More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
To anyone who has ever felt judged, misunderstood, alone or not seen. This one is for you. I see you. XO
Savannah Abbott had the best laugh. Always had. She was the one person who could bring it out of me because she was funny as hell. At least, she used to be. She also used to be a scrawny little thing, with her hair tied back in a ponytail. But today, long caramel-brown waves ran down her back, and she didn’t look like the sixteen-year-old teenager who’d left town in a hurry. Who’d left me.
Damn. I’d missed her laugh. “You look good, Shortcake.” I was surprised at how easily her nickname rolled off my tongue. Like no time had passed at all.
They say friendship breakups can be as tough as romantic breakups. I’m here to say, the ending of my friendship with Hayes Woodson was the greatest loss of my life—as far as a person who was still living.
There was a peace that came over me, knowing that Savannah was here. Home. My world had always been better with her in it.
But now that she was back in town, I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her. Maybe it was just our history or the shitty way things had ended. Maybe it was the fact that I’d missed my best friend. I’d definitely missed her.
My father had left me and my sister when we were young. My mother had failed us time and time again, as well. My fiancée had faked a pregnancy and fucked my coworker. And none of those losses compared to the loss of Savannah Abbott in my life.
My woman. Fake or real—it didn’t really matter at the moment. She was here with me, and she felt like mine. Maybe she’d always felt like mine.
His moss-green eyes locked with mine. “I’d like to kiss my wife before I agree to spend my life with her.”
“But you, Shortcake, you were always different. You were a part of me in a way that I can’t even explain. I would do anything for you, but I also trusted that you would do anything for me. It went both ways. I leaned on you, I told you everything, shared my hopes and my fears, which I don’t usually do. So losing you—it hardened me in a lot of ways.”
I saw red. I stormed into the room before I could stop myself, and Savannah’s eyes widened as Lenny slowly turned and startled when he saw me. “Get the fuck away from my wife,” I growled, as I moved across the room and stood beside her.
“I’m not a sandcastle, Hayes. You’re not going to break me. I want you.” I want you. That was all that I needed to hear.
“Now, do your husband a solid, and sit on my face. I want you to smother me. I want you to come so hard, you can’t think of anything but my mouth on your pussy.”
“You’re more than my best friend, Sav. I like coming home to you. I like knowing you’re in my bed, even when I’m not there with you. Knowing that you’re waiting for me. Knowing that everyone thinks you’re mine. Because you are mine, Savannah Woodson. And I know you only married me because you had to, and I’m not the guy you’d choose in a different situation because I can’t give you all the things that you want. But I fucking love you. And even if you divorce me in a few months, I’d still want to date you.”
“Why do we have to? Hell, I’d stay married to you if I knew you wanted that. I don’t want this to end, Sav. Now that I’ve got you back, I don’t want to let you go. Not now, not in another month, not in another year. I. Want. You. Whatever way I can have you.”
“My Sunny is the best doctor and the best baker and the best mama around,” Cutler said, and I didn’t miss the way Emerson’s hand went to her chest as if she were overwhelmed by the sentiment.
I’d never felt so confused about my future. I’d spent the last ten years cursing this town and convincing myself that I hated this place, when, in reality, I loved it here. Magnolia Falls is home.
I turned down our street and saw the house in the distance. And for whatever reason, I started jogging. My booties clacked against the pavement in a rhythmic sound. Because suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get there. To him. Home.
“I’m not doing this because I’m afraid we’ll lose touch. I’m doing this because I can’t live without you. I don’t want to be friends who hook up. I want you to be mine. I want to grow old with you. I want to watch you chase your dreams and support you every step of the way. I want you, Sav. I want us.” I used the pads of my thumbs to swipe the falling tears away. “I want a life with you.”
“Peas and carrots, baby.” I chuckled. “How about we update these tattoos and call it what it is?” “You two really were peas and carrots.” “What would you call it now?” Savannah asked me. “Something I never thought I believed in. But it’s the truth. We’re soul mates. It didn’t matter if we were living near or far. We belonged together.” “Soul mates does sound slightly more romantic than peas and carrots.” She chuckled.
But I was happy, even if I pretended to be annoyed. I never planned on being happy. But here I was. Living it.
“Does this little boy have a name yet?” Peyton asked. Romeo looked between his friends. “Well, considering he was born on this guy’s birthday, it only seemed fitting to carry on that legacy. But Demi and I wanted him to have a piece of the men who have been my brothers every step of the way.” “Did you name him Roddy like the puppy?” Cutler asked, rubbing his eyes as his father held him on his hip. “No.” Romeo chuckled and turned to look at my husband. “His name is Hayes Pierce Heart Knight. The little dude’s got a lot to live up to. He’s got your namesake in there, too, Beefcake. And I’m
...more
remembered the day that Cutler was born like it was yesterday. I realized in that moment that I already had two kids that I loved as if they were my own. I wasn’t going to get out of caring just because I didn’t have a child of my own. I already cared. Too fucking much. But I was learning that it was okay to care. You just had to keep showing up and being there. I could do that.
We’re living the lives we couldn’t even dream of when we were teenagers. King Good women. Good jobs. Good friends. I’d call that a damn good life. Are you drunk? King Nope. Just happy. Yeah, brother. I think we all are. Ain’t that the fucking truth.
