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)
“So, you and Savannah?” Dylan said, taking me from inside my head.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Is that a problem for you?” I asked and heard the bite of jealousy in my tone.
Dylan held up his palms and clearly found humor in my question. “Not from me,” he said, then nudged my shoulder. “I think you look good together.” I knew he and Savannah had grown close. She seemed to be able to speak to him easily. I knew how rare that was for her.
“You don’t like her as more than a friend?”
Dylan quickly sobered up, and something I couldn’t name haunted his amber eyes. “Trust me,” he said quietly. “I’m no threat.” He let that hang in the air between us, heavy and laced with meaning. His eyes implored me to understand something about him, something he didn’t—or couldn’t—say out loud. I didn’t push him. Whatever he was insinuating was his truth to share, if and when he felt the need.
“Cool,” I said and saw his shoulders relax, a relieved sigh falling from his lips. Just then, I heard the sound of feet on stairs, and Jade, Lili, and Travis came toward us. Savannah was only a few seconds behind them. I jumped to my feet and immediately held out my hand to hers. She didn’t hesitate to take it, and instantly, I could breathe easier.
I didn’t know how she did it, but her presence, her touch, her quiet nature were a damn tonic to my soul. Travis led the way from the hotel and we all stopped dead, just feet from the hotel’s exit. Darkness had fallen since we’d gone inside. Tromsø, without the sun, looked like something pulled straight from a fairy tale.
“The stars …” Savannah said and looked up at the sky, which looked like a painting. I’d never seen so many stars before. Didn’t know that many even existed.
Savannah tensed, and I sensed the sudden change in her mood. I looked down at her, and she dipped her head, eyes meeting the ground. Like I’d done before, I placed a finger from my free hand under her chin and guided her head up. Her blue eyes were glistening with unshed tears. I didn’t know the trigger, but it obviously wasn’t good. Making sure she kept my gaze, I squeezed her hand twice.
Savannah closed her eyes and quickly composed herself. When she opened her eyes again, she forced a reassuring smile on her face, and I knew she was trying her hardest to push away her sudden rush of sadness.
“Okay?” I whispered, checking in. The others turned away to walk down the street, oblivious to us trying to battle our shadows away.
“Yes,” she rasped, shyly tucking her head into my chest. I dropped a kiss to the top of her pink beanie, wishing more than anything that it was her lips I was meeting. Savannah pulled back and cast me a shy glance under her eyelashes.
She was perfect.
“Cael! Sav!” Travis called from down the street. “You coming?” As Savannah and I walked hand in hand, the snow crunched under our feet. When we met up with the group at the end of the street, we came to a patch of land. Savannah crouched down and slipped off her glove. She freed her hand from mine, and I felt the instant loss. With her now bare hands, Savannah picked up the snow that must have fallen before we arrived.
A pearl of laughter sailed from her throat as her hands sank down to her elbows. I’d never heard anything so perfect. I couldn’t help but smile too when she looked up at me, dimples deep, and she laughed again. My Georgia peach who was so used to the southern sun and heat was absolutely captivated by a couple of feet of snow.
She was teaching me more on this trip than anyone ever had. She was teaching me that happiness didn’t have to be big gestures and life-changing moments. It could be just this. Witnessing someone seeing snow for the first time. Hearing someone laugh, true and honest. I didn’t know something so simple could hit me so hard. Since Cillian, nothing, not one single thing, had brought me happiness.
Until her.
It was almost painful to feel it. And yet so fucking sad that it ripped me open. To go as long as I had without feeling the smallest flicker of joy, happiness, or contentment.
Looking at Savannah pressing both hands into the snow, another light laugh slipping from her lips, made me want to bottle up the sound and keep it for the days I couldn’t get out of bed. This girl … she made me want to be more than the shell of a person I’d been for the past year.
“Ow!” Dylan yelled from somewhere behind us. I turned, just in time to see Travis pelt a snowball at Dylan’s back.