Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
SAVANNA
I blink my bleary eyes open as the blinding early-morning sun filters through my bedroom window.
As my vision slowly clears, I become painfully aware of the pounding in my head.
I lie motionless against the mattress, taking a few moments to reclaim consciousness, trying—and failing—to swallow. My mouth is bone dry.
It feels like someone force-fed me a bucket of gravel. Everything hurts.
Water. I need water.
I stretch a shaky hand toward my bedside table, silently praying I’d been smart enough to bring a glass to bed before Hailey’s girls’ night apparently got the best of me. I close my eyes and take a few steadying breaths.
What the hell did Hailey put in that sangria? I feel like I drank a whole mason jar of bootleg moonshine, or I was roofied.
In my current state, I honestly can’t tell which.
I try to inch closer to the bedside table, but quickly realize I’m rooted in place. Frowning, I glance down to find what’s holding me hostage, and my inner voice screams when I spot a tattooed arm slung around my waist.
Holy shit.
I squint, inspecting the arm further.
And then it dawns on me—I know that tattooed arm.
I freeze, scared even to breathe.
Panic rises in me, and a pounding chest quickly replaces my pounding head. I try to summon memories of last night as questions swirl in my mind.
Why is Dalton in my bed, spooning me?
Where the heck is Drew?
Did Hudson bring her home last night?
I can’t grasp any of it—I have no recollection of anything.
I glance down at the oversized t-shirt I apparently slept in. How did I get into this? The last thing I remember is spilling my guts to Hailey, and I was definitely not wearing this while I cried hysterically on the couch.
Oh. God.
My thoughts spiral faster. Did Dalton and I have sex? Oh, no. Did I drunk-call him, crying, and begging him to come over? Did Drew see him here? The sheer force of my worst-case scenarios must wake Dalton, because I feel him stir beside me, stretching and grunting out a yawn.
I manage a thick, sandpaper swallow. God, I need water.
Maybe I can pretend I’m still asleep. Maybe he’ll get the hint and do the whole sneak-out-without-saying-goodbye charade. As I’m about to squeeze my eyes shut, Dalton’s weight shifts and his lips press against my ear.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he rasps.
My body instantly erupts in gooseflesh. Oh, no. I think I like Dalton’s morning rasp, and I also think I’m going to be sick. The sound that leaves me resembles a dying cat.
Dalton chuckles. “Yeah, I slept pretty good, too.” He pushes himself against the headboard.
I can’t bring myself to peek over my shoulder at him. I’m too afraid of what I’ll find. Is he wearing clothes?
Finally finding the courage to glance behind me, I spot a gorgeous Dalton with disheveled hair and a sheepish grin staring back at me—Nope, not naked.
My heart flutters against my chest. “Hi,” I say awkwardly, covering my mouth with the sheets, hiding my morning breath.
“Hey, yourself.” Dalton’s eyes roam over me. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“Like death,” I groan.
He laughs, his arm flexing as he scratches the back of his neck. “Well, yeah, I can imagine. I don’t know what the hell Hailey put in that drink, but I’d highly advise against serving it at the bar. Unless you want to be stepping over dead bodies on your way out.”
I manage a groan. “Ha. Ha,” I say dryly. I need some answers fast.
I flip over, facing Dalton. “Why are you in my bed, Dalton?”
He shrugs. “You asked me to lie with you.”
My eyes drop toward his full lips. Good Lord, he’s tempting in the morning.
Focus, Savanna.
“Really?” I ask.
“Really.” He grins.
My eyes narrow. “And why were you at my house in the first place?”
Dalton tugs at the collar of his shirt, like it’s suffocating him. “Well, umm…I was at Hudson’s…and he got a phone call from Hailey.” His fingers linger at his collar.
“I thought it would be a good idea to come check on you...and Drew stayed with him last night…so I knew you were going to be alone...” he stammers.
“And Jesus, I’m glad I did. When I got here, I found you lying on the bathroom floor, Savanna.” Dalton shakes his head.
My eyes widen as embarrassment engulfs me. A flush covers my entire body. “Oh.”
“Yeah…Oh.”
“Did anything happen?” I ask, gnawing at the inside of my cheek, afraid to meet his eyes as I fist the linen duvet tighter around me.
His eyes widen. “Wait. Are you kidding right now? You can’t possibly think I’d take advantage of you when you were completely out of your mind, wasted.”
I sigh. “No. I’m sorry. I know you wouldn’t do that.”
Dalton nods, accepting my response. “Good. You know me better than that, Savanna.”
I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Oh, god. I hope I didn’t say anything embarrassing last night.” Peeking through my fingers, Dalton’s face is pensive.
“Just a few things...” He pauses, swallowing hard. “But I wouldn’t necessarily call them embarrassing…”
My eyes widen with panic as he studies me.
“Only that you love me.” He smirks, looking me dead in the eye.
I choke, the sandpaper feeling coming back with a vengeance. “I didn’t.”
Dalton’s chuckle vibrates the bed. “Okay, baby, I’ll let you believe that.”
I can feel my stomach bile rise to my throat. I wouldn’t have let that slip—would I?
“But for full disclosure,” he continues, “I did give you a shower because you had puke in your hair, and you reeked of vomit.”
I gasp. “Dalton! How embarrassing,” I shriek, smacking his arm.
He tosses his head back, laughing. “Hey, if we’re being honest here.” He puts his hands up in mock defense.
I glance down at my shirt, combing my fingers through my slightly damp hair. “Well, I guess that explains this.” I motion down the length of my body.
Dalton’s eyes gloss over as he takes me in. “Yeah. I guess it does.” He reaches over and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his knuckles brushing my cheek before he leans in and presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “Thank you for letting me take care of you last night.”
My heart swoops at the thought of Dalton taking care of me. He leans down to kiss me again, when suddenly there’s a banging at my front door. I leap out of bed as fast as I can, throwing a robe over myself. Whoever’s at the door can’t see me like this.
Or know Dalton’s in my bed.
I take the stairs two at a time until I reach the front door.
“She’s alive!” Hudson exclaims as soon as the door flings open.
I let out a frustrated growl. “Hudson, I’m not in the mood right now.” I press my fingertips to my temples, massaging them. He’s the last person I want at my door right now.
“Alright. Alright. Just checking on you. I just dropped Drew off at school, so I thought I’d swing by on my way into work.” Concern laces his voice as his eyes roam over me, his face pulling into a grimace.
I groan, dragging my hands down my face. “Thank you, Hudson. I can’t believe I drank that much last night. I never let myself get like that.”
He barks out a laugh. “Yeah, tell me about it. I can’t remember the last time you got so shitfaced you couldn’t function.” He pauses. “If I had to bet on it, I’d say before you had Drew.”
I huff. “You wouldn’t be far off.”
Suddenly, I hear motion behind me. Whipping my head around, I find Dalton jogging down the stairs. Apparently, he didn’t get the “hide and don’t be seen” memo.
Shit.
Hudson’s eyes widen at the sight of Dalton trotting down my stairs at seven in the morning. “Well, well, well,” Hudson says, laughing. “Who do we have here?” He raises an eyebrow at Dalton, shooting me a simultaneous what the fuck look.
Dalton stands behind me, placing a hand on my lower back. His gentle touch grounds me. “Hudson,” he says, tone measured.
My eyes bounce between the two of them. Hudson with a smirk, and Dalton with a glare.
A standoff.
Hudson breaks first with a howl of laughter. “Well, looks like you finally figured it the fuck out.”
I grimace. What the hell is Hudson talking about?
I clear my throat, shaking my head. “Excuse me? No. Dalton here was just checking on me, but nothing happened. And he was just leaving.” I step away from Dalton, pushing him out the door.
Dalton frowns. “Uh, right…well...I guess I’m going to go,” he stammers, giving me one last look before making his way past Hudson.
Hudson watches our interaction with amused eyes before tilting his head back over his shoulder. “Hey, future brother-in-law!” he shouts. “Since you don’t have your truck here, I’ll give you a ride to your mom’s on my way to work.”
Dalton stops dead in his tracks. Glancing back, I watch his throat bob. “Sure, thanks.”
After a quick moment, he finally breaks eye contact and continues to move down the driveway toward Hudson’s truck.
Hudson continues to stand in my doorway with a wide grin. “So, you and Dalton, huh?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“Hudson!” I shout loud enough to wake up my neighbors. “I can’t believe you just said that!” I jab my finger into his chest.
He laughs, holding up his hands. “Relax. I’m joking…besides, Dalton would have to ask for my permission for your hand in marriage first, before I’d ever consider him my brother-in-law.”
I gasp, a fresh wave of nausea rolling through me.
Hudson just used the words Dalton and marriage in the same sentence.
Oh, God. I’m going to be sick.