Later that evening, Hanna walked into the living room to find Finn and Jacob sitting on the couch, deep in conversation. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of them—she hadn’t expected Finn to go directly to Jacob without telling her.
“Hey,” she said cautiously, stepping closer. “What’s going on?”
Jacob looked up, his expression softening slightly. “Finn told me about Ciara.”
Hanna’s stomach sank. “And?”
“And I told him about the fight,” Jacob said. “It’s not much, but if she spins it the right way, it could look bad.”
Hanna sighed, sinking into the chair across from them. “Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”
Jacob shrugged, his shoulders tense. “Because I didn’t think it mattered. It was just some stupid argument. I didn’t think she’d hold onto it for this long.”
“Ciara never lets anything go,” Finn said grimly.
Hanna bit her lip, her mind racing. “We need to figure out a way to counter this before she starts spreading rumors. If people only hear her version of the story, they’ll believe it.”
“We could find someone who was at the party,” Finn suggested. “Someone who saw what actually happened and can back Jacob up.”
Jacob frowned. “Most of the people who were there were Mark’s friends. They’re not going to help us.”
“Not all of them,” Hanna said slowly. “There were a few people there who don’t get along with Ciara or Mark. If we can find them, they might be willing to tell the truth.”
Jacob nodded reluctantly. “It’s worth a shot. But if this blows up in my face…”
“It won’t,” Finn said firmly. “We won’t let it.”
Hanna glanced at Finn, her heart swelling with gratitude. Despite everything they’d been through, he was always there when she needed him.
“Thank you,” she said softly, her eyes meeting his.
Finn smiled, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “We’re in this together. All of us.”
Jacob watched the exchange, his expression thoughtful. “You know,” he said after a moment, “I wasn’t sure about you at first, Finn. But… I get it now. You’re good for her.”
Hanna felt her cheeks flush, but Finn just grinned. “Thanks, Jacob. That means a lot.”
As the three of them began brainstorming their next steps, Hanna felt a flicker of hope. The storm wasn’t over yet, but with Finn and Jacob by her side, she knew they had a fighting chance.