Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
DALTON
Six Years Ago…
It’s been thirteen grueling weeks here at Marine Corps recruit training in South Carolina. The days feel endless, waking hours before sunrise, pushing my body through the toughest mental and physical challenges, only to lie awake at night, too restless to sleep.
Because even though I’m exhausted, I’d rather lie awake in my shitty bunk and replay the night with Savanna like a movie reel in my head.
Just one long, never-ending, continuous movie.
Her mouth on mine, her panting moans in my ear, her smooth skin pressed against mine, the words she whispered: “It’s always been you for me, too.”
In the thirteen weeks I’ve been here, I haven’t stopped thinking about it, even though it feels like a dream.
Fuck.
I’ve never wanted someone so badly in all my life.
Which is why I’m thankful that today, my Marine Corps training is officially complete. I just want to graduate, travel back down to Tybee Island, and spend my ten days of leave with Savanna.
It's mid-afternoon by the time graduation ends. Mom came for the event and wants to celebrate tonight with dinner before we head back to the island tomorrow. I step outside the restaurant and make a quick call to Hudson, checking in since I haven’t spoken to him since he started college in Athens.
I’ve missed Savanna more than anything these last three months, but Hudson comes in close second.
I miss talking to my best friend every day.
It takes five rings before he picks up, and when he finally answers, there’s a long pause. Then his voice comes through the line in a slur. “Hello?”
I check my watch. It’s only seven on a Friday night—he can’t be three sheets to the wind already. “Hudson, man! You okay?”
Realization finally dawns on Hudson. “Dalton? Fuck. Is that you? My guy, how are you? I miss you, buddy,” he sings into the phone.
There’s so much background noise that it’s difficult to make out what he’s saying.
I chuckle. “I’m good, man. Finished up my training. Just had graduation today. I’m looking forward to coming home for a bit.”
“Shit. Man, I’m so fucking proud of you. I’ll definitely have another shot on your behalf tonight,” he slurs.
I shake my head, chuckling. “I don’t think that’s necessary, man. It sounds like you’ve had plenty already.”
It was always Hudson, Sanders, and me partying together—but I was usually the one sober enough to take care of them.
I’m not there anymore, and that hits deep.
“That’s absolutely, without a doubt…not true,” Hudson slurs into the phone.
Yeah, okay. I know Hudson’s limit, and I can tell he’s way past it.
I clear my throat and get to the real reason I called Hudson. I want to hear how Savanna’s doing before I call her myself. Because truth be told, I’m a nervous wreck thinking about it.
“So, how’s everything back at home? How’s Savanna doing?”
Subtle, Dalton. Real subtle.
Hudson grunts, sighing into the phone before mumbling, “Fuck.”
My stomach drops.
“What is it, man? Is everything okay with Savanna?”
“Fucking Savanna, man. She’s going through some shit.” Sadness seeps into Hudson’s tone.
Meanwhile, panic is arising within me.
“Going through shit? What do you mean, man?” I ask, hoping Hudson can sober up enough to make some logical sense right now. Because whatever shit Savanna is apparently going through, she better be okay.
I wouldn’t be able to handle it if she weren’t.
There’s a long pause followed by a loud groan. “She’s fucking pregnant, man.”
My heart stops.
“Pregnant? What the hell? Did I just hear that right?” My voice shakes.
“Shit...yeah, man. It’s a fucking mess…by some guy she met...” Hudson’s voice muffles, and I strain to hear him. “...at some fucking party.”
A sudden weakness overtakes my legs, vision blurring. Pressure builds deep in my chest, and I’m almost certain I forgot how to breathe, replaying Hudson’s words in my head.
Some guy.
“Some guy?” My body is taut, blood boiling. I don’t know if I’m furious or really fucking devastated.
I thought she wanted me. I thought she was waiting for me.
She met a guy at a party?
“Yeah, some…random fucking guy,” he mumbles. “I’ve never been angrier at her in my entire fucking life. What was she thinking?”
A girl calls his name in the background.
“Shit, Dalton, I need to go…” he slurs. “Beer pong is waiting for me…I’ll see you when you come home to visit, yeah?”
A wave of numbness washes over me as I grip the railing I'm standing next to for support. “Yeah, man. Have fun. See you soon.” I hang up the phone, staring at the black screen, like I’m in the Twilight Zone.
It’s only been thirteen weeks.
Ninety-one goddamn days.
Three fucking months.
And in that time, Savanna’s not only forgotten about me, but she’s pregnant with someone else’s baby.
Yeah, I’m a heartbroken fucking idiot.
I let out a ragged breath, rolling my shoulders back, attempting to collect myself. I’m a damn Marine. Nobody can see me come undone like this.
I glance around the dark parking lot, slide my phone open with shaky hands, and pull up my flight information for tomorrow. Without hesitation, I hit cancel and book a flight to my next duty station instead.
Because if there’s one place I’m going tomorrow, it sure as hell isn’t home…
I’m halfway back to my house when my phone vibrates in my pocket. Between this insufferable Georgia humidity, running in a fucking sweatshirt, and seeing Savanna—I'm sweating profusely. I reach into my sweatpants and dig out my phone, Hudson’s name flashing across the screen.
“Hello?” I say, gasping for air.
“Uh, what the fuck, Dalton, did you just answer the phone while you were in the middle of sex or something?” Hudson whisper-shouts.
I shake my head, still trying to catch my breath.
“No, I’m on a run,” I wheeze.
Hudson blows a sigh of relief into the phone. “Oh, thank fuck. That would have been very awkward,” he chuckles.
Yeah, no shit, considering the person I would be having sex with is his sister.
“What?” My tone is sharp. Annoyance seeping out of me that I don’t have Savanna stripped naked and pinned under me right now.
“Oh, calm down. I have Drew tonight for a few hours since Savanna is having her girls’ thing with Hailey, and apparently, Drew says Twister is best played in a game of three.”
“Huh?” I’m not really sure what Hudson is asking here.
“Don’t huh me, Dalton. You’re a smart guy. You know exactly what I’m asking here.”
I place my free hand on my head, still trying to catch my breath. “You need me to play Twister with you and Drew?”
“Bingo!” Hudson shouts.
I pull the phone from my ear, shaking my head. My eyes roam the residential backstreets of Tybee. “Right now?”
“Yeah, preferably. I have an angry little six-year-old giving me the evil eye right now,” Hudson confesses.
I bark out a laugh at the mental image Hudson just painted for me. “Alright, man. I’ll be there in a minute. I’m actually close by.”
“Thank God,” Hudson exhales deeply. “Shit, I owe you one.”
As I’m about to end the call, I hear Drew yell at the top of her lungs, “Language!”
My shoulders shake with laughter as I pocket my phone.
Serves Hudson right.
I change course in my running route, changing directions to head toward Hudson’s waterfront apartment. As my feet pound the pavement, my lungs begin to burn as my speed increases. Not wasting another damn minute, adrenaline pumps through my body.
A little girl needs me for a game of Twister.
“Dal-ton!” Drew shrills. “I said right-hand yellow! Not left hand!”
I’m currently in the shape of a pretzel on the Twister mat, staring at an unwanted view of Hudson’s hairy thighs—realizing we are way past the male boundaries stage of our friendship.
Because his basketball shorts-clad ass has been three inches from my face for the last ten minutes, when he had to reach across me, putting his left foot on blue.
He’s practically doing the splits.
A grunt falls from my mouth. “Okay. Okay. Geez, tough crowd,” I say, rearranging my hands.
Drew giggles from where she’s sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of us.
Hudson huffs and puffs beside me. “Jesus. I thought I was pretty athletic, but leave it to a child’s game to show me just how damn out of shape I am,” he wheezes, holding himself up.
Drew and I shout “Language!” at him simultaneously.
“Damn isn’t a bad word!” Hudson shrieks, his arms shaking. “Alright, alright. Drew, love, I don’t know how much longer I can play this game. Your Uncle Hudson isn’t as flexible as he thought.”
Snorting, I shake my head.
Yeah, I’m not letting him live this one down after tonight.
“Just a few more spins!” Drew announces, pulling me from my scheming.
She flicks the plastic arrow on the wheel. “Right foot red,” Drew announces to Hudson.
I grimace when Hudson’s back brushes against me. “Jesus,” I mutter.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Drew stand up abruptly, setting down her wheel. When I hear a click, I turn around. Drew is standing behind us, Hudson’s phone pointed directly at the mat.
We are in a very compromising position.
“Drew….” I drawl in warning. “What are you doing?”
Her fingers fly over the phone, a smile beaming from her face. “Oh, I just wanted my mom to see all the fun we are having!”
My eyes widen. “What!” I screech.
For fuck’s sake.
Do I want Savanna to have a photo of Hudson and me practically dry humping each other on a Twister mat?
Absolutely not.
Hudson barks out a laugh next to me and falls to the mat, tapping out. “I’m sorry, Drew, these Jello arms just couldn’t handle it anymore.”
Just as we roll off the mat to start the next board game, Hudson’s phone rings. He looks down, his forehead pinching together. “Huh. I wonder who this is,” he says, answering. “Hello?”
There’s a brief pause before confusion seeps from his voice.
“Hailey?”
My heart rate picks up. Savanna is with Hailey. Why is Hailey calling Hudson? Why isn’t Savanna calling Hudson herself? I keep listening for any hint as to why Hailey is calling.
“Oh, man. Sangria?” Hudson questions. “How much did she have to drink?”
My ears perk up. Is Savanna drunk?
“Well, yeah, of course, Drew can stay the night. I have a spare bedroom. I can take her to school on my way to work tomorrow.”
There’s a quick pause before he continues.
“No. I get it. You go home and let your dog out. I’ll have someone check on her…okay, thanks, Hailey, bye.”
“What’s going on?” My voice deepens, arms cross against my chest.
“Well, it looks like our game night turned into a sleepover, Drew. Your mom is under the weather tonight.” Hudson winks at her, earning him a high-five.
My attention snaps back to Hudson. My tone changes from concerned to annoyed. “Well, what the hell is going on?”
Hudson chuckles. “I guess our little Savanna doesn’t quite know her limits.” He pauses, then snorts. “Which is surprising for a bartender.”
“How bad?” I ask, as I’m hit by a wave of nausea. I don’t like the thought of Savanna being shitfaced and alone tonight.
“Well…Hailey said she was able to get her upstairs and into bed, so I’m sure she’ll sleep it off.” Hudson shrugs nonchalantly.
My body goes rigid.
What the hell? Hailey just left Savanna upstairs, drunk and by herself? What if she gets up and trips down the stairs? What if she gets sick in her sleep? My mind is racing with all the worst-case scenarios that can happen to Savanna tonight.
I don’t like it one fucking bit.
“I’m going to check on her,” I say to Hudson firmly.
Hudson pats my shoulder. “I’m sure she is fine, man. Relax. She’s a big girl.”
I adjust my sweatshirt, nudging Hudson’s hand off me. “Yeah. Well, you told Hailey you would send someone to check on her. So, that person is me.”
Hudson’s playful expression turns serious as he studies me. “That person is you?”
I clear my throat, making a humming noise.
Hudson narrows his eyes. “Uh-huh. I see,” he responds. Taking a defensive stance, his arms cross against his chest, mirroring me.“Alright, man. Well, I guess go do whatever it is you think you need to do.”
I hear the hint of innuendo in his tone.
I give him a nod. “Yeah, all right, man. For Savanna’s sake, I think it's for the best.”
Hudson rolls his eyes, letting out a scoff. “For Savanna’s sake, of course.”
Yeah, we will probably have to talk about this later.