I Love You More Than I'm Afraid (Our Forevers #2) by Rebel Hart (the first e reader .txt) 📕

Hannah’s wardrobe consisted entirely of jeans, comfy sweatshirts and cool kicks. Vans, Converse, whatever. She’s a bit of a sneaker head.”

A warm smile came across Tristan’s face. “Really? I didn't know that!”

“Oh yeah.” I fell out laughing. “She once dragged me with her to this lottery for Jordans I think. It was all these grown ass men, mostly of color, and then two mousey, white teenagers. Someone would have thought we were lost.”

Tristan’s jaw dropped. “I would pay to see that.”

“I've got my guard up, you know? Typical unnecessary white fear, but here goes Hannah diving in, having full conversations with these guys. Like geeking out, showing one another pictures, straight up bonding.”

“Hannah?!” Tristan said. ‘No.”

“Swear to god. We had to stand in this line for like three hours, and even then the only reason she got the shoes was because no one there was looking for a women's size six!” I swiped tears from my eyes laughing so hard at the memory. “We ended up having to convince a cop that this big, black dude was my fucking uncle because Hannah wanted to have lunch with them and, well, a whole bunch of like twenty to thirty-plus-year-old men sitting down for lunch with two fourteen year olds doesn't necessarily look great from a distance.”

“No.” Tristan was laughing so hard he was doubled over. “Wow. I never knew that about her.”

It felt nice to be able to gush about Hannah. I’d severely underestimated this one, obvious thing in common Tristan and I had.

“She’s probably locked so much about herself away, which is sad because she’s…” I could already feel my good mood leaving. “Well, she's pretty incredible.”

“She is,” Tristan agreed. “This whole thing between you guys sucks.” I looked over at him and he retreated. “Oh no, that came out wrong. I just meant because it feels like you guys are kind of crazy about each other. It sucks that there’s such a barrier. I mean…” He started to fumble for his words. “I mean if Hannah was more… Open to the idea, would you give her another chance, or is it just ruined now?”

“Can I tell you something I’ve never even told Aria?” I asked.

Tristan jumped up like I’d just offered him gold. “Yes! I won’t tell her, I swear.”

I laughed. “I am so terrified that I’m never gonna get over Hannah. I’ve always operated under this notion that no one is ever going to live up to her, and at this point I’m just on the hunt for a consolation prize. When I think about being with someone other than her, it breaks my heart. Ever since I had my interview for Y.I.I.P., I’ve been having this dream. It’s ten years later, and I’m coming back to visit Aria and my sisters. I bump into Hannah and all those feelings come rushing back. Sometimes it’s nightmarish—she’s married to some guy and has kids and is just living that way, less than happy, all because she was too afraid to be herself. That’s a long answer to your question, but if I thought Hannah wanted to actually be with me, like actually be with me and no one else and not be afraid of who knows, I’d be jumping with joy. But I know she doesn’t.”

The frown on Tristan’s face told me I was right. “She loves you. There’s no question about that, but everything else… Yeah. I don't know.”

Fortunately, before we could drift too far off down that depressing path, Aria showed up. She came bounding up with a stack of something postcard-sized in her hand, immediately pulling two off the top and handing them to Tristan and me.

“Hey guys!” She gave Tristan a peck on the lips and me one on the cheek. “Graduation invitations are here!”

Tristan gave me a goofy glance and then took one of his and handed it to Aria. “Here’s mine.”

She took it from him, twisting her face at first as she studied the letters and then her jaw dropped. “Honey! Are the letters made from things I’ve written you?”

He responded with a dorky smile. “Mayyyybe.”

“Aw!” she threw her arms around him in a huge hug. “That’s so sweet. I love it. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you like it. You know, graduation is a big deal to me, but you’re a bigger deal.”

I gagged. “That was too sweet, I am going to die.”

“Shut up,” Aria grumbled, then looked down at her own invitation in my hand. “You know… There’s still time to change these. We haven’t mailed them out yet since my party isn’t until a little later in the summer.”

“No,” I replied simply.

“Change them?” Tristan asked. “Why?”

“Aria and her mother are actual angels from heaven, and because my parents obviously aren’t throwing me a graduation party, they graciously offered to share Aria’s. I’ve told them already though, that it is very sweet and considerate, but I’m okay. It’s a big deal that Aria’s graduating and her friends and family want to celebrate her.” Aria opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off. “And I know you wouldn’t mind, but I do. That’s a celebration of you.”

“You’ll come at least though, right?” Aria asked.

I playfully smacked her arm. “Are you kidding me? We’re gonna party it up! The last big hoorah before I leave for New York.”

Aria raised her eyebrows. “New York?”

“Yeah,” I said with a shrug.

She started to smile. “Is that optimism or a confirmation?”

I smiled to match hers. “I got the call this morning.”

She jumped up and let out a yelp. “Oh my god! Scholarship?”

I did an arrogant little dance. “Full ride for all four years.”

She tossed her arms around me. “Congratulations!”

“That’s awesome! Congrats!” Tristan said.

Aria pulled back, but kept her hands on my shoulder. “Okay, that we are celebrating! What are you doing after school today? Can you come over for dinner?”

I nodded. “I can do that.”

She looked at Tristan. “You’ll come too, right Tris?”

“Hell yeah! I’m there!” he said. “This is too big not to celebrate!”

School passed in