Chapter 19
\nThree Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 19<\/p>\n
Helen couldn\u2019t help but laugh out loud. \u201cIf Lawrence really had a thing for your precious leader, why was he dating Bonnie in the first place? Seems to me he wasn\u2019t all that into her. Otherwise, he wouldn\u2019t have spent over a year chasing Bonnie like some lovesick puppy. Honestly, even if you gift-wrapped a guy like that, we wouldn\u2019t want him.\u201d<\/p>\n
She threw her boyfriend a pointed look. Ned, who\u2019d heard plenty about the old drama from Helen, picked up the cue right away. \u201cWasn\u2019t Bonnie Lawrence\u2019s first love? That must\u2019ve stung. First loves are always the hardest to get over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nana\u2019s cheeks turned bright red, and the girls around her looked ready to jump in and defend their friend. Bonnie stood up and stepped in front of Helen.<\/p>\n
Hannah was a ballerina, tall and gracefully poised. Bonnie, at five foot six, stood a little shorter, but her cool, collected face gave her its own kind of authority.<\/p>\n
People used to joke that Bonnie got it from her mom, calling her a budget version of the Ice Queen.<\/p>\n
She looked Hannah square in the eyes and spoke like it was no big deal. \u201cIf you keep a dog, you\u2019re supposed to use a leash and a muzzle. Otherwise, it\u2019s only a matter of time before someone gets bit. You\u2019ve had dogs for years, Hannah. I really don\u2019t need to explain this to you, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
The smile on Hannah\u2019s lips faltered for a split second. It wasn\u2019t the first time she\u2019d heard Bonnie call her friends dogs. That trick was straight out of Lawrence\u2019s playbook.<\/p>\n
Trying to keep things civil, Hannah gently blocked Nana and the others. \u201cCome on, we\u2019re all friends here. There\u2019s no point fighting. Let the past stay in the past. My little one with Lawrence is almost three. Does any of this even matter anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry we interrupted you, Bonnie. Let\u2019s catch up another time.\u201d She forced a smile and led her group away.<\/p>\n
Helen looked almost disappointed they hadn\u2019t gotten into a full-blown argument. She let out a soft huff and flopped back into her seat. Ned poured her some water and nudged her, fishing for a compliment. \u201cNot bad, huh? Did I do okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Helen elbowed him and ignored the comment. So he topped off Bonnie\u2019s water instead. \u201cDon\u2019t let those people ruin your night. Dinner\u2019s on me. If you want anything else, just order it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bonnie smiled and shook her head. \u201cHonestly, I\u2019m in a great mood. The food here is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Helen helped her to a chicken wing. \u201cYou should eat more. You\u2019ve gotten so thin lately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some people might say it\u2019s been three years and any pain Bonnie felt should have faded by now. But Helen knew better. She\u2019d been by Bonnie\u2019s side long enough to understand. That scar called Lawrence never really healed. It kept getting picked open, again and again.<\/p>\n
That day was a big deal. Not only was it Hannah\u2019s birthday, but she\u2019d also just become a principal dancer at the National Ballet Company.<\/p>\n
The Lane family was throwing a party for Hannah, but Lawrence was the only one missing.<\/p>\n
Lawrence had been holding Bonnie at the time, gazing at her with bright, sparkling eyes. His tone was casual. \u201cCongrats, Hannah. I gave Mom your present, just remember to ask her for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hannah asked if he\u2019d be coming home. Lawrence told her no, he was busy chasing his future sister-in-law and would talk to her later.<\/p>\n
Bonnie remembered the silence on the other end, long and heavy, before Hannah finally said \u201cOkay\u201d and hung up.<\/p>\n
Later, Lawrence mentioned that Hannah had gone to Russia for an exchange program and was out of the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-687","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}