Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
SAVANNA
I’m sitting on my porch, fingers curled around a mug of coffee after a sleepless night, when I hear a truck arriving in the distance.
I somehow managed to wake up before Drew this morning, dragging myself out of bed to make myself a cup of coffee after spending most of the night in the fetal position, surrounded by a flood of tears. It’s a good thing Drew slept through the night, or she would have seen her mom broken.
As the truck gets closer, my heart races. The sound of the engine matches Dalton’s Chevy. Extending my neck, my eyes dart around the street, hoping that by some miracle it’s Dalton. When the sound gets closer, my heart deflates watching Hudson pull into my driveway.
Hudson puts his truck in park, immediately spotting me wrapped in a blanket on the porch. Getting out, he grabs a pink bakery box and jogs up the porch steps. Doing a quick visual, relief washes over me when I don’t notice any visible bruises on his face.
“You’re alive,” I tease.
I’m not sure what Hudson is doing here this early in the morning, but my senses are telling me it’s not to deliver delicious baked goods.
He wants to talk about what happened last night.
Chuckling, he takes his seat next to me. “You should see the other guy,” he says, handing me the pink box.
Taking it from him, I wince at his joke. I peek inside the box and find some of Drew’s favorite pastries. I give him a sideways glance before closing the lid.
“Wow, donuts and now pastries all within the last week.” I quirk my brow at him. “Are you trying to win some special uncle of the year award?”
“Well, I have some stiff competition now,” he chuckles, scratching his jaw. The coffee in my stomach turns, knowing he’s talking about Dalton. “I hope you’re prepared for the competition that’s about to be unleashed between Dalton and me for who will be Drew’s favorite of the week.”
Looking down, I trace the rim of my coffee cup with my index finger. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that,” I mumble.
“Yeah, I kinda think I do—you know me, I like to win.”
The red blanket draped around my shoulders rises in a shrug. “He won’t be here anyway.” My voice comes out in a whisper, a hollowness growing heavy in my chest, thinking about how much Drew is going to miss Dalton.
How much I’m going to miss Dalton.
Studying me, Hudson makes a humming noise. Opening the pink box between us, he grabs a pastry and takes a big bite.
“I should have told you the truth about Drew, Hudson. I’m sorry,” I mumble.
Hudson stops chewing his croissant to give me a knowing look. “Yeah, you should have.”
I tug on my bottom lip, lowering my gaze to the coffee that's now gone cold in my hands. Breathing a heavy sigh, I turn toward Hudson. “I’m sorry I ruined your friendship with Dalton.”
Hudson throws his head back in a cackle mid-bite, crumbs spilling from his mouth, dusting his sweatshirt.
Frowning, I give Hudson a pinched look. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because you didn’t ruin anything, Savanna,” he says, taking another bite.
My heart races, body shifting against the cushions. “What are you talking about?”
“What I'm talking about is that Dalton stayed with me last night,” he says with his mouth full.
My eyes widen, hand covering my mouth to stifle a gasp. “What?” I shriek from beneath my palm.
Hudson shrugs nonchalantly. “Oh yeah, we roasted marshmallows and sang songs around the living room. Dalton was really into it,” he chuckles. “It was a real camp experience.”
“But...” I stutter, my mouth falling open. “You guys looked like you were about to kill each other last night.”
Hudson snorts. “You mean it looked like I was going to murder him?”
Scrunching up my nose, I give my brother an apprehensive look.
“That’s highly offensive that you think I couldn’t handle myself against a Marine, Savanna.” He pauses, grabbing the bakery box. “You know what? These are all for Drew and me, now.”
Rolling my eyes, I look away, not wanting to play into Hudson’s dramatics this morning.
Sensing my mood, he sighs, setting the box back down between us. “Look, I just wanted to come by this morning to make sure you’re okay. Last night was a lot.” He pauses, his features softened. “Things were said, things certain people probably regret.”
I glance at him, chewing the inside of my cheek. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
Hudson laughs. “Actually, I am pretty damn sure. I had a front row seat to Dalton’s painful face the entire night while he wallowed in self-pity on my couch.”
“Really?” My voice trembles, eyes filling with moisture. “He doesn’t hate me?”
Hudson shakes his head, scuffing. “Is that even a serious question?”
Blowing out a ragged breath, I wipe the corner of my eye and shrug. “Savanna, Dalton’s been obsessed with you since we were like ten. I highly doubt he’s going to hate you now that you guys have a kid together.” He laughs, squeezing my shoulder. “Jesus, I bet now it’s just the cherry on top.”
A heaviness sets in my stomach as I turn over Hudson’s words. Just because Hudson is convinced Dalton doesn’t hate me, it doesn’t mean that I am. I saw the look on his face when I told him Drew was his. It was a look of hurt, a look of pain.
It was the kind of look of someone who will never forgive you.
“Just give him time, Savanna,” Hudson says. “His whole world has been flipped upside down.”
I give him a hesitant nod before turning my gaze back to my sliver of the Atlantic.
Time.
Will seven days be enough?
Hudson and I both cock our heads toward the front door when we hear Drew coming down the stairs. Opening the door, she steps out slowly, revealing her disheveled bedhead and sleepy eyes. Her eyes light up when she sees Hudson sitting next to me on the porch.
“Uncle Hudson!” she squeals, throwing herself into his lap.
Hudson grunts, wincing when she lands hard against his chest. “Well, good morning to you, too, my favorite niece.”
Drew giggles, and I ruffle her hair. “Good morning, little bean. Was Callie fun last night?”
“Yup! We watched Moana.” She beams.
I smile at her. “Your favorite.”
Drew’s eyes catch on the pink box between Hudson and me. “Are those for me?” she asks with wide eyes.
Hudson chuckles. “What do you think?” Opening the box for her, she reaches for a pastry. “Do I win the award this week for the best uncle, or what?”
Drew tilts her head, drumming her fingers on her chin as she thinks. “Nope!”
Hudson rears his head, brows furrowing. “Nope?”
Drew giggles, raising her shoulders. She takes a bite of her breakfast and chews, making Hudson squirm in his seat. “Dalton wins this week.”
My breath hitches, my heart stopping at the mention of Dalton’s name, leaving her mouth.
Hudson gives me a knowing smirk. “Oh yeah? Why does he win this week?” Hudson asks, giving me a side eye.
“Because he let me gut a fish,” she says, taking another bite.
Warmth consumes me, remembering our day fishing together—I want Drew to have memories like that with Dalton all the time.
A deep sigh falls from Hudson’s chest. “I guess we’ve graduated from donuts and sweets.” Crossing his arms against his chest, he traps Drew in his arms. “I’m going to really have to step up my game.”
“Never! Give me all the sweets!” she shrieks, wiggling around him.
“What? Do you want a pony next? Will that win me the title of your favorite?” Hudson asks, tickling her.
Standing, I laugh, snatching Drew out of Hudson’s arms. “You better not, Hudson,” I say in warning.
A mischievous laugh falls from his mouth.
“Alright, let's get you dressed. You’re going to Grandma’s.”
Drew squeals in my arms, while Hudson furrows his brows. “You’re working today?” he asks.
“Yeah, I told Hailey I wanted to work.”
Hudson stands, his eyes fixed on mine. “Are you sure that’s a good idea, Savanna?” I hear the worry in his voice.
After everything that happened, I’m sure he thinks I can’t handle working behind the bar today—but just the opposite. I need the distraction.
“Yup.”
Making my way through the front door, I set Drew down, watching her run up the stairs.
“Well, let me take her today. I can watch her,” Hudson offers.
Crossing my arms over my robe, I give him a look. “Hudson, I’m sure you have better things to do with your Saturday than babysit. Why don’t you go hang out with your friends, or find a girlfriend or something…?”
Hudson scoffs. “Yeah, your love life is really giving me inspiration to really get myself out there.”
I glare at him, and he chuckles.
“Nothing Dr. Phil can’t fix.” He winks.
“Hudson!” I gasp. whacking his chest. “That’s not funny!”
“It’s a little funny,” he laughs. “It’s an episode I’d tune in for.”
My eyes bulge, posture stiffening, because the situation he finds funny is a situation I wouldn’t wish for anyone.
Crossing his arms, his laughter dies down. “Look, it’s either let me hang with Drew for the day, or I’ll just come sit at Salty’s and hang with you.” He pauses, his head tilting to the side. “Take your pick.”
Dragging a hand down my face, a sigh falls from my chest. “I can’t handle you today.”
His eyes light up, mouth curving into a smile. “Drew, you’re coming with me today!” he shouts up the stairs, giving me a wink.
Taking a deep breath, I turn, leaving Hudson to wait in the living room while I get ready for my shift at Salty’s. With each step up the wooden stairs to my bedroom, I mentally prepare myself for us not to be Dalton’s choice. For him not to mean a word he said before I confessed the truth to him.
For him to bolt.