When Hannah reaches out and her hand, warm and soft, lands on Caroline’s arm in an appreciative, gentle squeeze, she can’t immediately step back from it. That would just be rude, right? But she forces herself to squash the flutter in her stomach as best she can and unfolds her arms in a few seconds so that Hannah’s hand falls away.

“You want to stay for dinner?” Hannah asks, as she starts tugging the shopping bags further into the living room. “We’re having pork chops.”

She clears her throat as she feels her cheeks heat up. “I’d like to.” She really would. “I can’t, though.”

Hannah’s eyebrows lift as she jokes, “This is the first time you’re turning down my homemade food. Should I be offended?”

Caroline offers a small smile, reminding herself that there is no reason she should feel uncomfortable as she says, “Ha. No. I just, I have a date.”

No reason to feel uncomfortable, she reminds herself. None at all. Even when a look of surprise takes over Hannah’s features, her eyes widening as she stares at Caroline for a long moment. “Oh. I… didn’t realize you were, um, dating. Again.”

Caroline rocks back on her heels, hating this awkward feeling and knowing it’s her own fault. And who knows, maybe Kris is right and she wouldn’t even have these feelings for Hannah so intensely if she hadn’t cut out dating for the last year.

“Yeah, it’s just some drinks with a woman from work. Nothing serious.” And it won’t be something serious because I would much rather have pork chops with you and Abbie. But down the line, maybe that won’t be true, she finishes.

Hannah still looks shell-shocked, blinking up at her for a few long seconds before her mouth curves into a smile. “Oh. Good! I hope you have fun.”

“Thanks.” She hopes so, too, even though she mostly just hopes she won’t think about Hannah while she’s out.

A little crinkle forms between Hannah’s eyebrows as she averts her eyes to the bags in her hands. “If… if you need to go and get ready, I don’t want Abbie and myself to be in your way.”

“You aren’t,” she’s quick to say because the last thing she wants is for Hannah to feel like a burden. But she does emit a long exhale. “I should go soon, though.”

No, it’s not exactly what she wants. But it’s all a part of Caroline’s Being-In-Love-With-Your-Best-Friend Recovery Program and she knows it’s for the best.

***