Chapter 8 - Savi
EIGHT
SAVI
I sensed him the moment he stepped into Montgomery’s, and it didn’t take long before I felt his eyes land on me. I’m sure he and Miles are over there brooding together about how I’m with a guy they don’t know or approve of.
Evan came up to me after Wren and I were finishing dinner, and he seemed nice enough.
He bought us drinks, and when Wren had to leave, he asked if I would like to stay for a bit longer.
He’s easy on the eyes with his light brown hair and green eyes, so I decided to take him up on his offer to see if there was any spark.
I quickly realized he’s got a rather short attention span, seeing as his eyes have roamed to every girl's ass within a fifty-foot radius of our table. It’s obvious he just wants to get me into his bed tonight, and he’s hoping that after a few more drinks, I’ll agree.
Normally, I would have left by now, but I’m enjoying the way Knox is squirming in his chair. It’s probably wrong, but seeing him clearly agitated over this has me playing this out a little bit longer.
Taking a sip of my glass of wine, I try to concentrate on what Evan is saying right now. I plaster on a smile and laugh at all the right places to keep up with the charade, but on the inside, all I can think about is the heated gaze of the man sitting across the room at the bar.
My skin feels warm as the mixture of wine and a moody hockey player blends together.
Needing some air, I let Evan know I’m going to use the restroom.
I shoot straight for the back hallway, taking the longer way around the bar and avoiding the area where Knox is sitting.
Opening the door at the end of the hall, I slip into Miles’s office to use his private bathroom.
Taking my time, I freshen up and reapply my red lipstick. Since I wear scrubs almost every day of the week, when I do go out, I enjoy getting dolled up. It makes me feel more confident.
Fake it till you make it, right?
Turning off the lights in the bathroom, I walk out into the office and stop in my tracks.
Knox is casually leaning against Miles’s desk, his arms crossed over his broad chest. He’s dressed up tonight and must have come straight from his game.
Miles had it on earlier behind the bar, so he could watch it, and I couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased when he scored the winning goal.
If anything, Knox was born to play hockey.
I’ve been watching games with my family my whole life, and no one loves this sport more than he does, and it shows every time he steps onto the rink.
Your eyes can’t help but be drawn to him as he dominates the blades with speed and power.
The fact that he’s gorgeous is just an added bonus as women flood the stands with number twenty-two jerseys.
“What are you doing with him, Savi? You know he’s not good enough for you.” His low voice penetrates the air as I clutch my handbag tighter.
“Hello to you, too, Knox. When did you get here?” I’m not about to let him know I knew he was here the minute he walked in.
“Long enough to know that guy is a fucking douche.”
“Evan?” I feign being surprised. “He seems like a nice guy. I might give him a shot tonight. You wouldn’t mind staying in your apartment, would you, if I brought him home?”
“Don’t play games with me, sunshine. You will lose every time.” His jaw is tense as his blue eyes burn into me with a piercing intensity. Anyone with half a brain would walk away, but instead, I run right into the flames.
“Who says I’m playing games? He’s good looking and funny and…”
“Dammit, Savi,” he says, cutting me off and storming towards me as my back hits the wall. His face is inches from mine as his chest heaves against me. “I know what you are trying to do, and it’s not going to work.”
“And what exactly am I trying to do?” I ask, my voice unable to be anything but a mere whisper as my lips part on their own accord.
He glances down at what I’m clearly offering before shooting back up to meet my gaze.
His eyes are a beautiful mixture of torment and need as he fights what we both so desperately want.
“Make me want things I have no business wanting,” he growls as his fingers dig into my hips. I feel his thumbs skim over my bare skin, sending shivers down my spine.
“Maybe you should want them,” I breathe before hesitantly putting my palm against his heart. It’s beating fast and steady as a pained look crosses his face before he backs away and heads toward the door.
“Go home, Savi,” he sighs, gripping the door handle tightly with his back turned toward me and his head bowed. “He doesn’t deserve someone like you.” His voice is so quiet and dripping with sadness that at this point, I have a feeling he’s not talking about Evan anymore, but of himself.
He walks out without another glance, and I sink onto the couch next to me as my legs give out from under me.
A host of emotions has me frozen in place.
My skin is still burning like a hot iron from where his hands were gripping me as if I were the only thing holding him up.
There was so much chaos in his eyes—a desperate plea to make me understand.
I stay there until my legs feel steady enough to walk before heading to the bar.
Evan has already moved on and is chatting with two girls in the corner.
It doesn’t faze me in the slightest. I knew halfway through our conversation he wasn’t getting my number, and this just proves I was right about him.
“Hey sis. I was just about to come looking for you.” Miles peers at me with a concerned look on his face. “Everything okay? You seem upset.” Looking over my shoulder, his eyes narrow as he sees Evan pull one of the girls to the dance floor. “If that guy upset you…”
“No, nothing like that,” I shake my head quickly before he storms across the bar to confront him.
“They can have him,” I laugh softly and see some of the tension leave Miles.
“I’m just tired, that’s all. It’s been a long week, so I’m going to head out.
I just wanted to say goodbye before I left.
” I walk behind the bar, and he immediately brings me in for a hug.
“Have you called an Uber yet?” He asks, pulling back and reaching for his phone.
“I was just about to.” Reaching into my purse, he shakes his head.
“I’ve got it.” He focuses on his screen before pocketing it. “Should be here soon. I texted you the license plate.”
“Thank you,” I smile, kissing him on the cheek.
“Text me when you get home. Love you, Sav.”
“Love you, too.”
There’s no sign of Knox as I head to the door and out into the warm, salty night. The moon is full and high above, lighting the way across the gravel parking lot when I spot my ride and climb in.
Disappointment weaves its way in as I’m dropped off a few minutes later and realize his car isn’t here. I don’t know what I expected, but I was hoping he’d at least be home. I hate the way I care so much if he’s with someone else.
Pushing the button to lower the garage door, I walk inside and scoop up Freya when she appears at my feet. Her soft purrs calm me as I bury my face in her warm fur and take her into the bedroom with me.
Setting her on my bed, I quickly change into an oversized t-shirt before washing my face and brushing my teeth. I’m suddenly bone-tired as I toss my throw pillows on the chair in the corner of my room and crawl under the covers.
I stay awake for as long as I can, waiting for the sound of his car to appear before sleep finally takes me under.
It’s been a few months since I dreamt of that night, causing my memories to become a distant haze, so much so that I can almost pretend it never happened.
On nights like this, though, when my dreams become a nightmare, it slams me right back to the night so vividly that I have no choice but to relive it all over again. It’s my own personal hell on repeat as I toss and turn in my sleep, fighting the demons that have sunk their teeth into me.
Savi - Fifteen Years Old
My head is fuzzy as I wander around the party in search of my friend. I still can’t believe we are here at an actual party! Kylie’s older brother let us stay as long as we promised not to tell their parents that he threw this party while they were out of town.
When my parents said I could spend the night here tonight, I had no clue her parents were out of town or about the party, so technically I didn’t lie to them. My brothers would kill me if they knew I was here, let alone find out I’ve been drinking too.
It’s not my fault that every time I turn around, someone is handing me a red Solo cup filled with a yummy drink that tastes like Kool-Aid.
“There you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.
” I turn at Todd’s voice, and he reaches out to steady me as my balance becomes skewed.
We met earlier, and he’s been super sweet all night.
He and his friends are on vacation for spring break and just happened to hear about the party at the beach today.
“I’m looking for Kylie,” I giggle, feeling the effects of the alcohol running through my veins. I take another sip of my drink and try to focus on him through the hazy thoughts in my head. “I haven’t seen her in a while and should probably check on her.”
“I need to get something out of my car real quick, and then I’ll help you find Kylie. Come with?”
“Okay. Then we find Kylie, right?” I ask, feeling a little uneasy as I follow him across the lawn toward the driveway.
“Then we find, Kylie. I promise.”
His car is parked further away and nestled under some trees where the property meets a vacant wooded lot. By the time we finally reach it, both our solo cups are empty as he takes mine from my hand and sets them both on the hood of his car.
“I just got this car last week,” he grins. “You’ve got to see the inside. The backseat is huge.” He opens the door, and I shake off my gut feeling that I should go back to the house as I climb inside.
Sliding into the backseat, he shuts the door, and the world I once knew as light suddenly slams me into the dark.