breaks from her lips. “Are you jealous?”

She completely freezes, the cooler she’d been struggling to carry falling out of her hands, narrowly missing falling completely on her feet. But all she can feel is that laugh in her chest and – it hurts. Her heart pounds, like Hannah’s been aware of her feelings and is now mocking them.

The blood rushes through her head, because she – she can’t –

Hannah’s hand landing on her arm pulls her back to reality, her face swimming in Caroline’s vision and the worry in her gaze unmistakable. Her laughter is completely gone. “Caroline? Are you okay?”

“I –” She searches those gray eyes, looking for any hint that Hannah knows. But all she sees is confusion and concern.

And then she berates herself. For thinking that Hannah would possibly do that to her. Even if Hannah knew about her feelings, she knows – mostly, probably – that she wouldn’t mock them. She’s way too good for that.

“I just…” Her throat is dry, though, while her heart rate starts to go back to normal.