Chapter 30
THIRTY
DALTON
Gravel crunches under my oversized tires as I make my way up my childhood driveway. After spending most of the afternoon at Savanna’s, I reluctantly left her—in tangled sheets, and with swollen lips—giving her some time to herself before Drew gets home.
Gripping the wheel, my fingers curl around the leather, nails leaving jagged marks. The panicked expression that flickered across Savanna’s face as soon as I uttered the word California is forever etched in my mind.
What the fuck was I thinking?
I had a day I could only dream about with Savanna. And before we even had a chance to talk about what this might be between us, I had to go and say some stupid shit.
Expect her to uproot her and her daughter’s life for me.
Pulling up next to Jenny’s SUV, I try my best to snap out of it, remembering that Drew is inside for their arts and crafts afternoon. Hopping out, I jog up the porch steps and push open the front door.
“Dalton! You’re here!” Drew shrieks from the dining room table. Leaping off her chair, she barrels toward me, almost knocking me off balance, when I scoop her into my arms.
“Hey, Miss Drew!” I smile. “How was your day?”
“It was so good,” she says, flashing me a wide grin. “Uncle Hudson made me a huge waffle and whipped cream breakfast this morning before school!” Putting her hand over her mouth, she giggles. “And then Grandma and Anne picked me up from school and took me for ice cream.”
I lift a brow. “Well, look at you working the system.” I pause before whispering, “I’m impressed.” I give her a fist bump, shooting her a wink.
Drew explodes with laughter, bumping her fist to mine. Suddenly, her face turns serious, holding her finger to her lips. “Don’t tell my mom,” she whispers.
I balk, offended she thinks I’m a snitch. “Your sugar addiction is safe with me. I promise.”
She claps her hands, squealing in approval as I set her back in her chair.
“Ladies,” I say, scanning the table at the various paint tubes and canvases scattered across. I lean down to hug my mom, then turn my attention to Jenny.
“Dalton!” Jenny bolts up from her seat, wrapping me in a warm hug. “Just look at you!”
I chuckle, scanning the woman before me. She was always a blend of Hudson’s witty humor and Savanna’s soft looks. “It’s good to see you, too, Mrs. Davis.”
Jenny scoffs, giving me a wink. “That’s Jen, or Jenny to you.” Standing back, she takes me in. “You certainly have grown since the last time I saw you. What are they feeding you in the military these days?”
Laughing, I give my belly a rub. “Surprisingly not as much as you would think, especially when you're deployed to a war zone and have to rely on MREs.”
Jenny’s eyes widen. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. Your mom worries enough for the both of us when you’re stationed in a war zone.”
My hands go up in defense. “You’re absolutely right.”
Mom laughs. “Well, she isn’t wrong, but you're definitely messing with the vibes we have going on here.”
“War zone?” Drew’s eyes bounce around us in confusion.
My heart sinks. Well, fuck.
“What do you mean, Grandma?” Drew asks, clearly determined to get an answer.
“Oh, honey,” Jenny starts, “there’s nothing to worry about.
Dalton travels all around the world. Some places are more dangerous than others.
He has a very, very important job in the military.
But he’s always safe, and now he’s here for a while until he has to go back.
” She smiles cheerfully at Drew, avoiding my job title like the plague.
I wouldn’t want to explain what a bomb detonator is to a six-year-old, either.
“Oh.” Drew’s eyebrows pinch together. “So...my mom was right, you’re not staying?”
Air stalls in my lungs.
Last night’s shower confession blares in my mind like a bullhorn.
“You will leave me, just like you did last time.”
I swallow hard, gripping the oak dining chair before me. “Well, I have to be back in California to check in on base here in a week, but maybe one day I’ll be home for good.”
Jenny and Mom wrinkle their faces in confusion as they study me. I have never once mentioned that I would eventually get out of the Marines and move home.
I watch Drew twist her fingers around her paintbrush. “I just wish you lived here already.”
Double fucking whammy.
Before I can think better of it, I reach down for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Me too, Drew.”
Mom’s eyes flicker wide at my sudden omission. Clearing her throat, she clasps her hands together. “Well, we were just painting whatever our little hearts desired before you came in. Care to join us?”
My eyes bounce around the table. I’m not really an art guy. I can barely draw a stick figure. But for this time with Drew? I’ll try.
“Sure. I can probably manage to make something,” I admit reluctantly.
Grabbing art supplies, I take a seat between Jenny and Drew. I don’t know what the hell I plan on painting yet, but I figured I could work out some type of art piece.
Will it be good? Absolutely not.
I can guarantee Drew’s will be better.
Uncapping a few tubes of paint, I squirt them onto my palette, trying to think of what to paint. Maybe Drew can help me come up with an idea.
“So, tell me, Drew, what do you have going on over there?” I ask, cocking my head toward her canvas. I see three orange blobs with triangles attached to them.
“Oh! I’m making a fish family.” She beams. I squint harder, trying to make out the fish. Maybe this is what they call abstract art?
“Oh, okay. I see it,” I lie.
Drew giggles, slapping her forehead. “It’s not done yet, silly!”
A relieved laugh falls from my chest before stealing a peek across the table at Mom and Jenny’s canvas. Their eyes narrow, focusing as they start a floral piece. Scratching my jaw, I give myself two seconds to back out before my brush dips into indigo paint.
I swipe it across the canvas, like my subconscious is suddenly taking over.
Everyone works quietly, and the sound of paintbrushes moving across canvases fills the space.
Finishing the blue I’m working with, I switch to purple and pinks, mixing them to create a cotton candy sunset.
My hand glides across the canvas, my body on autopilot as I create the image I see almost every night when I close my eyes.
My brush is now dipping into a cream color to create small dunes. Once finished, I create tall columns, trying my best to resemble a pier.
Drew peeks over my shoulder, forehead creasing. “What are you painting, Dalton?”
I flash her a grin. “South Beach.”
“Oh, the pier.” She tilts her head, her captivating blue eyes studying my canvas. “I see it now.”
A laugh booms from my chest.
Touche.
She then points, her face lighting up. “That’s my mom’s favorite spot.”
Snapping my gaze to Drew, my heart stills. “Oh yeah? Mine too.”
“Higher, Dalton!” Drew giggles, floating past me in the air, her bare feet kicking out beneath her from the center of the tire swing. She leans back, letting her blonde strands follow behind her.
Once everyone was finished with their paintings, Drew convinced me to take her outside to push her on the old tire swing that hangs hazardously from an ancient oak tree in the front yard.
Shockingly, this swing is still attached after all these years, which is why I push Drew back and forth gingerly. My stomach turns at the sight of it. This thing can snap at any minute.
This is a parent's worst nightmare.
Maybe I should add tree trimming to my list of chores to get done this next week.
“Sorry, Drew, but this is about as high as I’ll push you. I’m not sure how safe it is,” I say cautiously. My hands find her back, and I give her another gentle push, paying careful attention to the tension of the rope.
“What’s California like?” she asks, now out of reach.
My body stills, thinking about my conversation earlier with Savanna. Blowing out a breath, I contemplate my answer. “Well, where I live, it's sunny just about all the time. It hardly rains.”
Drew’s face twists up, like she just tasted something sour. “No rain? Like ever?”
I chuckle and give her a shrug. “I mean sometimes, but not like here in Georgia, where it rains even when it’s hot.”
Drew shakes her head in protest. “I don’t think I could live there. I love the rain. I think I would miss my mom’s rainy day snuggles too much.”
My stomach flips at Drew’s admission. The image of her and Savanna snuggled up with the rain pounding against the roof of the bungalow sends a longing to my chest.
I want to be there.
“Yeah, I bet you would miss those special days. They would still happen in California, just not as often.” I pause to think. “They have really nice beaches there, though,” I add reassuringly, like that makes up for the lack of rain.
She hums, kicking her feet higher in the air. “Well, I do love seashells,” she says, smiling back at me. “Maybe I can visit you there sometime!”
I chuckle, returning her smile, while inside, my pulse spikes.
What would it be like to have Drew and Savanna in California with me?
Drew comes crashing back into me, pulling me out of my daydream. Coughing into my fist, I try to hide my surprise. “Um, yeah, of course. You and your mom are always welcome to visit. But it’s up to your mom.”
Drew gives me a giddy laugh. “I think my mom would let me. She likes you, I can tell.”
My breath still, hands suddenly clammy against the rope.
How does she know that?
Does Savanna talk about me when I’m not around?
Holding the swing in place, I’m determined to get a breadcrumb thrown my way. “Oh, yeah? What makes you think that?” I ask, lifting a brow.
Drew raises her shoulders. A wrinkled smile climbs across her face, making the freckles on her nose disappear.
“I can just tell. She smiles a lot when you’re around.
” She pauses, tilting her head. “And she let you take me to the beach to look for shells the other day. She never lets me go with anyone but my grandparents and Uncle Hudson.”
My forehead pinches together, overthinking Drew’s observations.
Has Savanna not smiled a lot in the last few years?
And why did she let me take Drew to the beach? That must mean she trusts me, right?
Drew pulls me from my thoughts when her eyes widen, flashing me a huge grin. “Hey! Maybe you can come to my school for show-and-tell in a few weeks! It’s my turn, and everyone always brings in something really cool to share. I want to bring you!”
My head recoils. “Me?” My voice cracks. “Why would you want to bring me?”
She giggles at my bewildered expression. “Because I like you!” she squeals.
Whew, well, good. I’m glad she likes me—because I’m really starting to love her.
My stomach clenches, knowing I’m about to disappoint her. “Well, Miss Drew, I would love to, but I won’t be here in a few weeks.”
Her eyes cast downward at her toes hanging from the swing, the smile falling from her face. “Oh, okay.”
Fuck.
I absolutely hate this feeling.
An awareness begins to creep into my body as I study her slumped shoulders—I think I want to be there for all of Drew’s show-and-tells.
Not sure what to do with this realization, I try to cheer her up. “Hey,” I nudge her. “Maybe you can take your Uncle Hudson to your show-and-tell.”
She glances up, her eyes bulging, covering her giggle with her hand. “Maybe he can bring his trophies!”
I chuckle, giving her a wink. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind showing those off.”
I’m about to give Drew another push on the swing when I hear Jenny and Mom come down the porch steps.
“Come on, Drew! It’s time to get you home,” Jenny calls. “I’m sure your mom is missing you!”
“Okay!” Drew shouts back. Helping her out of the swing, I walk her to Jenny’s SUV, opening the door and buckling her in.
Reaching for my neck, Drew pulls me in for a hug. “Thanks for painting with me and pushing me on the tire swing, Dalton!”
I wrap my arms around her, squeezing, which earns me a giggle. “Anytime, Drew. See you soon.”
Shutting her door, I turn to say my goodbyes to Jenny. “You're really good with her, you know?” she says, grinning at me. “I can tell she really loves you.”
Gooseflesh erupts across my arms at her confession.
Scratching my jawline, I look back at Drew sitting in the car. “Uh…yeah…” I stammer. “Well, she's a pretty great kid. I enjoy spending time with her.”
Jenny gives me a soft smile. “It looks like it goes both ways. She sure likes to chat you up.”
I chuckle, shoving my hands in my pockets. “Yeah, we’ve become buddies,” I say, rocking back on my heels.
Jenny glances toward Drew, giving her a quick wave. “I would certainly say so.” She chuckles before adding, “I think she just enjoys some masculine energy around her. Maybe this will be the year Savanna finally settles down and meets someone.” Smiling at me, she turns to hug me.
Forcing a smile, I shrug. “Yeah, maybe.”
Meanwhile, every muscle in my body tenses, jaw stiffening. There’s no fucking way I want to think about Savanna with someone else when I’m back in California.
Pulling away, she laughs, “Well, hey, miracles happen!”
With a hard smile, I hum in agreement. Walking closer to the car, I open the door for Jenny. She slides in, the engine turning over. Rolling down her window, Jenny and Drew wave goodbye as they reverse down the driveway.
I stand there waving, the fake smile I'm wearing quickly fading. My legs feel heavy beneath me, watching them disappear, the hair on the back of my neck standing at attention. My body turns ice cold, thinking about Jenny’s definition of a “miracle.”
There’s no life where Savanna settling down with someone will be a miracle.
Unless that someone is me.