Hannah’s back is to her and she can’t even let herself take a few seconds to admire the sleek muscles revealed by her tank top.

Mostly because she notices how Hannah immediately straightens out and freezes for a moment, as soon as she hears Caroline’s voice. It’s only a second, but it’s there and Caroline feels it.

When Hannah turns around, though, there’s a relieved smile on her face. So real that it shocks Caroline wordless, because – what? It is so far from the look she’d had on her face last night, so warm in that way Hannah has, that surprise takes over anything else.

Surprise and this little feeling of hope in her stomach. This little feeling that admittedly hasn’t completely died all night, apparently. Even when she’d thought it had.

“You came.” That relief is in Hannah’s tone as well, as she puts the stack of cupcake carriers down to shut the trunk of her car.

Caroline’s nerves feel so frayed, her hands shake slightly as she tangles them awkwardly in front of her. “Of course, it’s Abbie’s party.” She’s in normal summer attire, a pair of high-waisted shorts and a tucked in shirt, but she feels exposed as she shuffles from foot to foot. She can’t keep the words in. “Unless, you didn’t want me here?”

Hannah’s eyebrows draw together in what looks like a look of confusion and in that moment, if Caroline couldn’t still feel the spot on her chest where Hannah pushed her away, she would’ve thought she was making the entire thing up.

“Of course I want you here. And so does Abbie. Always.” Hannah’s smile always feels like a balm, something soothing after a hard day, but it does little for Caroline in this moment.

“Yeah?” She can’t control the genuine question in her tone, her heart in her throat.

Well, maybe the certainty behind that smile is doing more than a little. There’s those pieces of her, the ones that had been terrified that they were going to lose this softness – those parts feel like a tentative calmness is coming over them after spending the night with worst case scenarios.

The smile falters a bit and Hannah steps around the cupcake containers to place her hand on Caroline’s arm. She can feel the touch down to her toes. “We will always want you around. And,” she pauses, her hand sliding away from Caroline as she tucks them somewhat uncomfortably into her pockets. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” She knows she’s just repeating whatever Hannah is saying, but she can’t help it. None of this is going according to plan of the worst case scenario scripts she’d written in her head.

Then again, maybe she should have expected that. Because in what world did Hannah fall into worst case scenario?