Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Except for Savannah. But she was different. Had been different since I’d first laid eyes on her. And more so now.
“Really?” he said, expression brightening. I nodded and pointed to the front door and the bus that awaited us. I saw most of the group was on the bus already. My nerves made my hands shake when I thought about seeing Savannah again. How did I face someone I’d just told about my brother?
Everyone was talking amongst themselves when Travis and I climbed on, and I took a seat a few rows in front of where everyone else sat, not looking anyone in the eye. I wasn’t trying to ignore them this time; I just needed space.
I stared out of the window at the lake. The rain had finally stopped. The clouds had cleared, and the sun was high in the sky. It was still freezing … but it wasn’t as dark and depressing as yesterday.
Maybe, after speaking to Savannah, inside of me wasn’t as dark and depressing either. Even just a sliver of some internal light was progress.
Running my fingertip along my bottom lip, I could still feel the softness of Savannah’s hair against my mouth as I’d kissed her head and inhaled her cherry and almond scent. I still felt her soft palm against my calloused one, battered and rough from years and years of hockey. I’d needed to hold her. I didn’t know if it was for her or for me, but in that moment of vulnerability, I’d had to hold her hand.
I hadn’t wanted to leave that jetty. Our problems had seemed so much smaller as we huddled in that wooden hut. Our sadness was freed, just for a couple of hours, and we just … were.
The seat beside me dipped. I turned my head and my stomach flipped. Savannah. Savannah looked up at me under her long, fair lashes, blue eyes seeking permission that this was okay. That her being beside me was okay.
Her presence immediately set me at ease. No more shaking hands. And strangely, there was no regret for telling her about Cillian.
“Hey, Peaches,” I said, voice strained. I felt bare and open to her gaze. Vulnerable. I wasn’t used to being vulnerable to anyone. Never had been in my life. But I had been to this pretty girl from Georgia, in the rawest possible way.
Savannah dug into her backpack and brought out a sandwich bag filled with pastries and fruit. “You didn’t come down to breakfast.” She shrugged, that blush of hers I loved so much bursting on the skin of her cheeks. “I thought you might be hungry.” I stared at this girl in wonder. This Georgia peach who had managed to climb over my high walls.
“Thanks,” I said and took the bag from her. The truth was, I’d been a coward that morning. I bailed on breakfast because I didn’t know what I would say to Savannah when I saw her. I didn’t know how to be around someone who had seen all my hidden scars, so open and exposed like that.
I should have known she wouldn’t make it awkward.
Quite the opposite … she’d made it okay.
Savannah settled into her seat. The bus began to move. I tried to not let the usual discomfort of being in a vehicle unnerve me. So, I stared out at the views that had cemented themselves inside my brain. I would never forget this place.
“Last day,” Savannah said. I knew she was pushing herself to talk to me. She was even more reserved than me. I understood that it wasn’t natural for her to make idle conversation. But I also understood she was trying.
For me.
“Yeah,” I said and reached into the sandwich bag, bringing out a chocolate croissant. I sighed after taking a bite. I was starving.
“One more climb,” I said, wanting to try to say something, to engage. To make last night not feel so big.
Savannah nodded, and then a small smile graced her pink lips. I paused mid-bite just to witness it. I didn’t know how she did it, but this girl could just cut through whatever dark fog surrounded me like she wielded a sword forged of pure light.
No one on this trip smiled much. Some had smiled a little bit more here in Windermere. But, as bad as it sounded, I didn’t care about anyone else’s smile. Only hers. Because Savannah’s smile lit up the sky when she did. Her smiles were as shy as she was, but just that small upward curl at the corner of her lip tugged like a freight train at my heart.
“I think my legs are thankful it’s the last one.” I felt myself smirking back, and Savannah stared at me too. Maybe in the same way I stared at her. I searched inside for any discomfort. But around her … there was only peace. I couldn’t wrap my head around it.