Chapter 5
FIVE
DALTON
I have been staring at Savanna all damn night.
The little white pieces of wet material she likes to call a bikini are sticking to her body, outlining every intimate detail that should be for my eyes only.
I find the outline of her nipples, perked through the fabric of her triangle bikini top.
The dampness mixed with the slight chill of the Georgia coastline makes them point straight at me.
I’m trying my damn hardest to gather enough self-control not to stare.
But it’s not working.
It’s surprising that Hudson hasn’t noticed me staring at his little sister all these years.
I feel like it would be hard for someone not to notice where my eyes fall as soon as she walks into the room.
Or the way I suddenly lose the ability to speak when she’s in my presence.
But not Hudson. And definitely not Savanna.
Everyone is oblivious to how I feel, and for Hudson’s sake, I’ve let it stay that way.
What would my best friend since I was eight say about me fucking drooling over his little sister? I see how he reacts every time someone flirts with her. If he knew about the forbidden thoughts that run rampant in my head about his sister, he wouldn’t consider me a friend anymore.
He’d probably kill me. Tie my ankles to a load of bricks and toss me off the boat, deep into the Atlantic fucking Ocean.
But I can’t help feeling tempted by her tonight.
The way her wet blonde hair cascades down her back.
The way she has slowly been nursing her beer—her emerald, green eyes contrasting against the flames as she stares lost in thought, like she’s asking it a question and waiting for a response.
I’ve been doing the exact same thing over the course of the last few hours, staring into the fire and watching her from the other side.
Thinking about the fact that I’m leaving for basic training tomorrow.
Leaving Tybee Island.
Leaving my mom.
My friends.
Her.
My heart rate ticks up at that last thought as my palms become sweaty. The harsh reality engulfs me, knowing that the next time I visit home, Savanna might be dating someone else. And by then, it will be too late for me to tell her how I feel.
I grip the glass bottle in my hand, fingernails digging into my palms.
Nothing would feel more torturous than coming home and seeing Savanna with someone else.
Straightening in my chair, I take a shallow breath. In this moment, I couldn't care less if Hudson dumps me into the ocean tonight, because I’m leaving for basic training in twelve hours, and there’s no way I’m going without telling Savanna how I feel.
She’s worth the risk.
Knowing this is my last opportunity to be alone with Savanna, I find enough courage to grab my beach chair and settle it beside her.
Savanna pretends not to notice my sudden proximity as I straighten out my chair, my hand brushing hers.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel the automatic pull of that slight touch.
The quick uptick of my heart rate at the forbidden contact—acting like liquid courage to do what I’m about to do next.
My body leans slightly against Savanna’s as I whisper into her ear—my voice becoming gravel at her closeness. “One more swim, Sav? Before we go?”
Her doe-green eyes are caught like a deer in headlights as she glances at me. A breath escapes past her luscious, pink lips.
Jesus. My body stills at the way she’s looking at me.
I’ve wanted her to look at me like this my whole fucking life.
Savanna finally nods, biting her bottom lip as she stands. She shimmies off the beach towel that has been acting like a blanket, doing what I wish to be doing—keeping her warm.
We both glide into the ocean, letting the cool waves overcome us.
It’s completely dark out, with nothing but the light from the moon and the stars reflecting off the Atlantic, guiding our way.
When I see Savanna get pushed back from the waves, I grip her hips, steadying her.
With my front pressing against her back, my fingertips dig into her soft skin to root her in place against the tide of the waves.
My hands on her petite frame make me unravel.
I have dreamed of touching her like this for years, craved it, really. Now that I have it, I have an appetite for more. I lean down into her neck with my lips grazing the tip of her ear and whisper, “I think I’m going to kiss you now, Savanna.”
Her body stills in my grasp, like she forgot how to breathe.
She turns herself toward me, swaying slightly in my arms. Her bare skin presses against mine with each gentle push of the waves, and I know I can’t keep it together much longer.
When I see Savanna’s heated gaze flicker toward my lips, I’m left to wonder if she feels what I feel, too.
Does she crave me as much as I crave her?
Without the chance to think about all the reasons I shouldn’t do this, I pull her under the water and crash my lips into hers…
I sip my beer, trying (and slightly failing) to listen as Hudson talks about living back on the island for the last few months. My head bobs along as if I’m paying attention, but I stay laser-focused on Savanna’s every move.
My eyes trail up her body, taking in her long, blonde hair, which is pulled back in a tight ponytail, swaying back and forth with each step she takes.
My piercing gaze lands on a sliver of her toned stomach in her black Salty Sailor tank when she reaches for a bottle of Jack, and I swear, I practically lick my lips.
I watch as she stands on her tiptoes, trying to see how far she can extend her arm without pulling out the step stool near the back counter.
My attention immediately lands on Savanna’s ass in her skintight blue jeans—undressing her with my eyes as I swallow back the lump forming in my throat.
In my mind, I’ve created a scenario where I take the two quick strides behind the bar, press my body against her petite frame, and reach for the bottle of Jack.
Jesus, snap out of it, Dalton.
But it’s hard to snap out of it when there hasn’t been a single day that I haven’t thought about her, or that night we shared on the beach.
And even after all this time, the memory of us wrapped up in one another continues to torment me almost every night like the depressing, lonely man that I am.
I’ve come to learn there are a few things you don’t forget in life—and a crushing heartbreak by a beautiful girl that you’ve been obsessed with most of your life is one of them.
“So, what do you say? You’ll go?” Hudson asks.
“Go where?” I ask, confused. I guess I really was tuning out my best friend when my mind was in the gutter.
“To the damn game, Dalton,” Hudson says with an eye roll.
“Oh...I’m not sure. Possibly.” I pause, scratching my jawline, unable to think straight.
I watch as Savanna makes her way to us from down the bar, stopping abruptly in front of Hudson, paying zero attention to me. “I’m closing out my shift now and heading to pick Drew up from school. See you later?”
Hudson nods. “Yeah, sounds good, sis. I’ll stop by and say hi to Drew. Maybe I’ll walk her down to the beach to give you a break this evening.”
Savanna’s face softens. “Thanks so much, Hudson. Drew would love that.”
Grabbing her purse from underneath the shelf, Savanna lifts the bar top, closing it behind her. As she’s about to leave, she hesitantly tilts her head my way—her body almost within reach of my hands—and mumbles, “Nice seeing you, Dalton.”
She doesn’t even give me the chance to reply before she makes a hasty exit out of Salty Sailor’s front door.
Well, shit.
I stare entranced at the exit, like I’ve just seen a ghost. Considering I only see Savanna in my dreams, I might as well have.
Another bartender steps behind the bar and continues where Savanna left off. “Hey, Hudson. Any more drinks for you boys, or should I close out your tab?” the petite brunette asks cheerfully.
“Just two more beers. Thanks, Hailey,” Hudson says sheepishly, fidgeting with the now-empty bottle in his hands. My eyebrows pinch together at his bashful voice—realizing this new hesitant tone is foreign to me. Hudson has never been shy a day in his life.
With Savanna gone, I swivel on my barstool and begin my interrogation. I’m hoping to be as nonchalant as possible; the last thing I need is for Hudson to grow suspicious about my feelings for his little sister.
Last I heard, she had a baby.
Presumably, married.
Living out her happily ever after—of course.
“So…what has Savanna been up to? She didn’t seem very talkative today. Do you see her a lot now that you are back in town?” I sip my beer, letting the ice-cold liquid hit the back of my throat.
Shit, why am I even doing this to myself?
Do I even want to hear how blissfully happy Savanna is?
Hudson shakes his head, weighing how much to tell me. “Yeah, for the most part. I help out with Drew, which takes a load off my parents. But honestly? I love hanging out with her, so it works out.”
Hudson takes a small sip of beer, chuckling. “She is the spunkiest six-year-old I’ve ever met.” He beams—the genuine affection for his niece radiates off his face.
“Oh, yeah?” I arch an eyebrow. “Why do you have to help so often? Where’s Drew’s dad?” Saying the name of Savanna’s daughter causes heat to rise to my cheeks, and saying the words Drew’s dad makes me want to throw this glass bottle at the fucking wall.
“Shit, man. Drew’s father has never been in the picture. They have actually never met,” Hudson says in a low whisper.
What? Excuse me?
I’m assuming Hudson notices my excessive eye blinking and apparent change in demeanor as the color drains from my face.
He continues, “Savanna says she doesn’t remember who he was.
Apparently, she was so drunk at this party in high school that she doesn’t even remember who it could possibly be.
” Hudson blows out a breath and adds, “Which I call bullshit, because we all know Savanna. She barely even dated in high school. And she certainly wasn’t a huge partier. ”
I nod in agreement. Yeah, that doesn’t sound like Savanna at all.
I then shake my head, narrowing my eyes when Hudson’s words settle.
“What do you mean, she doesn’t know who the father is?
I thought you told me she was with the father of her baby when I called home after basic.
When you told me she was pregnant.” This fucker, I call a best friend, better have a damn good explanation for this.
Because the narrative I’ve spun over the last six years has now been flipped upside down.
And I think I’m going to be sick.
I stayed away from the island this long because I couldn’t bear seeing Savanna with someone else, and now I feel like a goddamn fool that she never was.
“No, man. Shit. I don’t think I said that. Did I? I was pretty upset about it back then, so it could have been wishful thinking that I said something like that out loud,” he says.
I draw in a sharp breath, thrumming a sound against my throat as I let his words sink into me. I plaster on a straight face despite the unraveling occurring within me at this newly revealed information.
Hudson straightens, fixing the collar of his jacket. “Whoever the asshole is who got Savanna pregnant is definitely missing out, though. Drew is the best damn kid. She’s funny and feisty. Reminds me exactly of how Savanna was growing up.”
Flashes of a feisty, young Savanna take front and center in my mind.
Like the time she followed Hudson, Sanders, and me to the baseball fields, demanding she play with us, taunting us by saying, girls play ball better than boys.
She proved it, too, when she clocked a fastball Hudson pitched to her with his Division I arm over the fence—earning Savanna a home run.
The smug look on her face as she crossed home plate is a look I’m sure she perfected and passed down to her daughter.
Hudson pulls me from my daydream when he tilts his head, his forehead creasing. “It’s kinda funny that she named her daughter Drew, huh? I always thought that was more of a boy's name since it reminded me of your middle name.” He pauses. “But it suits my niece now that I know her.”
I shake my head at the coincidence. “Huh, that is something,” I say, scratching my jaw.
Righting myself, my mind shifts back to the life-altering news about Savanna. “Wow. Well, shit, Hudson. I had no idea,” is all I reply stupidly into the mouth of my beer.
Because that’s how I feel right now.
Like a complete idiot.