Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
SAVANNA
A strangled sob escapes my chest as my bare feet scrape against gravel and cracked concrete, running as fast as I can away from the secret I’ve kept to myself for the last six years.
The secret I thought protected me from the rejection and embarrassment I felt when Dalton never came back—the one he said I was selfish for.
My legs burn, carrying me away from the lie Dalton demanded I confess to my brother around the burning flames.
Retreating from the wild look in their eyes, hands curled into fists, waiting for the first punch to be thrown—because of me.
In the cover of darkness, illuminated by scattered streetlamps, my body shakes, chest heaving at the lifetime friendship I just ruined.
From behind me, Hailey calls my name, trying to get me to stop. “Savanna, slow down! You’re going to get hurt!”
Without looking back, I pick up my pace. My cotton dress whipping against the wind. My arms pump in sync while my legs are determined to take me home.
To the safety of unraveling behind closed doors.
My feet come to an abrupt stop in my driveway, remembering the babysitter is inside with Drew. A numbness washes over me as I grip my chest. They can’t see me like this.
Drew can’t see her mom like this.
Glimpsing behind me, I watch as Hailey's steps falter in my driveway. “Holy shit, Savanna,” Hailey wheezes, resting her hands on her head. “You’re fast. Remind me to never ask you to be my running partner.”
My hand covers my mouth when a choked sob escapes me.
“Hey,” Hailey says, putting her arms around me. I collapse into her, exhaustion overcoming me. “Let’s get you inside.”
“The sitter is here. Drew might be awake.” My voice comes out barely audible as I stare up at the light flickering from the TV in the front window.
Hailey’s eyes follow mine. “Shit. Okay. I’ll go in first and make sure she’s in bed.”
I nod, following her up my porch steps.
When Hailey goes inside to check on Drew and relieve the babysitter, I take a seat. My eyes cast toward the Atlantic. It’s too dark to see the water, but my eyes flicker to an orange fire burning in the sand, reflecting off the ocean.
I sink into my chair, guilt and heartbreak consuming me. The heartbreak from Dalton feeling so much worse the second time around. I had two weeks with him to open my eyes to what we could be—what we could have been.
But I ruined everything.
For myself, but more importantly, for Drew.
A few minutes pass before I hear my front door open. Hailey steps out, giving me a thumbs up, followed by Drew’s babysitter, Callie. She gives me a wave before heading down the steps.
Releasing a sigh, Hailey falls into the chair beside me. “The good news is, Drew’s been asleep for the last hour.” She pauses, and I give her a sideways glance. “The bad news is, your babysitter thinks you have explosive diarrhea.”
A jarring laugh escapes me, immediately followed by a sob. “Hailey!”
Her brown hair falls back against the chair in a giggle. “What? I had to get her out of there fast. It was the only thing I could come up with on short notice!”
I groan, sinking into the cushion.
“Twenty bucks says she goes home and sanitizes her entire body,” Hailey snickers, glancing at me.
I hide my face behind my palms, thankful my best friend is trying to make me laugh. Reaching over, she places her hand on my arm and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Hey, what happened when you told Dalton?”
Releasing my hands, I rotate my head sideways from the cushion. My blurry, swollen eyes somehow find Hailey’s. “He bolted,” I say, swallowing hard. “He literally ran away and left me under the pier.”
Replaying the image in my head, a heaviness overtakes my body—settling into each limb. Dalton running away from me as fast as he could. The devastated look in his eyes like he didn’t know who I was.
Hailey blows out a breath. “I’m so sorry, Savanna.”
I give her a shrug, lowering my head. “I deserved it,” I mumble.
“Bullshit,” she says, shaking her head. She turns toward me, tucking her legs beneath her to face me head-on.
“You’re a damn good mom. The best one I know.
Drew is lucky to have you. You did what you thought was right at the time.
” She pauses, a small smile softening her features. “Mistakes were made on both ends.”
Chewing on my bottom lip, my eyes water again. “He told me he loved me tonight. Begged for me to ask him to stay.”
Hailey leans in closer, her soft brown eyes dipping to find mine. “He means it, Savanna. I can promise you that.”
I shake my head in disbelief. There’s no way after tonight Dalton still loves me. That he will give up his life in California and his career to be with a woman who kept his daughter from him for the last six years.
Hailey’s laughter makes my head snap up.
“Trust me, Savanna. That boy loves you. You should have seen him when Chad offered to go after you tonight to make sure you got home safely.” Her shoulders shake, a glint of humor in her eyes.
“I thought he was going to pull some lethal Marine voodoo on him.”
My stomach twists, giving her an unsettled look. “Really?”
“Really. Now, let’s get you inside and get you out of this tiny fucking dress before you get hypothermia.”
Taking her outstretched hand, a small laugh leaves me as she pulls me up.
Heading inside, Hailey walks straight into the kitchen, pulling my freezer door open. “Aha!” she says, pulling out the Cherry Garcia ice cream. Cocking her head to the side, she raises a brow. “Ice cream, wine, and a movie?”
“Ice cream, wine, and a movie,” I repeat back to her.
Hailey gives me a soft smile. “Good. Now take a shower, and I'll meet you on the couch.”
I nod, leaving her standing there while I make my way upstairs. When I get into the bathroom, I turn the shower handle, my eyes stinging from the steam filling the bathroom. The shower suddenly triggers a flash of memory from the night Dalton came over to take care of me.
The night I told him that I loved him.