Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
SAVANNA
Six Years Ago…
Dalton’s fingertips trace slow patterns along my bare arms as he holds me against his chest in the sand. He leans down and kisses me hard before pulling back with a sigh. “We should probably get back to the bonfire before they come looking for us.”
I nod, turning away as the weight of what we just did finally crashes over me.
“Yeah. You're probably right,” I murmur, grateful for the darkness hiding the heat blooming across my cheeks.
My mind races as we leave our hidden spot beneath the pier and head back toward the glow of the fire and our friends’ laughter. Our fingers stay intertwined, feet sinking into the sand.
What are we now?
Are we together?
Did I just ruin our friendship?
Once Hudson and Sanders come into view, Dalton and I quickly break free, putting distance between us.
“There you guys are!” Hudson slurs, standing from his beach chair. “I thought you ditched us and went home. Dalton, you're our ride. Let's go. I’ll come back here for my truck tomorrow.”
I glance at Dalton, who is digging his feet into the sand, unable to make eye contact with my brother. “Oh, yeah, man. Sorry…Savanna and I just went for a swim.” Dalton rubs the back of his neck. “But yeah, let’s go.”
We weave through the dunes, making our way toward Dalton’s truck. As we make our way home, I see Dalton stealing glances at me from the rearview mirror.
So many unspoken words between us now.
When we pull up to the front of my house, Hudson jumps out of the passenger seat and stumbles toward the driver’s side. “Fuck. Get out and give me a hug! I won’t see you for a few months. You're going to be a big motherfucker the next time I see you.”
Dalton slips out and is met with Hudson’s bear hug.
Hudson finally lets go, stumbling his way inside.
I stand awkwardly in front of Dalton, shifting my weight. “So…I’ll see you soon?” I look down, fidgeting with the straps of my beach bag.
He grabs my hand, pulling me into him. Our bodies flush as he holds me against his chest, his chin resting on top of my head.
He sighs, pulling away. “Are you kidding me, Savanna? I’ll see you soon? Come on. I just spent a night that I had only ever experienced in my dreams.” He cups my face, softly kissing my lips.
“I’ll call you the second I’m done with basic. I promise. Okay?” His glacier blue eyes search mine, the pain of leaving etched in every line of his face.
I grip his wrists where they cradle my face, biting the inside of my cheek to keep the tears at bay. “Promise me?” I whisper.
Dalton presses a kiss to my forehead. “I promise on my life, Savanna. I’ll be thinking about you.” He studies my face, his eyes trailing the single tear that’s broken free.
“Shit, Savanna. Don’t cry. I won’t be able to leave if you do.” He pulls me tighter, wrapping me in his embrace.
Burying my face into his chest, I breathe in his scent.
“I’ll be calling from a new phone, okay? I have to send mine back once I get to camp.”
I look up at him as my chin trembles. I don’t think I’ve ever gone that long without talking to Dalton.
“We can do this, just thirteen weeks, okay?” he rasps. “We will figure us out the second I’m done, alright?”
“Okay.” My voice cracks, squeezing my arms around him tighter.
I pull back slightly and slip the gold bracelet from my wrist—the one with the dangling scallop shell I got for my birthday—and slide it onto his, wanting him to take a piece of me while he’s gone.
Dalton studies the bracelet with a pained expression, his long fingers twisting the dainty shell. He leans in to kiss me once more, gentle and lingering, before turning toward his truck. He climbs into the driver’s seat and hesitates there, not wanting to leave.
Our eyes never stray as he starts the ignition, the truck roaring to life.
He tosses his arm over the seat and glances behind him, slowly backing out of the driveway.
I stand there heavy-hearted as I watch him go—his taillights disappearing into the moonlight as I replay the last few hours in my head.
And as the months passed, it became clear to me—I was the one promise he couldn’t keep.
In exchange for a bracelet, Dalton gave me a child…
With Drew at Hudson’s for a few hours, playing board games and eating pizza, I pull the bottle of chardonnay I’ve been saving out of the fridge.
I set out two wine glasses and finish prepping the charcuterie board for girls’ night with Hailey.
I still haven’t gotten over the stunt Dalton pulled today.
I could wring his neck.
Ice cream?
He had the nerve to walk into my place of employment this afternoon—broody, all big-bad-Marine energy—making snide remarks and ordering fucking ice cream for lunch. All so he could stake his claim in front of Sanders and his new coworker?
Yeah, I don’t think so.
If Dalton wants to act like a jealous toddler, I sure as shit plan on treating him like one.
I’m a fucking bartender.
Flirting comes with the job. So does indulging men who think they have a shot because that’s how the tips get bigger. I’m a single mom raising my daughter on my own. This is the territory.
I slam the fridge shut and pull out the meats and cheeses. At this point, I might as well throw salami on a plate and call it bon appétit for Hailey, because I don’t have the mental bandwidth to turn cured meat into a damn flower tonight.
I don’t care that Dalton has given me two amazing orgasms this week. I won’t tolerate a broody asshole throwing a wrench into my life.
I mean, sure, have I been avoiding him the last few days?
Yes.
And have I made sure I was busy every second of the day, so he didn’t try to hang out?
Maybe, but it’s with good reason.
I can’t get too attached to him. And after one week and a few nights together, I’m daydreaming about what could become between us.
And that can’t happen.
Because he leaves for California in ten days, back to a life that doesn’t include me.
How do I know he will stay in touch this time? When he failed to six years ago? My mind is convincing me that as soon as I tell him the truth about Drew, he'll bolt again.
I finish the charcuterie board, bring it into the living room, and place it down on the coffee table.
As I make my way into the kitchen for the wine and glasses, a knock sounds at the front door—perfect timing.
I open the door expecting Hailey. Instead, Dalton fills the doorway—sweaty, breathless, and dressed in Marine PT-issued sweats and a hoodie, chest heaving like he ran here.
“Oh my God, Dalton. Did you just run here?” My eyes widen. “What are you doing here?” I ask, glancing past him to make sure Hailey isn’t here yet.
“Fuck. Savanna, I don’t know.” Dalton runs his fingers through his damp hair, leaning against the frame. "I was out for a run, and I just kept running until I ended up here.”
Should I offer him water?
Maybe I need the water, because this drenched, panting version of Dalton makes me feel like I just ran a marathon, too.
I’m thinking with my vagina right now, apparently.
“Oh. You ran here all the way from your mom’s? That’s like five miles away.” I keep my eyes on his face, and nothing else.
“Yeah. Yeah…I guess I did,” Dalton pants. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about you, and what happened earlier. Savanna, I’m so fucking sorry. I was a complete dick at the bar today.”
I nod my head, chewing on my lip, watching him pace in front of me.
Dalton just ran five miles in a sweatsuit in this Georgia humidity to tell me he was sorry.
“It’s fine, Dalton,” I reassure him.
“No, it’s fucking not. You didn’t deserve that.”
I cast my eyes downward at my bare feet.
“It’s just I haven’t stopped thinking about you, and it’s driving me fucking crazy.” He charges forward, and I suck in a breath, locking eyes with him.
He makes the pass through the doorway, charging forward to where I stand before him in the entryway. Walking me backward, I hit the wall, his large frame towering over me as his arms cage me in.
“And the fact that I’ve barely talked to you in the last few days? I’m losing my goddamn mind, Savanna.”
The wild look in his eyes tells me he’s about to demolish me.
“And then when I saw you at the bar today, it drove me even more insane.” He presses his hips into me, making me lose my breath.
My hands land on his chest as I try to keep my distance. With the look on Dalton’s face right now, there’s no telling where this might end up. “Dalton…Hailey is going to be here any minute.”
His eyes narrow. “Oh yeah? You can’t be seen with me, Savanna?” He rasps against my neck, grinding into me. “Are you embarrassed by me?”
I moan at the friction, his arousal thickening against my core. “No, Dalton…God. I’m not. It’s just this isn’t a good idea.”
I’m panting now as I try to control my breathing.
He pulls back and studies me before pressing into me again. “What? This?”
A whimper escapes me as I resist the urge to tug him upstairs. “You're leaving, Dalton. Really soon. We can’t have people getting the wrong idea.” My voice comes out rushed as I avert my eyes.
He rears his head back, forehead creasing. “And what idea is that, Savanna?”
“That we’re a thing, Dalton.”
Dalton clenches his jaw, his eyes roaming mine in a hot, heavy stare. “We are a fucking thing, Savanna.”
Before I have a chance to respond, he hoists me up to his waist, hiking me up the wall, and my legs wrap around his back.
Pining me in place with his hips, he grabs my face, pressing his lips to mine.
I whimper, my body arching into him. Sliding my tongue into his, he lets out a groan as he takes me deeper.
With his chest heaving, he pulls back, resting his forehead against mine. “God, baby, if Hailey wasn’t going to be here any minute, I’d take you upstairs and fuck you so hard right now.”
My eyes gloss over as I try to catch my breath. Kissing me gently one more time, he sets me on the floor. His thumb traces my lips as he fixes my smudged lip balm. Tucking a few loose strands of hair behind my ear, he takes a step back.