Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
DALTON
By some miracle, my legs are moving beneath me, but my steps feel heavier with each stride I take. My heart pounds, blood rushing through my head as anger churns in my chest at Savanna’s confession.
Drew is fucking mine.
For six goddamn years, I’ve had a child walking this earth that I didn’t know existed.
And not just any child—Savanna’s.
One we created together. In this exact fucking spot.
The familiar feeling I’ve felt over the last two weeks, every time I’ve been in the presence of Drew, suddenly clicks together like a puzzle.
Same light blue eyes? Check.
Same dimple on her right cheek when she smiles? Check.
The look she gets in her eye when she’s curious about something? Check.
My feet falter in the sand.
The same name as my middle name? Double fucking check.
My nostrils flare, disbelief coursing through my body that Savanna kept this from me.
I pick up my pace in the sand, barreling toward the bonfire.
From behind me, Savanna shouts my name. Glancing over my shoulder, I spot her in the distance, frantically running in my direction.
A dizziness overcomes me. I need to get the fuck out of here.
When she realizes I’m not stopping, her voice becomes crazed. Desperate. “Dalton, wait!”
My chest pounds, legs moving fast away from her—I'm not stopping.
Savanna thinks she can explain this? What could be her reason for the fact that she couldn’t find a way to tell me? What would have happened if I hadn’t come home two weeks ago?
Would I have ever known I had a daughter?
Would I have met Drew?
Or was Savanna planning on taking her secret to the grave?
My mind is racing, but my legs push me further toward the flames. I need to keep moving forward. I don’t want to know the answers to these questions. Not right now, not like this. Because I’m almost positive I will say something that I will never be able to take back.
“Dalton!” Savanna shrieks. Her sobs mix with the sound of the waves, gutting me. “Stop! Let me explain!”
Hudson and Sanders jump up from their beach chairs when they hear Savanna’s screams. Their eyes widen with alarm, watching Savanna running behind me, before their eyes land on me.
Storming toward them, I shoot them a venomous look.
Grabbing my truck keys from where I left them in the cupholder of my beach chair, I grip them tight—the jagged metal digging into my palms.
“What the fuck is going on?” Hudson snarls, puffing up his chest, ready to protect his sister.
“Ask her,” I snarl, kicking my chair out of the way.
Hailey and Chad’s eyes dilate when my chair lands at their feet.
Hudson takes a step closer to me, Sanders at his shoulder.
“Dalton, what’s going on, man?” Sanders asks, gripping Hudson’s shoulder.
A manic laugh escapes me when I take a step closer to Hudson. “What? You think I’m the one who did something?”
Hudson’s eyes slice through me, his hands balling into fists at his sides. Savanna’s feet come to a halting stop, her chest heaving, gasping for air.
“Well, I don’t really fucking know,” Hudson seethes, his eyes darting to Savanna’s, catching on the black mascara streaking down her face.
My head whips to Savanna. “Does he know?” I ask, my finger almost digging into Hudson’s chest. “Did you lie to everyone?” I tilt my head, eyes boring into hers. “Or only me?”
Savanna gasps, the air leaving her lungs, eyes glaring into me.
“Lie to everyone?” Hudson’s eyes dart back and forth between us. “Do I know what?” he barks, forehead creasing.
“Tell him.”
Savanna shakes her head, her molars clenching together. From the way she’s looking at me, with worry and fear—Hudson doesn't know.
“Tell him, Savanna,” I say through gritted teeth.
Her hand flies over her mouth, stifling a choked sob. Hailey quickly stands. “That’s enough, Dalton!” she warns.
I shake my head. “No, I don’t think it is, Hailey.”
Hudson’s eyes flare.
From the corner of my eye, Savanna stands straighter, holding back a sob. Jutting her chin out, she looks at me while speaking to her brother. “I didn’t get pregnant at a party in high school.”
Hudson’s head recoils. “What?”
“I know who Drew’s dad is,” Savanna says, looking away. She tugs at the corner of her lip before finding my eyes across the flames again. “I’ve known all along.”
Hudson shifts his weight, his shoulders pulling tight. “Who?” he asks, his forehead pinching together.
Savanna’s body straightens, her shoulders rolling back. “You're looking at him.”
Drawing in a breath, blood pounds in my ears—hearing those words leave her mouth.
I have a daughter.
With Savanna.
Hudson whips his head to me, pulling me from Savanna’s gaze, his eyes dark. “Dalton?” He pauses, his index finger drilling into my chest. “You’re the one who got my sister pregnant her senior year of high school?”
My guts twist, body hardening, preparing myself to go head-on with my best friend since I was eight. I’ve never fought him in my life, but if he’s looking for one—I don’t think either one of us is backing down.
“Yeah, I guess so, Hudson,” I snap, pushing him back. “I guess your sister likes to keep secrets.”
Hudson’s palms slam into my chest. “Oh yeah? I can keep a secret, too. Like where I bury your goddamn body!”
I scoff in his face, our eyes leveled. “I’d love to see you try.”
Hudson's eyes flicker with a challenge.
“Don’t think that just because you're a Marine, Dalton, you’re some sort of God. Don’t underestimate me right now.” He pauses, eyes narrowing. “Especially when it comes to my little sister.”
Sanders steps between us. “Knock this shit off!”
Out of my peripheral, Savanna storms off in the direction of the beach access.
“Savanna!” I shout. “Where the fuck are you going?”
She doesn’t stop, which makes my chest ache. My stomach flips watching her leave.
God dammit.
She just dropped life-altering fucking news, making me angrier than hell, but that still doesn’t stop me from worrying about her.
For not wanting her to walk home alone.
“You're not walking home alone in the dark!” I holler over my shoulder, her silhouette disappearing behind the dunes.
Shit.
“I’ll walk her home,” Chad says, standing.
“The fuck you are!” I snap at him, shooting daggers his way. My fingers curl tighter around my keys.
Chad puts his hands up, taking his seat again.
Smart guy.
Hailey grabs her jacket, hastily putting on her shoes that are lying in the sand beside her chair. “I’ll make sure she gets home,” she says before taking off in a sprint.
My head snaps back to Hudson and Sanders. Hudson’s heated eyes study me, his jaw clenched. I turn my back on him, preparing to leave—before I do something I regret.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Hudson asks before snatching the keys out of my hands. “You’re not driving anywhere.”
I scoff, eyes flaring. “Give me my fucking keys, Hudson.”
“No.”
I grit my teeth, stepping closer until I’m in his face. “Give me my fucking keys.”
“No,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re not getting behind the wheel when you’re like this.”
“Are you serious?” A dry laugh booms from my chest.
“Does it look like I’m joking?” Hudson questions, tilting his head to the side. “If you want to get yourself killed driving like a goddamn manic, be my guest. But it won’t be tonight.”
My dad's car accident flickers in my mind, and it’s at this moment that I know Hudson is thinking about it, too. Running my hand through my hair, an impatient snort leaves my mouth. “Fine. I’ll walk.”
Hudson shrugs, pinching his lips together. “Fine.”
“Fine,” I say again.
“Fine,” Hudson repeats, taking his seat back in his beach chair, pocketing my keys.
Fucking dick.
Sanders stands between us, ready to intervene, watching our back and forth.
With his arms crossed, he shakes his head.
“You guys are fucking ridiculous,” he says, talking to both of us, before turning his attention to me.
“Dalton, get your ass home.” He then spins to Hudson, jabbing his finger in his direction. “And you shut the hell up.”
Hudson scoffs, taking a long swallow of his beer.
My eyes narrow on him when he mumbles, “Practically fucking identical,” under his breath.
Muttering a curse, I rake my fingers through my hair before giving everyone one last glare. I pivot in the sand, turning on my heels, to begin my five-mile walk back home.
I need to get the hell out of here.